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Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

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Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#1

Post by francamps »

I am the tech lead at a London-based non-profit agency in human rights abuse, conflicts and the effects of war. We are producing complex visual tools for analysis and documentation of high-profile cases. I am personally really excited and happy to be working for the agency. The team is growing and I am looking to hire devs in the next few months, but we can't pay anywhere near what tech companies pay or offer benefits like they do. I can offer the team enthusiasm and the reality of what we are accomplishing (which is why I'm there).

How can I convince talented engineers that this kind of work is important and worth doing?

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#2

Post by phaus »

Not a software engineer, but my perspective might be useful.

My current job contributes positively to society, but I would love to have a job like this. Long ago, I joined the military because I naively thought we could help put a stop to human rights abuses around the world (too young and stupid at the time to realize we were only going to make things worse). So, this would be something of a dream job for me. I would even do it for a compensation package that's slightly below market rate. However, I couldn't justify either to myself or my family, financially crippling the rest of my life by taking a job significantly below market rate with little or no benefits. If I could do it all over gain, if I were young and single I would much rather have spent my military years working for an organization like yours. However, I have too many responsibilities at this point.

On a positive note, I think if you found a way to establish some kind of a part-time volunteer effort, many people would be willing to help for free. It might be difficult to manage, but I think it could work. I'd even be interested in volunteering at least a few hours a week (although my coding skills are approximately at the level of an intern.)

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#3

Post by Osmium »

phaus wrote: post #2

Not a software engineer, but my perspective might be useful. My current job contributes positively to society, but I would love to have a job like this. Long ago, I joined the military because I naively thought we could help put a stop to human rights abuses around the world (too young and stupid at the time to realize we were only going to make things worse). So, this would be something of a dream job for me. I woul…

> My current job contributes positively to society, but I would love to have a job like this.

Seconded. You [the OP] don't give numbers in your post, but I would jump at a job like this. Having lived in London for several years, whatever wage you're offering would have to be at least liveable, but I (personally) would happily accept significantly less than a big tech company knowing that the work was important and impactful in a very real sense, and suspect many other people would also. Honestly, if I were still in London, I would love to apply for this: "complex visual tools for analysis" sounds just like my sort of thing.

To make this advice more actionable: perhaps you're best looking for academics/PhDs with programming experience, since they tend to be both more idealistic and accustomed to lower pay (this is a little cynical but sadly true, having come from this background myself). There is huge variability in programming ability amongst PhDs however (again, speaking from first-hand experience), but on the plus side many will have the other skills you need (knowing how to effectively distill and visualise complex information is often at the very heart of a good science PhD).

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#4

Post by gnocchi »

I'd be happy to discuss, feel free to contact me. My contact detail is on my profile.

Other than that I think as phaus just said, the fact to contribute positively to society is a big argument. If your company can't deliver on cash advantage, maybe remote work and social event shoudl be push forward.

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#5

Post by reallymental »

As a (relatively young) software engineer who freelances as well, I personally like what you have to offer.

Needless to say YMMV but keeping that aside, if the wage you're offering is liveable for London (around £28,000-32,000 before taxes) and your work hours are reasonable enough for the person to freelance (outside work hours for any surplus £'s)... he/she who shares your passion would leap at your opportunity.

The most weighted variable in that case, would be the level of expertise you're seeking.

Good Luck!

(I also noticed that --Osmium-- has a point with PhD's being good candidates, but again, most of them leave academia in search of greater pay. But please dont let that deter you, as almost equally they are attracted to making an impact with their work.)

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#6

Post by aynsof »

I did exactly this a few years back. I took a pay cut to around 30% of my previous salary to work for a health care sector non-profit. The main attractions were flexible work hours (including some work from home), being fed up with working for evil corporations, and the prospect of working with the two really smart people I met in my interview.

I think if you could offer a realistic shot at helping the community combined with a positive culture, you might be able to pull some talented engineers from more lucrative industries. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#7

Post by jasonkester »

While it's always nice to know your work benefits the world in general, the market is the market, so you'll need to pay for labor whether your company intends to make a profit or not.

So yeah, we're all happy to help. But please strike that sentence about not wanting to pay a market rate.

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#8

Post by lithos »

Right now I'm actually taking a pretty decent pay cut of what I could be getting. The things that got me:

Very flexible hours for normal work periods (could choose to not wake up to an alarm 3 weeks out of 4)

Relaxed interviewing process. (Though a lot of the testing for electrical, mechanical, fluid, and trouble shooting theory actually works. Haven't seen the same for IT stuff). got to actually see my bosses quickly in the process. And got to see what gear I would be working on before they knew I was sure.

Still get a lot of data center experience without the idiocy of working for the big three Or IT first company.

Got to work in a department of the company that was a profit generating part of the company (instead of costs generation). This affect everything for how a company interacts with an employee.

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#9

Post by mrmondo »

I'm ops lead at a non-profit. I took _huge_ pay cut when I moved from the private / government sector to NFP space but I'll tell you what - it was worth every dollar. You can't put a price on happiness, freedom and the value of the visibility of the impact to communities and disadvantaged / at risk people from them work you do. Do a good job with a real impact and work with (not for) an organisation that genuinely strives to make an impact and is transparent and you'll earn respect.

Re: Ask HN: What would make you want to work for a non-profit as an engineer?

#10

Post by StavrosK »

mrmondo wrote: post #9

I'm ops lead at a non-profit. I took _huge_ pay cut when I moved from the private / government sector to NFP space but I'll tell you what - it was worth every dollar. You can't put a price on happiness, freedom and the value of the visibility of the impact to communities and disadvantaged / at risk people from them work you do. Do a good job with a real impact and work with (not for) an organisation that genuinely st…

Did you mean "communities", or are Communists really that hard up in the states?
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