How To Pursue Your Non-Traditional Career Goals

If there's one thing we have all learned through the last year, it's that the future of work is changing (and more rapidly than ever).

Whether you are job hunting, freelancing, starting your own nonprofit, or happily employed at an established organization, there are more ways than ever to design your own professional path, transition between fields, and create an impact.

And while the range of opportunities can at times be tricky to navigate, especially in 2026, they can be even more challenging to articulate to others. Once you’ve figured out the right path, how do you share your hopes and dreams with friends and family?

Here’s how to describe, design, and pursue your non-traditional goals with clarity and confidence, even if you still feel like a work in progress.

Why “non-traditional” is the new traditional

With more people pursuing short-term contract and freelance work, the typical 9-to-5 arrangement is no longer quite so…typical. Independent workers make up 36% of the working age population in the United States, with some seeing it as an opportunity to pursue non-traditional careers, be a pioneer in an emerging field, avoid the stresses and bureaucracy of an office environment, or achieve a better work-life balance.

For many others, self-employment and part-time work is a way to stay afloat financially during an unstable time for the social-impact sector, and for the U.S. economy at large.

Outside of the gig economy, social-impact professionals are increasingly pursuing less linear career paths. Gone are the days when you got a job and stayed at it until they provided a pension. Now, more professionals are considering how to use transferable skills to pursue new opportunities, at nonprofits, large foundations, government agencies, or even in social-impact roles at for-profit companies.

This career switching is in large part due to changeups in how organizations function. With disruptions from federal grants, reduced giving, staff layouts, and budget cuts, those of us who work in the social-impact sector may be considering how to adapt to the changing times.

Adapting to shifts in the social-impact sector

It takes courage and determination to do something unconventional in order to build meaning into your career. At the most basic level, leaving what you know to pursue the unknown sounds scary, but there are actually so many ways to explore new horizons comfortably.

Transitioning from a government agency to a nonprofit, for instance, requires many of the same skills you're used to employing. Policy, project management, and compliance are transferrable experiences that many nonprofits focused on serving specific communities or constituents value. Discover a rundown of the types of organizations that may be a good move for you here.

If you are coming from the for-profit sector to a nonprofit—motivated by a desire to do good in a disruptive world—the same holds true. You have skills and valuable experiences that any nonprofit would be happy to employe, but some extra confidence, dig into the sector switching resources we have on Career Advice here.

Longterm nonprofit works who are concerned about job security, or who recently experienced a layoff, can also benefit from a career shake-up. For some, this many mean pursuing a path that requires a bit more learning to pursue; certificate programs, online courses, and university degrees are just some of the ways you can diversify your options and explore new opportunities in social impact.

For others, pursuing shorter-term opportunities on platforms like Fiverr can help build a portfolio of work. Even on Idealist, it’s possible to search for freelance and part-time roles in the social-impact sector that match your background and interests. These opportunities run the gamut and can offer you the chance to hone your skills in a certain field, or expand your employment opportunities.

3 ways to build a strong narrative around your career goals

1. Test your pitch. The first step to making your alternative career path a reality is to speak about it as if it were already real. Talk about the career path that you are forging with anyone who will listen, especially those who don’t know you. When a new contact or acquaintance inevitably asks “What do you do?” this is your chance to get comfortable with describing your talents and aspirations.
2. Prioritize lifelong learning. Forging your own career path requires you to be especially proactive about learning, maintaining, and advancing your professional skill set. One way to do this is through MOOCs or massive open online courses. You can take classes year-round for free (or for a nominal fee) with some of the best instructors at universities around the world. Some popular platforms to find useful career resources and courses include Career Advice, Coursera, Stanford Social Innovation Review, TED-Ed, and Master Class. Also keep in mind that valuable learning experiences are not limited to the academic space. Consider experiential and hands-on learning opportunities as well, like those offered by Yestermorrow Design/Build School.
3. Create your own board of directors. A personal board of directors is a group that can include your mentors, personal cheerleaders, brainstorming partners, and people who are comfortable providing constructive criticism even when you aren’t asking for it. Your board should include at least one person with a background in the area you are pursuing, but having a diversity of professions adds perspectives.

Keep moving forward

Learning how to create your own professional opportunities and keep yourself financially stable through a variety of professional and personal transitions has become a critical professional skill, and not just in our sector. If you are ready to pursue a path different from the one you've always been on, I am confident that you'll land on your feet.