So you don't want to move to Washington D.C.

Neither do I.

Since entering the nonprofit field almost 3 years ago, I've been surprised by the number of people I know who "did their time" in DC. Working for a nonprofit (in my field this means working for a national conservation organization's headquarters) in the capital seems to be a "right of passage" or more accurately, a hoop that many up and coming leaders feel that they need to put on their resume to make it in the field.

I do not want to move to DC, or New York, or any other big city just to move up.  However, I also realize that part of what you get from working in a big city are things that I miss:

• More & better access to peers in the field
• Organizations devoted to supporting emerging leaders
• A better finger on the "pulse" of the field

On the flip side, working from a city would not feel authentic for me.  How could I have credibility with the people whose lives I am trying to improve if I am all the way on the other side of the country---might as well be the world when you're living in a rural community--I can tell you.  

The question remains: how does one continue to build their career while going against the accepted route?

• Network, network, network
• Read as much as you can
• When you hear names thrown around that you do not know, look them up and learn something about them
• Get involved locally

Regardless of where you live, Rosetta Thurman's blog is full of tips and suggestions, many of which are universal.