Dear Springboard: How should I articulate my experience as a Springboard Fellow in a non-Jewish job application?

As Springboards we’ve all been in a position where someone who might not be familiar with Hillel asks us what we do for work, and we see the confusion in their face as we try to explain it. In spaces outside of the Hillel and Jewish nonprofit world, in a job interview or application process, it can feel tricky to explain. 

Being a Springboard rarely fits neatly into a single job description. After two years with our cohort, I know that being a Springboard looks different on every campus and for every individual. We all have different strengths and different ~unique~ challenges. Many of us wear several hats at once: educator, program planner, marketer, mentor, and community builder. 

However, our work isn’t just about what we do, it’s about the values that guide our actions. Working for Hillel is mission driven work, and so many of the same Jewish values can be applied into our everyday lives and next professional chapters. Intentionality, collaboration, and empathy, are principles that translate to many professional spaces. It is important to analyze your growth over the past two years as not limited to that of the Jewish professional world. 

One of my favorite tools for showcasing what I’ve learned as a Springboard  is having an elevator pitch. A short story you can tell in a few sentences that encompasses who you are, what you care about, and why you’re there. It’s not about listing every skill and responsibility you hold, but about highlighting the core of your professional experience so far, and what it says about where you’re going. Post Springboard, I would apply similar logic. What was your favorite part of the role? Emphasize the outcomes and impact that your work at Hillel has had. Tangibly measured results always support the validity of your accomplishments. Maybe you launched a new program that increased participation, or developed initiatives to help students build stronger communities. 

And your story doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on what was the most meaningful to you, the impact you saw over your time, and the strongest skills you developed along the way. Your most impactful programs, the relationships built, and the many challenges navigated. All of this contributes to a set of skills and experiences far beyond our two years in the fellowship. 

And the more clearly you tell your story, the more that others inside and outside the Jewish Nonprofit world will recognize the meaningful experience that it represents.

— Sarah Wechsler, SF Hillel Springboard Fellow 2024 - 2026, published to the Dear Springboard blog.