I have the Best Job Ever!

I have the best job ever! By: Anita Davis, Senior Consultant Functional Trainer I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with my 13 year old nephew, who made a bold statement after being up at 4am, walking at least two and half miles, and meeting at least 50 American Cancer Society staff and volunteers, the statement, I have the best job ever! When I asked him to explain his reason behind such a bold statement, he broke it down into three categories, I get to go fun places (we were in Chicago at the time), I get to do cool things (we were a cheer team for the 700 athletes on the DetermiNation team running the Chicago marathon that morning and they had raised more that $1 million) , and I get to hang out with some really crazy people (we were with about 50 amazing staff and volunteers from all over the country, walking down Michigan Ave before the sunrise, making as much noise with our blue ACS DetermiNation cowbells, and stopping traffic when needed to get our athletes to the start line). I agree with his statement and for the most part his reasoning, but let me tell you why I have the best job ever! First I work for your American Cancer Society, Think about that word your, the American Cancer Society belongs to our donors and our volunteers. We together have one of the most loftiest goals, to cure cancer. There are not words to explain the feeling you get when you meet someone and they ask, where do you work, and you respond, I work for your American Cancer Society. The response you get is usually, wow or that is awesome. It often leads to further discussion on a more personal level, you find out their cancer story. Second, like my nephew said, I do get to go fun places. In my role I do spend some time on the road working with staff and volunteers all over the country. Most the time when I am traveling I see very little of the city that I am staying in, unless you count the hotel where the meeting is being held. The city itself is not what makes it fun, it is the connections that I make when I am training a group of volunteers and staff, the conversations they have about how they are going to make the world a better place because they are going to be able to raise more money, provide more services, find a cure. Third, again following the words of my nephew, I get to do cool things. In my role as a trainer and facilitator, I get to help staff and volunteers find ways to do their jobs better, ways they can work together better, ways they can solve the tough challenges ahead of them. I don't have all the answers for them, but I get to unleash their brains to think of ways to get the answers. A lot of my work is also with our fundraising staff so there are some days that I spend immersed in the event itself which could include creating a cowbell parade down Michigan Ave at 5am. It's not about the event itself, it is about the experience, the passion, the connection that everyone has to cancer, and the drive, making sure all 40,000 athletes running the Chicago Marathon and all of the spectators know, that we are the American Cancer Society, we are saving lives, we will find a cure. Fourth, I get to hang out with crazy people. Crazy is such a relative term. Were we a little crazy that morning, sure, are we a little crazy at 3 am on a track walking laps at a Relay For Life event, sure, but what makes my job the best ever, is that the people I come into contact with through my work all share something, they all share a underlying passion and belief that cancer is bad, and we need to do something about it. I have met people that have lost their mothers before they were old enough to really remember them, I have met people whose father never had the chance to walk her down the isle, a mother who never got to see her son graduate high school because cancer took his life. Your heart can not help but to feel when you meet people and here their stories and share your own. I have the best job ever because I get to work with people everyday who want and are making a difference. I have the best job ever because my team of 22 individuals who live in eight different states, across all four major timezones would work day and night to help me finish a project if I needed them to. We have a tremendous leadership team that allows us to use our strengths and develop in areas where we want, to work on projects outside of our normal role, a leadership team that sees our potential, draws it out, even when we might not see it ourselves. You don't find that everywhere, but when you do, you stay, you learn, you grow, you have the best job ever!

Learn more about all our Best Jobs Ever at www.cancer.org/careers

American Cancer Society - A great place to work

American Cancer Society is a destination Employer for young professionals! Recently Announced in the Wall Street Journal, ACS ranked #18 Universum queried about 6,700 early-career professionals, defined as college graduates under the age of 40 with one to eight years of work experience, and asked them to pick as many as five ideal employers out of a list of about 200.

My Path to the American Cancer Society

by: Savanna Rayner, Communications Representative, Great Lakes Division

While I was in college at Grand Valley State University, I got involved with their very active chapter of Colleges Against Cancer. I had heard of Relay For Life before and been to an event briefly, but I didn’t know a whole lot about it. I jumped right in and fell in love with both Relay and Colleges Against Cancer. It was so exciting to be involved with a group of young people who were so passionate about fighting back against cancer! I applied and was accepted onto my division’s collegiate training team and having the opportunity to meet and network with other college students from around the country who were also so dedicated to this cause was amazing.

As my graduation date neared, I began applying for jobs with the American Cancer Society. The thought that I could make a career out of doing something that I enjoy, love, and had devoted so much volunteer time to sounded like a dream come true. On the same weekend that I found out I was offered a position with the American Cancer Society, my husband proposed to me. It was unbelievable timing- the first time I had ever met the man who became my husband was at the Relay For Life event at our college, so Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society held a special place in both of our hearts. On our wedding day, we chose to make our first charitable donation as a couple to the American Cancer Society. Not only had we both lost loved ones to this awful disease, but we might not have ever met and fallen in love if it weren’t for Relay.

My husband lost two of his grandparents to

cancer before he was even born. My grandpa lost his battle with colon cancer. My grandma is a breast cancer survivor. My aunt is a breast cancer survivor. My great aunt is a 14-year lung cancer survivor with just one lung.

My dad has followed the screening guidelines set forth by the American Cancer Society with strict vigilance and has been able to have pre-cancerous colon cancer cells removed before they became a problem.

My mom has never had cancer, but her sister has, so my mom decided to join the Sister Study- a research study following women who have never been diagnosed with cancer, but who have sisters who have. She heard about this study through the American Cancer Society.

My little sister has now gotten involved with the Colleges Against Cancer chapter at her school.

This summer, I took my new baby son to his first Relay. At only a few months old he doesn’t understand all of the special meaning that Relay and the American Cancer Society has to our family, but he will.

Being able to share the amazing work that the American Cancer Society does is fulfilling work on its own, but I really enjoy working with the volunteers. They are energetic, passionate, and hard-working- I’ve been in their shoes and I know how much of their heart and soul they put into their work with us! Being a part of the American Cancer Society as both a volunteer and a staff member has been an integral part of my life, and I am inspired on a daily basis by the volunteers and other staff that I work with. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to work with an organization that is so fulfilling both personally and professionally!

Why I like working at the American Cancer Society

A brief reflection from Mae Watkins - Manager of Planned Giving Upon my arrival with the ACS some 14 years ago, I have observed a tremendous amount of change over the course of years and have found it refreshing to witness the devotion of our Distinguished Giving Directors who are continuously meeting with donors and helping them to devise a giving plan that benefits their individual goals as well as helping the organization to meet its goals and objectives. I have heard many testimonies and stories from these friends of the organization relating to expand their personal battle with cancer or the battle of a friend or family member who was affected by cancer. Each has a fondness for the organization and the work that it performs in communities all around the country. It gives me pride and warms my heart to know that the work we do is met with such support and admiration

Thinking about Making the change to non-profit.....afraid? what can I expect? why?

So if you are like many of the employees here at the American Cancer Society - your experience is in the for profit sector - might be in big business, might be in small business, might be in global business or even in local. Perhaps you have "seen" the non-profit world as a volunteer or on a late night commercial asking for you to donate to a cause (if you have let me just say thank you). Well, I would argue that you really haven't seen the non-profit side truly as we see and experience it here at the American Cancer Society every day..... Our business is a tough one; its a challenging one; its an important one! We take our approach to the business of fighting cancer with the same style, application of business knowledge and energy as you might see in any corporate headquarters, branch office, or local store. Its serious business this cancer thing and we need serious professionals to help us reach out objective. Our objective is a noble one for sure but its also a business one - making the same decisions that a manager, sales associate, executive etc. makes in a for profit organization.... what is different.... really ..... is the WHY!

Why do we need to priorities projects? Why do we need to cut that program? Why do we need to invest in that particular area and not the other area? Why do we need to document and streamline that process? Why do we need a policy for social media? Why do we need a creative director? Why? Why? Why? Not to take market share, not to increase earnings per share or stock price, not to increase our product portfolio - but to eliminate cancer!

I guess what I am trying to say is that often people think that working here must be like working with a bunch of idealistic folks that want to save the world and solve world hunger all be giving everyone a hug - but that is not it at all! The employees at the American Cancer Society are professionals in ever sense of the world - educated, experienced and serious about their area of expertise and the job they are hired to do - but they do it for a reason bigger than themselves and that my friends is what I believe we mean by Satisfied with your career.....

Why I like working here.......

I recently posted this question on our Yammer account here at the American Cancer Society..... "why do you like working at the American Cancer Society?" Here is what I heard:

I Love working for ACS because I am given the opportunity to work with people who are as equally passionate and committed to transforming our nation's Health Care System as I am. Mandi Battaglia Seiler, Health Insurance Assistance Service Team Supervisor

What I love about working at ACS is the balance of autonomy and team work. The room to be creative coupled with the systems that are in place to help me effectively achieve my goals. I have the opportunity to work with the best and brightest; I love coming to work because of the people I work with. At ACS my job isn't the same every day; its fast paced, high energy and we are always looking for new ways to do more and be better. Also, after working at other non-profits I know the value of expand »resources. At ACS I have the tools and means to be successful. My supervisors recognize my talents and want to see ME be successful and take the time to provide mentorship and new challenging opportunities. At ACS I am never stagnant. My department works to "increase resources and remove barriers" so that we can do our job and save lives!

I came to ACS 17 years ago fairly green in the communications field. Since that have time, I have had the opportunity to grow in my career through training opportunities and on-the-job experience. Today I'm the director of creative and brand strategy for the Mid-South Division, and it is a great fit for where I am in my professional life. "Save lives, fulfill yours" perfectly describes my career at ACS.

I've been engaged with staff entering and exiting this organization for 25 years. The feedback is remarkably consistent..."getting to work with accomplished and passionate professionals!!!

Check out all our employment opportunities at cancer.org/careers

ACS and Advertising, by Andy Goldsmith I joined the ACS nearly six years ago, not because I felt passionately about the mission (though I do). But as a brand and advertising guy, the opportunity to work for one of the best known brands in the world, which also faced a ton of interesting business problems, was highly attractive to me. The opportunity to practice my craft at a high, high level, while doing work that had tremendous societal benefit, wooed me too. And finally, the outstanding caliber and quality of the people who were already engaged at ACS was both surprising and invigorating. And so here I am. As the head of advertising and brand strategy, I can say that we are very fortunate to be able to use paid advertising as a strategic tool. Many non-profits cannot. Nonetheless, there are a variety of ways to think about precisely how we use advertising. We are a large and complex organization and there are many, many jobs to do -- and just as many different perspectives on what success (in advertising) looks like. Our advertising success doesn't come in a vacuum: there is only so much attention that people will give to our message, among the estimated 3000-5000 brand messages they're exposed to every single day! Given the pressures of day-to-day business, and the need to continuously show progress, it's valid to question whether our ads should be about (a) building our brand & raising awareness, or about (b) moving people to take immediate action. This "brand-building vs. retail sales" discussion takes place in every company, for-profit or not-profit. As one of the people who has "raising awareness" in my job description ... I think both sides of the debate are valid. Simply raising awareness without an end-game in mind is of course a fool's journey. However, let's think about the goals of the ACS. For the sake of argument, let's say that fundamentally we have two kinds of goals ... I'll call them "10-day goals" vs. "10-year goals." Our 10-day goals are clearly about how we help newly diagnosed patients, gain Relay For Life supporters, acquire donations, etc. All critically important (and we won't be around to worry about 10-year goals if we don't get these right). But if all we focus on are the 10-day goals, that too could be costly to our success. Here's the theory. See if you agree. Think of the hundreds of thousands of people who'll unfortunately be diagnosed with cancer this year. Now think of the millions and millions who won't. They don't necessarily need us today or even tomorrow. They don't necessarily want to be part of the "cancer club." But ... if we can predispose the latter group to turning to the ACS ... telling them what we do, how we are winning, how we can help ... we're setting ourselves (and them) up for the future, when they need us (to use services, to volunteer, to donate). If we don't bother doing so, we risk becoming less relevant and less able to do our job vs. the 10-year goals. That's part of what we're trying to accomplish with the Birthdays campaign. Specifically, to deepen people's knowledge and maintain (or regain) contemporary relevance. I'm not arguing that we always get the balance exactly right. Only that: our ambition to raise awareness (knowledge, relevance) with a firm eye toward what we want to accomplish in the future is crucial. And so we're working hard every day ... to get the recipe just right.