It’s the new year and we’re all turning over a new leaf, so now is the perfect time to reassess whether the work we do is as meaningful as we want it to be. And if not, how can you go about changing that? One way is to consider a career in the voluntary sector.
There are more than 200,000 charities registered across the UK, with many more smaller ones unregistered. The third sector is notoriously competitive and funding pressures exacerbate the strain, but it is also a very diverse sector, with roles from fundraising and volunteering to management and media communications, which leaves plenty of scope for opportunity.
Here are some tips for getting a job in a charity, whether you’re considering a career change or starting from scratch.
Volunteering is a valuable investment
Charity work is almost unique as a primarily values-led career, which means demonstrating your commitment, as well as relevant skills and experience, can often be more valuable than simply possessing qualifications.
The sector has come under fire for its dependence on unpaid internships, which are increasingly a prerequisite for graduates, but there are other options.
Some charities, such as the Wellcome Trust and People & Planet, offer paid internships, while others such as Tearfund have developed a part-time scheme that enables interns to work alongside the placement. Needless to say, these are as a result some of the most competitive avenues, alongside those offered by large household names such as the National Trust, Oxfam, Red Cross, Macmillan, Age UK and others, which can offer to reimburse expenses and travel costs.
Smaller organisations offer less formal volunteering opportunities but with the added benefit of practical hands-on experience across a breadth of roles.
Websites such as Do It, vInspired for 16 to 25-year-olds, and Reach, which places professional volunteers, list advertised opportunities, but small charities are more likely to be receptive to speculative applications and requests for work shadowing.
Overseas volunteering projects look glamorous but can be expensive; residential voluntary work, however, provides accommodation, food and travel expenses.
Networking really works
Volunteering is one of the best ways to build relationships within the sector and you should exploit any connections you make mercilessly: ask for further introductions from people you know.
Get a feel for individual charities you are interested in by talking to reps at fundraising events, and consult websites and social media to find out who might be useful to get in contact with.
When initiating contact, however, don’t jump straight in and ask for a job – ask for information. What kind of people work for the organisation, what skills and experience did they have before getting a job, what would their advice be for someone starting out.
Be specific about why you are contacting them, and what you admire about their work – emails that have clearly been copied and pasted are much less likely to get a response. Some people won’t reply, but if for every 100 requests you receive one nugget of insight, it can be worth it.
Keep a sharp eye on what’s happening
Permanent positions are usually advertised formally but organisations will also recruit for contract positions on a more informal basis. At the very least, being tuned in to the sector as a whole might lead to unexpected opportunities.
Charities often recruit extra staff if they receive increased government funding, for example, so find out which areas are being prioritised by the government (such as homelessness, or social care) and pursue contacts in those fields.
Are there any training course or qualifications I can complete to boost my chances?
The short answer is, it depends on the job. For some, such as volunteer management or fundraising, qualifications are not as important as skills, experience and passion for the cause. Although the Institute of Fundraising offers a variety of courses and other areas such as marketing, sales or finance typically require business-related degrees. The Directory of Social Change offers training in areas such as campaigning and lobbying, both of which could help you to stand out from a crowd of other applicants. International development is the notoriously competitive exception, where often applicants for even entry-level positions have postgraduate qualifications – but there are still courses such as those offered by RedR, which offer formal training in requisite skills.
Do I need to live in London?
The majority of charities are based in London, so you will have more options to choose from if you live in the capital or a commutable distance away.
There are, however, many opportunities to be had beyond the big smoke: Sightsavers for instance, is based in Haywards Heath, RNLI in Poole, Barnardo’s in Essex and World Vision UK in Milton Keynes, to name just a few.
High-profile charities tend to locate their head office in London, but there are even more opportunities if you look beyond the big names. And while it may be smaller charities outside London, there are also fewer candidates applying for those jobs.
Be flexible
The sector is vast, but while it’s usual to prioritise charities to which you feel a personal connection, don’t expect to find the perfect job first time around. Think more laterally about whether you are looking for a hands-on role or one more focused on support and management. What size charity do you want to work for? Small organisations tend to prefer people who are more flexible, while larger organisations will prefer specialists. ation.
International development is the most sought-after sub-sector and therefore the most challenging to break into, even graduates with a related degree can struggle, so is there something else you’d be willing to experiment with first to gain experience?
Prepare for a pay cut
Entry level jobs in the third sector have lower than average salaries, and even at executive level will peak far below market rates – but this is the reality of making the move into a sector not primarily motivated by money. Accepting a pay cut may be necessary to get a strategic foot in the door. And as a trade-off, charities are renowned for generous flexible working policies.
Persevere
Charity funding is being squeezed from all sides and the employment market is competitive. Some charities now interview for volunteer positions.
Make sure you fully think through the implications of embarking on such an arduous application process and ensure you have the endurance to see it through – if it’s something you are truly committed to, it’s going to require a significant investment of time and a lot of tenacity.
Work in the voluntary sector? If you have suggestions for new joiners, leave them in the comment thread below.
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