Case studies - social sciences

• Psychology
• Sociology

Alasdair - Charity fundraiser

While Alasdair was a student, he was involved in the Student Association as a volunteer events and entertainment representative. This gave him experience in planning and organising different events and also in managing a team of volunteer helpers. When at university he also held the position of treasurer on the Student Societies’ Council. The experience he gained from this has proved valuable in his present post of marketing and fundraising officer at a local voluntary service when he applies for funding from charitable trusts and companies.

On graduation, Alasdair decided that he wanted to pursue a career in events organisation and initially he considered going into the corporate sector. However, the skills and experience that he gained during his extracurricular activities at university resulted in his successful application for his current role. He has never regretted deciding to work in the voluntary sector.

In this post Alasdair is responsible for contacting local companies and organisations that may be interested in donating funds. This involves researching possible sources, making contact and persuading them of the value of supporting the charity. One day he may be approaching a multinational oil company, whilst the same evening he may be talking to members of a church guild. This requires good communication skills and an ability to talk to audiences at both a formal and informal level.

An important part of his job is planning, organising and promoting events and seeing them through to a successful conclusion. He gains personal satisfaction when he sees money coming in which will be used to provide services to the local community.

'Working in the voluntary sector brings great job satisfaction', he says. 'All the staff are enthusiastic and committed to the same common purpose and this generates great team spirit.'

Emma - Academic librarian

Emma is an assistant subject adviser within the learning and information service of a UK university. She is responsible for supporting a range of academic subjects over two campuses.

‘I’d chosen to study sociology because it was a subject I enjoyed and as a way of keeping my career options open. At university I did a week’s work experience in a public library. Although I enjoyed the contact with people and the environment, I was concerned about the constraints within the sector and decided that although librarianship appealed, I wanted to make my career in another sector. I also worked in one of the college libraries for four hours a week, which was also useful experience.

In my final year I applied for graduate traineeships, one in the public sector because it was near to home, and two within a university, one of which I was offered and accepted. I was part of a small team of three in a college library covering the full range of subjects. Working in a small team gave me a good overview of the whole operation and I had a wide range of duties from cataloguing old books to updating the college’s website. I then applied for Masters courses and was accepted for one. Towards the end of the course I applied for my current post.

I like the variety in the job and the fact that I have many different duties. These include inductions for students, training in the use of resources, both print and electronic, and facilities, study skills and support, liaison with academic staff through programme committees, ordering and budgets, classification and enquiry desk work.’

Emma has started to study towards Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals via Route A and has completed the training year.