Charity and development work : Entry and progression

How do I find a job?

Many larger organisations advertise in national newspapers and specialist trade press.

These include:

• Charity Action Recruitment  
• CharityJOB  
• People Unlimited  
• DevNetJobs  
• Forum 3  
• Goodmoves  
• HarrisHill  

An increasing amount of organisations only advertise jobs on their own websites to save money, so check the relevant sites if you're interested in specific charities.

Careers Services Desk  can inform you of relevant careers fairs either at your own university or at open events at other universities. Careers fairs provide a valuable way to meet organisations face to face, to network and find out about specific career and volunteering opportunities. 

Forum 3  is an annual professional recruitment, volunteering and networking event for the not-for-profit sector. Many leading charities choose to exhibit there. 

Graduate training schemes are not that common but some charities offer paid and unpaid schemes. These include:

• Barnardo's  runs a voluntary internship scheme.
• Cancer Research UK  offers a graduate training scheme in areas including fundraising, marketing and communications, corporate services and science. The charity also offers a voluntary internship programme.
• Mines Advisory Group   offers an unpaid internship scheme.
• Oxfam offers a voluntary internship scheme based in the UK.
• Charities Advisory Trust offers graduates paid internship placements.

It is important to note that entry to the sector is increasingly competitive with some organisations receiving around 300 applications for entry level positions. It is therefore important that you follow all the application procedures correctly and make your application as interesting as possible to help you stand out from the crowd. Due to limited resources, many organisations are unable to respond to speculative applications.

What skills do I need?

A diverse range of skills are often required. These include:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong planning, organisation and time management skills.
• Flexibility is required in dealing with the uncertainty that can sometimes go hand in hand with working in the charity/development sector. 
• A good understanding of the sector and how it relates to other sectors.
• Skills sharing and mentoring.
• A good understanding of the importance of volunteers within the organisation.  
• An ability to be resourceful and show initiative.
• Good IT and web based skills.
• Leadership skills, which can be developed through work experience, voluntary work, being an active member of a student society and through your academic studies.

As well as generic skills such as strong administration skills and team working, charities expect candidates to be highly motivated and committed.  Some specialist skills that are specific to particular roles within the sector may also be required. These can include:

• Fundraising skills and experience.
• Campaigning.
• Volunteer management.
• Languages.
• Capacity building and the ability to work within communities.

Where can I find work experience?

Volunteering is a good way to gain relevant experience. It helps you develop key skills and shows potential employees that you have a good understanding and commitment to the organisation and/or sector. However, some charities feel it should be made clear that volunteering does not necessarily lead to a job within the organisation.

Many charities allow volunteers access to their internal vacancy listings and also have volunteer sections on their websites.

Some charities offer the opportunity to work as an intern.

Is postgraduate study useful?

Postgraduate study is not always necessary. For some jobs however, it is very useful and in some cases essential, such as in science roles in medical research charities.

Undertaking postgraduate research on an area of particular relevance to a charity will give specialist knowledge and experience which can be attractive to potential employers.

In certain areas, such as international development, successful applicants to entry level positions often have relevant postgraduate qualifications.

How can my career develop?

Career paths can be less vertical than in the private sector.  Developing your career may mean moving sideways rather than upwards.  Organisations are increasingly allowing employees to pursue secondment opportunities within a different part of the organisation or within similar organisations to enable them to develop their career.  Alternatively you may have to move to a different charity to gain promotion.

Charities often advertise vacancies internally, where an existing understanding of the way the organisation operates is an advantage.