Charity Career Advice

A career in the charity sector is a great way to give back to the community and make a difference. Charity jobs can cover a whole range of responsibilities from organising volunteers, arranging events, and collecting donations. Charity roles are available in a range of sectors, including working in charity administration, accounting or research.

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How to Work in the Charity sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Charity

Should you wish to work in Charity you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Charity Job

  • 5 GCSEs (charity fundraiser)
  • 2 or 3 A levels (charity fundraiser or charity director)
  • Level 4 or 5 Diploma in business management (charity director)

Core Charity Skills

A career in the charity sector calls for many skills and with a diverse choice of roles, you will find a job that you are passionate about while giving back. Specialist areas, such as counselling or social care, will need specific qualifications but you can start off as a volunteer or work in fundraising at the beginning. 

Charity professionals are people that truly want to make a difference and those that want a career that is rewarding and helps society.

If this sounds like you, then it is time to start a career in charity.

Key Responsibilities for a Charity Job

  • Recruiting volunteers for projects
  • Training new people in accordance with company policies
  • Supervising volunteers
  • Collecting information on volunteers to best coordinate team
  • Creating and implementing marketing campaigns
  • Matching volunteers to campaigns
  • Arranging schedules and cover to adequate staffing levels
  • Ensuring organisation's purpose is at the forefront of all activities
  • Promoting the organisation within the community
  • Recording and reporting activities to trustees

What to expect in a Charity Job

As there are various opportunities with charity careers, you can expect a lot of flexibility and options to try different sectors. You may work in a retail space, as part of a voluntary group working in the community, or in a social care setting. Charity jobs can involve research, education, and various administrative roles, so it's easy to find something that best suits your skills in this sector.

Recommended Charity Jobs

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How to get Charity Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Charity job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Charity application. If you have not held a Charity position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Charity role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Charity CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Charity application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Charity in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Charity 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Charity and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Charity experience.

How to get Charity Experience

What does it take to be a Charity? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Charity jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Charity through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Charity Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Charity part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Charity or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Charity freelance work

If you have impressive Charity qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.