Advice for Starting a Career with the Charity Sector – Part 1

Starting any career can be exciting and everyone is bound to have a few questions. Working for a charity is a unique and rewarding career path. Here are a few pointers to help answer those questions you might have and provide a bit more insight into the charity sector.

 1.     Funding

It is important to mention this first because without funding charities would not be able to survive so the funding system is essential. When it comes to the funding system charities often face guide lines for how long the money will last and sometimes what they have to give the funders in return. These guide lines can very quickly affect the jobs that you are applying for and a charity can easily loose staff and services. When you apply for a job it is worth asking about the funding and check the employment contract thoroughly before signing. This will give you a good idea of how the charity has been performing lately and how it compares to previous years or months.

 2.     Volunteering

Volunteering can be a great way to get your foot in the door and secure a paid job but it is also a good way to help you decide on the most suitable charity for your professional development. An employer is going to be looking for experience as well as skills and qualifications so a great way to gain some is to work for free. If you can do a couple of different voluntary placements, you will broaden you skill set and be able to offer more to a future employer.

 3.     Qualifications

Qualifications can help everyone working in the charity, not only are they personally beneficial for an individual but individuals are then able to lend skills and expertise to others within the company. With the market place becoming very competitive as more people have degrees, it is important to add more strings to your bow to increase the chance of success. Qualifications are great for enhancing your career and supporting the knowledge and skills you may already have.

 4.     Flexibility

No matter what role you are in remember to be flexible, it is vital and you will see the benefits. Proving you have an ability to constantly learn and apply new skills for problem solving will make you very desirable to an employer and valued by your colleagues.

 

Part 2 is available now but if you are keen to look through the jobs available in the third sector click here for a full list.

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