Third Sector Careers Advice
Career Advice for people wishing to
work in the charity sector.
The sector is called many things. Here are just a few examples; not for profit, third sector, charity sector, voluntary sector. The sector is extremely diverse and many areas of employment are similar to the private sector. For example, accountancy, communications/marketing, project management, and even sales are areas where your skills can be transferable. The key to obtaining your job in the sector is to see what skills you think are universal or can easily be transferred, and of course what skills you have that can give you the edge on other candidates.
If you are thinking of moving over then do a lot of research. There is so much listed on google we won't go into detail, but a good way to start is typing in your current area of work and then adding charity after it. For example, project management in charities.
Think about what you want to do and how much you need to earn. It's no good just sending your CV to a charity or agency saying you would like to work in the charity sector without knowing what area you wish to work in, and why a particular charity should employ you. List your skills and tell them why these skills are particularly useful. What added value can you bring to an organisation etc.
This may seem obvious but many organisations receive CVs from people not really knowing what they want to do, just that they want to "do good" or "make a difference" That's great, but it won't get you a job unless you have the skills they need and you have spelt them out.
Sector salaries
Salaries in not for profit organisations are as varied as the jobs on offer, however, surprisingly competitive with many private sector positions. Salaries ranging from £30,000 to £60,000 are not uncommon. However, senior position salaries are still lagging behind the private sector, particularly at Director level.
Already working in the Third Sector?
If you are now looking for your next move then make sure you articulate your skills and experience (with examples of success and please make it jargon free. Keep it short and precise and know exactly what you want and why you are applying for a particular position. If you are asked to send in your CV keep it to two pages. Bullet point as much as possible and highlight your main responsibilities and successes. If an employer is interested they will ask for more information. Remember an employer will receive dozens of CVs or applications so you need to make sure you grab their interest immediately. They are far more interested in knowing your recent successes than what achievements you did in school or university. Remember charities may exist to make a difference but they are also run on business lines. They want to employ successful and motivated people just like any other type of organisation.
If you want to obtain expert advice then please email us your CV and we will tell you how it can be improved.
If there is a particular cause that you wish to be involved with why not phone up those charities working in that particular area. Yes phone them up and talk to the person that you think would be your line manager, it can do no harm and they may know of a vacancy in another organization. You never know there may be a vacancy in the charity you call. While we are on the subject of calling, please call, do not email. Email is becoming very impersonal. Use the phone because most people won't!
New to work or just left University?
All of the above applies to you to. It's a great sector to work in with perhaps some of the most interesting jobs in society. There are many very large recruitment specialists you can contact who may be able to help you. You can start by sending abbey solutions your CV. www.abbeysolutions.co.uk. They can advise you on the best strategy to take. If this is what you really want be persistent. Goodluck!