JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 234

I

f asked to picture a charity worker, you might imagine someone
building a school for underprivileged children, a retired person
sorting secondhand clothes in a shop, or an enthusiastic volunteer
encouraging high-street shoppers to donate. In fact, the charity or
"third" sector (ie, not private or government) includes the full
gamut of positions, and can offer rich rewards beyond the numbers
on your payslip. With more than 180,000 registered charities in
England and Wales (and dozens more in Scotland and Northern Ireland), you're
sure to find one whose cause you believe in - which is one of the main attractions
for those who work in this sector. And with the third-sector workforce employing
around 850,000 people, a number that's growing by about 10,000 employees every
year, the work available is varied and widespread.

Many of those who work for charities
do so because their priority is to make
a difference to people's lives, but that's
not to say the financial rewards are
insignificant. Although volunteering
is a significant part of the charity
industry, there are thousands of paid
jobs too, including those for graduates.
Apart from the competitive salaries,
charities also have a reputation for
being good employers, with high staff
retention rates. Many charities also
offer flexible working options for their
employees and plentiful opportunities
for training and career development.

to raise awareness of issues and to
attract donors and new volunteers.

Get paid to aid

Not so formal
Another reason to look to the charity
sector for employment is that often
specialist skills or qualifications are
not required. While some roles -
especially technical and executive
jobs - often require a degree or formal
qualification in the relevant field,
for others commitment, enthusiasm
and an interest in the issues may be
enough, with excellent communication
and organisation skills a plus.
One thing you may find beneficial is
to be proficient in using social media,
because charities rely on the likes of
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to
get their message out quickly, both
2 3 4 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

Positions in charities
* Accountancy and finance
* Administration * Advice and
counselling * Campaigning, lobbying
and fundraising * Corporate social
responsibility * Human resources
* Information technology * Marketing
and public relations * Project
management * Research and policy
* Retail * Social care * Support services
* Teaching, education and training
* Volunteer management
Source: prospects.ac.uk

Raising funds is prominent among charity
roles, which means attracting corporate
sponsorship and grants from trusts, as well
as donations from major benefactors and
private donors. You'll need to be dedicated
and communicative, and the research
and presentation skills required to put
together bid proposals are also important.
Charity employees work in numerous
other fields, including administrative,
advisory, campaigning and lobbying,
financial management, policies, public
relations and branding. There is a huge
range of causes, too, so whether you're
passionate about animal welfare, medical
research, the care of elderly people,
provision of safe water, preserving sites
of historical importance or any one of
hundreds more issues, you will find a
charity that fits with your interests.

Find out more
* Charity Job
charityjob.co.uk
* Institute of Fundraising
institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
* Third Sector Jobs
jobs.thirdsector.co.uk


http://charityjob.co.uk http://institute-of-fundraising.org.uk http://prospects.ac.uk http://jobs.thirdsector.co.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

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