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job vacancies in administration How do I find a job?Charities recruit in different ways, so ensure you look in a variety of places when trying to find an advertised job in this sector. Many charities indicate that, due to limited resources, they are not able to respond to speculative applications. Some larger charities may advertise in national newspapers and magazines. Specialist trade publications will also be used. See contacts and resources for more details. Ads by Google Some charities advertise jobs on their own websites, so check the relevant sites if you're interested in specific charities. There are numerous specialist recruitment agencies/websites. A lot of these are based in London or the South East but handle jobs nationally. Examples include Charity Times and Goodmoves. Your university careers service 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 charity staff face to face, to network and find out about specific career and volunteering opportunities. There are other major charity careers events such as Forum 3 charity careers fair, organised by People Unlimited. Graduate training schemes are not common but some of the large charities offer paid and unpaid schemes. See Do more for further information. Find out more about applications, CVs and interviews. What skills do I need?- Charities expect candidates to be highly motivated and committed to the organisation’s mission.
- Interpersonal skills and strong planning and organisational skills are essential to many roles.
- Flexibility is required in dealing with the uncertainty that can sometimes go hand in hand with working for a charity.
- Respect and understanding of the involvement of volunteers in the functions of the organisation is an important aspect.
As well as generic skills such as literacy, numeracy, team working and communication skills, there are specialist skills that are specific to this sector, which include fundraising, volunteer management and campaigning. According to the UK Voluntary Sector Skills Survey, employers also identified strategic use of IT and legal knowledge as being specialist skills that were required over the next three years. Where can I find work experience?Volunteering is often seen as the best way to gain relevant work experience, as well as an insight into the way a charity works. It is viewed positively because it shows an understanding and commitment to the charity. However, some charities feel it should be made clear that volunteering does not necessarily lead to a job in 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 for 3–6 months in their organization. Although these internships are unpaid you may be able to work part time. Is postgraduate study useful?Postgraduate study is not always necessary depending on which charities or development work you wish to go into. For some jobs however, it is very useful and in some cases essential, such as in science roles in medical research charities. Doing postgraduate research or writing a dissertation on an area of particular relevance to a charity, will give specialist knowledge and experience which will be attractive to potential employers. In certain areas, especially environment and international development, where technical skills are needed, successful applicants to graduate schemes often have relevant postgraduate qualifications. How can my career develop?Career progression can be good for those who have a clear professional role, for example, in finance, marketing, HR and service delivery roles such as social work. Progression in sector-specific roles, such as volunteer manager, campaigner or fundraiser, is less clear. Developing your career may often mean moving sideways rather than upwards. For some it may mean moving to a different charity to get your next job. One of the characteristics of many voluntary organisations is a relatively flat structure. Developing your career in the charity sector will be influenced by your personal ambition and drive since a clear path is unlikely to be presented to you. Charities often advertise their vacancies internally, where an existing understanding of the way the organisation operates is an advantage. | 
