How to find work for charities Get experience volunteering. The first step in finding work in a charity is to gain experience as a volunteer and work with charities. Learn more about the organizations that interest you. Use the websites of charitable watchdog groups to see how organizations are doing, go to the charity's website, or call for more information.
In most organizations, you'll need to contact a volunteer coordinator who can tell you about volunteering in the organization and help you get started once you decide where to do it. There are several ways to get the kind of experience that employers might be looking for. In smaller charities, your position may be official or manager from the start, and you may have to collaborate anywhere else they need you. Many charities have highly coordinated volunteer programs, so you may be asked to attend an interview or to undergo extensive training once they accept you to their program.
Determine what you hope to achieve by donating your time and identify the charities that are working to achieve those goals. There are big differences between large and small charities, as the latter tend to be more local and are found in smaller towns and cities than large organizations based in megacities such as London. Volunteers often perform a variety of tasks for charities, such as filling envelopes, feeding animals, tutoring children, building houses, or simply answering the phone. Many charities prefer applicants to have practical experience and skills rather than theoretical knowledge.
For example, if you apply to be a fundraising assistant, you should be able to talk about the charity's past and future fundraising events, as well as about fundraising events for comparable charities. Most charities want to see how an applicant's skills and experience correlate with their fundraising needs. You probably know that it's not about the money: the salaries of charities tend to be lower than in the private sector. A positive attitude is always highly valued, especially in smaller charities, where employees are expected to be stuck in a variety of tasks and departments due to budget restrictions.
Many small, local charities have been forced to make changes to their services to meet the funding conditions set by local authorities and municipalities, which also presents a challenge for charities in meeting their objectives. Staff turnover in the sector is very fast, as charities require people who can manage many tasks under pressure when resources are scarce. Similarly, when charities receive additional funding, they tend to start hiring, so staying on top of events is a good option. There are around 168,000 charities in England and Wales, but the majority of charities in the United Kingdom (80%) are in England, with the highest proportion in the South East.
