Career Change: How to Move into a Paid Job in the Charity Sector

Feeling stuck in the corporate labyrinth? Want to move into the charity sector, but think it seems inaccessible? Don’t despair! There are plenty of routes you can take to get a paid job in the charity sector, depending on your level of experience and number of transferable skills.

Here are the key things to consider before making a career move into the charity sector.

Why the charity sector?

There are many reasons why people want to move into the charity sector. Cause often comes top of the list, but people also want to make the change for experience and opportunities, not to mention the feeling that you’re making a difference every day.

There’s a huge variety of charity career options available, all of which can be a rewarding alternative to a corporate career.

Some exciting career options in the charity sector:

• International Development
• Animals
• Education
• Youth
• Disability
• Environment
• Mental health
• Arts, culture and heritage
• Fundraising
• Research

Career shifting from the corporate world into the charity sector is definitely possible and here’s how:

Your current role is transferable

If you’re already established in a career, it’s likely that demand for that profession exists in the charity sector. There’s almost always a need for experienced finance, legal and operations staff. More recent additions such as digital and software development broaden these opportunities further. As these career paths are well established outside of the third sector, they can provide a great way to move into a paid job in the charity sector.

However, it’s essential to be realistic. The animal and international development sectors, for example, are often the most popular but also the most competitive.

If your heart’s set on a complete career change, then you can always get your foot in the door and then look to change roles internally. Take a look at what you do already. Could you do that in the charity sector?

Volunteer to gain experience

This approach can be essential if you want to work for a smaller charity. They often won’t have enough funds to justify a large number of paid staff. In fact, volunteering is something you’ll want to consider anyway, as the experience is highly sought after in the charity sector. By volunteering to support a cause that’s dear to you, you’ll gain an insight into the sector and make valuable contacts.

Even if it doesn’t lead to a career, volunteering for charity can also be a great way of gaining experience. In a job market where unpaid work is as valuable as paid work, volunteering is a worthy alternative way of gaining charity job experience.

If you perform well in a voluntary position, it’s not uncommon to be offered a paid job (if the charity’s funds permit it). Take a look at what we’ve written about turning a volunteer role into a paid role. You could even look into becoming a trustee, potentially giving you (non-executive) management experience.

Schemes, internships and graduate opportunities

Graduate positions in the charity sector are less common than in the corporate world, but they do exist. Take a look and see which charities have entry level or graduate positions available. Similarly, internships are also available but occur much less frequently. A lot of the work done by interns in the corporate world is done by volunteers in the charity sector.

Even though internships and graduate opportunities can be few and far between, the sector is still looking for great graduates. Depending on the kind of work you’d like to do, there can be different routes to entry. Charities may also individually offer their own graduate opportunities, so it’s worth researching which ones are open for graduate applications and when. The general rule is that larger charities may run these schemes, but smaller, specialised, or local organisations are less likely to.

Your skills are transferable

They really are! If you have a strong CV and quality work experience, you should never feel that your skills are unwelcome in the charity sector. The requirement for ‘charity sector experience’ often turns candidates off, but remember that you’re qualified to make that application. Just harness the skills you already have.

Apply for roles based on your experience and think about what you’ve done before. For example, if it’s a policy and research position, you might have written research papers in your own sector, or when you were in education. A fundraising position might suit your sales or marketing background. After all, you’re going to spend your days convincing people they should donate to a worthy cause.

Your management experience might also be wholly relevant, but the door swings both ways. Don’t be offended if your 30 years of experience with operations in the oil and gas industry doesn’t attract advocacy interviews. With every application, you’ll need to show examples of how your work experience is relevant.

Do:

• Apply for positions where your skills are realistically transferable.
• Show your experience and give examples of how you can apply it to the job.
• Use skills gained from any volunteering.
• Show genuine interest in the charity and its cause.
• Volunteer, fundraise, campaign etc. and use it as experience.
• Network.

Don’t:

• Apply with generic cover letters.
• Use jargon or industry-specific terms (within reason).
• Give up after only a few applications.
• Forget about any skills or experience you may already have.
• Avoid entry-level positions or perceived side-steps.
• Choose a position based solely on salary, or expect the same as your corporate salary.

Remember to keep upskilling. Training or courses might just make you stand above the rest of the candidates. Check out the latest courses and training in the charity sector and stay on top.

Persevere, and have the right attitude

Successful charity sector applications can differ from those in the corporate sector. Experience counts, but in the end, people are in the charity sector because they care. Show that caring attitude and you’re much more likely to get the job.

A little luck, a little insight and a little positivity

Some of the conversations on CharityConnect can be illuminating; charity recruiters do want to hire career shifters, they just want some form of a demonstration of commitment to the sector. Many people have made the move into the charity sector. A little luck is needed, yes, but mostly perseverance and positivity.

Want to get a feel for what’s out there? Browse for new opportunities in the charity sector.

This post was originally published by the author in 2018 but has been fully updated by CharityJob to ensure relevance and to reflect the current job seeker experience.