Charities and the voluntary sector: career FAQs

Your questions answered about graduate careers in charities and the voluntary sector, including getting a job, applications, working life and salaries.

How can I get a job in charities and the voluntary sector?

There isn’t a standard entry route into this sector and, while a relevant qualification and practical skills can be very useful, work experience counts for a lot.

It is extremely competitive to get paid employment and most people who do so have some previous voluntary or unpaid experience and possibly a relevant qualification. Volunteering demonstrates understanding and commitment and you will get an insight into how a charity operates. Networking is important in this competitive field. Keep note of all the people you meet; use any contacts you have and constantly strengthen your links with people. Very often it can be a case of ‘who you know’, so keep your ear to the ground.

One option to consider immediately after graduation is a long-term voluntary work placement, either at home or overseas. Residential voluntary work provides accommodation, food and travel expenses. Often you get pocket money or local wages if working abroad.

The process of getting a job will depend on whether you are looking for paid or unpaid employment and on the size of the organisation. Large charitable organisations are more likely to recruit through formal advertisements and are more likely to have paid employment opportunities, whereas smaller organisations will operate on a more informal recruitment basis and often have few paid staff. Graduate training programmes do exist but are mainly in the UK and in very large charities such as Barnardos and Save the Children.

Find out more about voluntary work.

What are the different areas of work?

The diversity of the charity and voluntary sector is reflected in the range of jobs available. Many charities are also registered companies operating on large budgets, but the sector also includes organisations such as small community groups, colleges, places of worship, trade unions, NGOs and sports clubs. In this sector you’re likely to find all the business functions that keep any organisation running – finance, administration, communications etc – as well as more specialised jobs such as fundraising.

In a small organisation, a small number of staff might be responsible for all of the duties listed below, whereas in a large organisation there are usually separate departments for each function. The main areas of work are:

  • Service delivery: actually providing the service that the charity is focused on. This could be counselling, youth work, engineering, education etc. International aid and development is a relatively common example.
  • Fundraising: ensuring the success of the organisation through marketing, campaigning, communications, PR, grant applications, co-ordinating donations etc.
  • Policy research or strategy: keeping abreast of political developments, identifying key stakeholders in the decision-making process at European, national, regional and local government level, researching international trends etc.
  • Administration: issues such as managing staff and budgets, and volunteer co-ordination (recruitment, training and co-ordination). Administrators can often be key employees within this sector and requirements include good interpersonal ability, IT expertise and administrative skills.

Other areas include HR, government liaison, project management, and logistics.

What’s involved in the application process?

Applying for jobs in this sector usually involves a CV and cover letter. Application forms are not common except in the case of large, international organisations. Some large UK based charities offer both graduate recruitment programmes and internships, but competition is fierce and the recruitment process is just as rigorous as any bank or consultancy firm.

In Ireland, organisations in this sector are very unlikely to use a recruitment agency to hire staff, although there are specialist recruitment agencies in the UK.

It is quite common to find that charities do not respond to speculative applications as they have limited resources so you should always follow up any applications or include a stamped self-addressed envelope. This demonstrates your awareness of the tight funding situation within these organisations.

When should I apply?

Recruitment is ongoing through out the year. Only very large employers, mainly located in the UK, operate deadlines similar to other graduate recruitment dates (autumn of final year). You should apply early for work overseas (paid or unpaid) as medicals, reference checking etc can make the process quite lengthy. If you are trying to fit some volunteer work into a gap year and have limited availability, apply early and to a number of potential organisations.

What qualifications and skills do I need to work in charities and the voluntary sector?

A large proportion of workers in this sector have higher level qualifications. A specific qualification may be required for specific jobs, such as social work, ecology/conservation or disability nursing. Smaller organisations are more likely to recruit generalists while larger organisations often have the resources to employ people in more specialist roles.
Skills required in many roles include:

  • Motivation: you need to be committed to the organisation’s mission
  • Administrative skills.
  • Initiative and flexibility: staff numbers are often tight so you need to be flexible in your approach to work
  • Organisational ability
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication skills (verbal and written): you may be representing the organisation to the public
  • Language skills: may be useful in some jobs.

What are the opportunities for professional development?

There are numerous postgraduate courses which could be relevant, for example courses in sustainability or public health. However, these qualifications aren’t always necessary and it is probably better to get some work experience and then consider either a full or part-time postgraduate course. Ad hoc training will usually be provided by the organisation and in the UK there are online courses which focus on working in the voluntary sector.

What are the salaries in charities and the voluntary sector?

Salaries tend to be slightly lower in the not-for-profit sector than other sectors: organisations use their funds as far as possible for the cause they are focused on. Large charities are usually able to offer more generous salaries than small charitable organisations. Permanency may not be guaranteed as many organisations rely on external funding sources which can change annually. A typical starting salary in an Irish-based charity for a graduate is the low to mid €20,000s (£18,000 to £23,000).

What is working life like?

Office-based roles in this sector have similar conditions and hours to other office jobs although there may be a requirement to work extra hours during a particular campaign. People typically progress their careers by moving organisation, as opportunities for promotion are usually quite limited (many charities have quite flat organisation structures).

Overseas-based roles are very different in terms of living conditions as they involve longer working hours and being at the ‘coal face’ of a given situation. An overseas-based role has a huge impact on your lifestyle and this is something to really consider before committing to such a job.

As well as contributing your skills, you could experience greater job satisfaction than people working in the private or public sector because there is the opportunity to do work in tune with your values and to see the results of the work you do.

Where can I find further information?

Comhlámh
Supporter organisation for people interested in social justice, human rights and global development issues
Volunteering Options
Resources for people wanting to volunteer overseas
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Umbrella body for voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland
Community Northern Ireland
Social networking site for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland
Irish Aid
The Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries (part of the Department of Foreign Affairs)
Working For A Charity
UK Site promoting employment in the voluntary sector. 
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England
Experience Development
Portal for international development work

Other related career sectors

Public sector and civil service