This post was written by Cara Turner, a Hodwell team member and recent Oxford University Graduate.
As a recent graduate beginning the job search, I wanted to do something with social impact. But initially, I struggled to find entry-level roles in charities I felt qualified for.
However, through Hodwell Associates' Stephen Thorn’s advice and learning more about the plethora of not-for-profit clients the consultancy supports, I’ve gained insight into the sector; applying for jobs with social purpose now feels possible, as well as important.
As urgency increases to tackle the world’s most complex problems, such as inequality, the climate crisis and global health, social purpose careers are the future. 80,000 Hours, a careers advice not-for-profit that draws on the effective altruism movement, views your career as ‘your best opportunity to have a positive impact on the world.’ Alongside their online tool for career planning, the 80,000 hours book provides a logical, measured approach to thinking about social purpose careers. The book proposes six key ingredients in finding a best-fit job for you, and leads you through a step-by-step process helping you address those important, and sometimes intimidating, questions: ‘What are the world’s most pressing problems?’, ‘In which career can you do the most good?’, ‘How to find the right career for you’, and more.
I wanted to share a few of the questions that have been on my mind -- and might be on yours too.
How do I get started?
Getting experience with charities through volunteering or becoming a charity ambassador or trustee -- keep an eye on local organisations, social media and sites such as Do-it.org. Contact organisations you’d like to work with -- think about what they might need (extra hands for events, or a specific skill such as graphic design for a campaign...) and what you can offer.
Alongside that, engage with sector issues: use sites such as Third Sector, the Charity Times, Civil Society and Charity Job, which is great for job searches, but also includes pages on different roles and a career advice blog. If you’re a podcast person, try Good Charity, Bad Charity from the Centre for Charity Effectiveness (at Bayes Business School, City University) and the CharityComms podcast. Follow organisations on social media and engage in conversations.
What’s the best way to enter the sector?
There are plenty of approaches, so find the best fit for you...
Direct entry -- as Stephen’s advised me, there’s nothing quite like working within not-for-profit organisations for gaining experience of the sector. If you get immersed in the sector using the methods above, entry-level roles should be within your reach, with some careful searching and tailoring your application. These roles often have ‘assistant’ in the title (e.g. ‘policy assistant’). Search using job boards such as Charity Job and Third Sector, as well as search filters on sites like LinkedIn (try selecting the sector filter ‘Nonprofit Organization Management’) and Indeed. Sign up to newsletters from organisations and sector-related sites so you get notified of vacancies.
A social purpose graduate scheme - check out this careers blog post for more info. there are a few sector-specific schemes that will allow you to experience different areas. For example, CharityWorks allows you to get onto the career ladder, with advice from a mentor and networking. Several large charities run grad schemes, including Amnesty International and Cancer Research UK. IntoUniversity’s scheme might be for you if you’re passionate about young people’s learning and development. If you’re business-savvy but want to work for social change, look into Year Here, a study-style social enterprise scheme.
Other graduate schemes -- in the public sector (like the Civil Service Fast Stream or Teach First) or the private sector -- these provide skills that are transferable to working in the not-for-profit sector. Research options for secondment in purpose-driven areas.
Further study -- postgraduate courses provide a knowledge base and brilliant networking. A few courses approach general charity management; many more focus on specific vocational fields such as charity marketing and fundraising. Check out those offered by the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at the Bayes Business School.
How accessible and inclusive is the Third Sector?
Increasingly, the charity sector is focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to tackle issues that act as boundaries to people entering, and working within, the sector. A couple of key issues are...
If you’re worried about low salaries in entry-level Third Sector roles, there are a few options you could consider. A graduate scheme like CharityWorks, or starting out in a private sector role, might provide you with financial security early on; once you’ve gained training you’ll be able to access higher paid roles in the Third Sector. If you opt for an internship, there may be a bursary available.
Charities are so white… This is an area in which major change needs to happen. Some positives: the movement #CharitySoWhite, aiming to tackle institutional racism in the charity sector, has sparked conversations. Furthermore, the CharityWorks graduate scheme has a Fast Track scheme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants. Charities are making a concerted effort, including appointing DEI officers, another area of employment to consider.
Do I have to go into the private sector first?
I’d heard this advice (as opposed to direct entry into not-for-profits), stemming from concern about securing entry-level roles and accessing training (and thus progressing in your career). Entering the Third Sector via the private sector is viable, but it’s not the only -- or necessarily the best -- way.
Whilst interning at the charity KEEN, the UK’s only youth-led movement for the inclusion of disabled people, I realised how exciting and effective learning ‘on the job’ as part of a small team can be. Consider: can you see yourself starting out within a large charity, where there might be -- for example -- more formal training programmes, or a small one, where you work closely with a small number of people and try a range of tasks? Be aware of your need to learn and develop -- you can use interviews to ask what kind of training opportunities the organisation offers, and take charge of your learning by doing regular sector reading and research.
What are the different roles available? How do I know what role is right for me?
CharityJob has a selection of guides on specific roles within areas within the sector, which they break down into: admin, advocacy, business development, finance and fundraising, management, marketing and communication, policy and research, and social and support work. Whilst choosing which roles to apply for, consider your existing skills, passions, and volunteering or personal experience, but also think objectively, logically, and into the future.
How do I pick a cause?
Check out 80,000 Hours’ advice on thinking about the world’s most pressing and neglected problems.
You could start by thinking about options open to you now for volunteering or entry level roles -- perhaps your degree, personal experience or interests have given you knowledge or skills that make you a good fit for a certain cause. Once you’ve got started with volunteering or paid work in the sector, you’ll find that there’s so much intersection, so your not-for-profit journey need not be limited to one very specific area.
If you have lived experience, such as a disability, or accessing services, for example, mental health services, you could do powerful work within charities dedicated to those causes, or to working in policy around that area.
What else could I do to help my entry in the sector?
Whilst you can maximise your exposure to advertised roles using the advice above, you can also tap into unadvertised roles. You might learn an organisation needs help with something via volunteering, social media or word of mouth, if you’re proactive. Reach out to people and organisations to get advice and offer your help -- at worst you might not get a reply, at best, you’ll gain sector insight and perhaps experience or paid work. Once you’ve made contacts, keep in touch! Attend sector events and, if you’re a student or graduate, make use of your school, college or uni careers service.
So, good luck with the search!
As a first point of call I recommend checking out the resources page, case studies and other information on the Hodwell Associates website -- it’s a great insight into the challenges facing not-for-profit organisations and the successes they achieve.
Resources glossary
80,000 Hours
Volunteering
Sector sites
Charity job blog https://www.charityjob.co.uk/careeradvice/
NPC Think tank https://www.thinknpc.org/, learning about the sector https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/
Podcasts
Grad schemes
CharityWorks Fast track: https://www.charity-works.co.uk/taster-programme/
Blog with more information on these https://www.studentjob.co.uk/blog/4331-uk-charity-graduate-schemes-you-should-consider-applying-for
Further study