Discover other sectors
This sector not for you? Don't worry, there are plenty of others to explore.
The charity and voluntary sector (third sector) includes over 167,000 registered charities in the UK, with a combined income in excess of £75 billion. The sector offers a wide range of job opportunities, in large and small organisations. You could be directly involved in providing care and support, or working in a business role, fundraising, campaiging or in policy and research.
Research the sector and keep up with current issues by reading:
Depending on the role you are considering, specific qualifications may be required (eg for finance, HR, IT roles), as well as knowledge of the sector. Look at job descriptions to see what employers are looking for. You are likely to need:
Can you demonstrate you have these skills, or can you develop them? See Your employability skills and qualities for some suggestions.
The chance to do some work shadowing, an internship or volunteering not only shows your committment to a cause and gives you relevant experience, but can help you test whether it's the right industry for you:
See www.do-it.org to find details of organisations, and contact them directly to see if they have any opportunities. Volunteers are often in the best position to hear about any paid roles that might become available.
Some graduate schemes in the sector include:
Consider the option of first gaining qualifications/experience/skills in the public or private sector and moving into the voluntary sector later - this is a significant entry route for many.
Vacancies are posted directly on organisations' websites, Handshake, newspapers and through specialist websites including:
The recruitment process is likely to vary depending on the size of the organisation you are applying to. See our pages on the recruitment process for more information.
There are lots of things you can do to help you learn more about this sector, and get valuable experience to boost your chances of success.