Charity jobs: what you need to know
Why work for a charity?
The charity sector offers a rare feel-good factor to a huge number of employees, giving workers the chance to make a real difference by helping the people who need it most. Let's be up front, though - charity work isn't an easy gig, so if you're after a strict 9 to 5 job, then you're probably best looking elsewhere. Passion, commitment and dedication are all necessities for charity workers, as well as a willingness to get the job done, no matter what it takes. This is also one of the most rewarding sectors of all to work in, though, as we'll now explain.
A sense of well-being
The main benefit of charity work for the vast majority of people comes in the form of added fulfilment. Many careers pay a hefty wedge of cash, but it’s unlikely that employees go home at night feeling that they’ve made a positive impact on the world around them. Working within a charity should provide you with just that feeling – and that's a boost that should have you bouncing to work in the morning. In this ever more cynical world, how many people can honestly say that they eagerly anticipate their working day because they know they’re helping people? Not many, we’d wager.
Transferable skills
Most charities offer a huge variety of job opportunities so, whatever your chosen career, working within this area should provide you with valuable skills that you can call upon when you come to look for subsequent roles. Of course, having gained experience within the charity sector, many people choose to focus their entire career within this interesting and diverse area. But the simple fact is that whatever work you perform within a charity will transfer into a whole heap of other sectors, giving you a greater chance to get the jobs you want in future.
Experience
For graduates, unpaid internships are increasingly becoming a fact of life, but charities have always provided ample opportunity for the inexperienced to gain valuable knowledge of working within a certain job role. Granted, you won’t be earning a bucketload of cash (well, none at this stage), but it will get you on the first rung of the ladder.
Likewise, if you’re thinking of changing career, or you lack experience within a particular area, the charity sector could pay dividends. As long as you are prepared to do a little pro bono work – although we should make it clear that the vast majority of jobs within the charity sector are well-paid – you can reap the rewards in the form of experience you simply wouldn’t have picked up in any other way.
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