Charity begins at work! Jobs in the charity sector

Looking to crack the charity sector in Scotland but don’t know where to start? The not-for-profit industry is booming in key areas across the country and although paid charity jobs are always in high demand, the so-called ‘third sector’ is growing all the time and delivers a steady flow of opportunities. From marketing and communications roles to development and working with the client group itself, read on to find out how to get into charity work and what kind of experience you can expect.

How to get into the charity sector

If you want to make a career in charity work, one route is to pave the way with a related course or degree subject. Business management, international relations and PR/marketing can all be great springboards for charity work after graduation. More specific courses are also available for those who want to change careers, and here you can take anything from charity management to non-profit studies, at both post-graduate and vocational levels.

One major recommendation for getting into the charity sector is by seeking volunteer work or some form of unpaid work experience. Go for positions with smaller, local charities or entry-level positions such as working in a charity shop – this lets people know you’re serious and not just in it for the big brands. Network and build up your contacts to give yourself more of a shot at the paid roles.

Types of charity jobs

Fundraising

Bringing in the funds for a charity is not just about the fundraisers that you see on your local high street, although this is one way to gain entry to the sector. Most charities will have a fundraising or development department dedicated to locating individuals and businesses willing to part with their money for charity. Full-time fundraisers will have to deal with higher targets than casual workers, but they will gain more say over campaigns. A significant portion of the job will entail meeting and greeting at events and being comfortable speaking to people at all levels.

PR/Marketing

These are the team members who will make the difference between a charity’s brand being firmly in the public eye as opposed to struggling in the background. Direct marketing roles are more likely to come up and be retained within bigger organisations, while local charities might employ one person to cover both the creative targeting and the fundraising elements. You will need to be able to brainstorm effectively, but also be skilled at people management.

Client work

This means working with those on the receiving end of the charitable work, whether it’s caring for the elderly in a hospice, working with abuse victims or dealing with social housing requests. This where you’ll find the most determined and altruistic of candidates, but also the lowest pay scales and often quite high competition. Specific skills or experience are usually the deciding factors as to whether you land a role.

In addition to these key areas, there are also a number of research, administrative and office-based roles, which can make good entry points for graduates or those looking for a change of job.

s1jobs posts vacancies from a range of Scottish charities, from the well-known national names like the National Trust for Scotland and the RSPB, to regional not-for-profits like Quarriers Volunteer Centre in Ayrshire. If you’re on the lookout for charity jobs, browse our fundraising and volunteer work pages, or search through more specialist sectors for charity recruiters, such as Social Services and Childcare.

Images by BurnAway, NorwoodUk and pixabay, used under Creative Commons Licence.