Why Not Work In The Charity Sector?

When deciding what to do after university, it’s probably the multinational grad schemes that jostle for position on your computer screen. Charities and NGOs will be the last tab up, bottom of the page or, let’s be honest, not there at all.

Why? Because the third sector is the Ron Weasley of employers. It works hard and has good intentions, but is still forever underrated and overshadowed by its two counterparts. It’s just for the do-gooders, isn’t it? It’s not really the place to start a career.

Not so. Ron played his part in bringing down Voldemort and the third sector has a lot to say for itself too. Charities are a worthwhile, fun and viable career option. They offer varied jobs with a good work-life balance, and lots of the reasons we don’t consider applying aren’t even that valid.

They’re not professional?

Charities are the rough and ready types, well-meaning but a little inept, right?

Wrong. Professionalism is important to many charities as they try to provide the best service, keep up a good reputation and get funding. If you click on most charity websites or social media feeds, you’ll see a first class organisation at work. They might strike an informal tone because of their target audience, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have a sharp system holding them up.

Can I progress?

The third sector is competitive, but there’s room for movement. Being employed by a charity will give you a variety of transferable skills, and this can stand you in good stead when you feel like a change. Working for an NGO especially could open doors you’d not thought of knocking on, such as going overseas.

What about job satisfaction?

Can working 24/7 with people who are in need be tough? It depends on the area you go into, but job satisfaction is said to be higher in the third sector. This is probably something to do with making an active difference to other people, and the variety of the role.

It may also be because the charity workplace doesn’t have the cut-throat atmosphere that can fester in the private sector. People are more motivated by a joint goal than getting ahead.

Don’t they pay poorly?

It’s often thought that if you go into charity work you’ll have to wave goodbye to earning the big dollar. But the third sector is large, and while it’s true that some charities can’t afford huge salaries, there are some that can.

Do your research and you’ll find entry-level jobs and grad schemes that pay above the average starting salary of £19,000. Granted, at the top of the profession you might not earn as much as someone in the private sector, but it is possible to rise to high-earning positions.

Also, the other benefits are substantial – flexible hours and 25 days of holiday a year? Yes please.

What about the people that work there?

The good thing about working for a charity is that there will be like-minded people around you. Charities are based around causes and beliefs, so it’s great fun to work with others who have a similar worldview.

Do charities actually achieve anything?

Over the years, question marks have been raised about what charities actually do. If you work for one expecting to change the world, will you be disappointed? Well each charity is different. Look for one that interests you, check out its goals and look for success stories. Usually, you’ll find some. Here are at least ten that have made a good impact on the world.

So why not consider working for a charity? The UK has 160,000 of them so there are plenty to chose from!

Inspiring Interns is an internship and graduate jobs agency.