Why Get A Job Working For A Charity?

Could a job working at a charity be the perfect career path for you? While charities are non-profit and often rely on volunteers to support them, many also hire paid employees to run them effectively. For many people, this can be an incredibly fulfilling way to make a living. This post delves more into why you should consider getting a job working at a charity organisation. 

Why get a job working for a charity?

You can make a positive difference.

Working for a charity can be incredibly rewarding because you are ultimately helping to make the world a better place. Whether you’re helping people in need or funding environmental projects, you can feel good knowing that you’re working towards a mission that is greater than profit. 

You can pursue your values.

A job at a charity could also be an opportunity to select a career that aligns with your values. Whether you care deeply about historical preservation, animal welfare or racial equality, there is sure to be a charity out there that can help you pursue this cause.

It’s a diverse career field.

There are many different roles that you can look into when working for a charity, from face-to-face fundraising to accounting. Various causes, meanwhile, require different knowledge backgrounds – some charities require medical knowledge, some require sports knowledge, and even some require crime knowledge. 

Charities can have competitive benefits.

Because charities are dedicated to providing justice and fairness, they often come with some of the most generous employee benefit packages. This can include ample amounts of paid leave, childcare support and educational opportunities funded by the charity.

How do you get a job at a charity?

There is one major downside of trying to get a job at a charity – recruitment can be very competitive. There are a lot of charities out there and a lot of different roles to fill, but getting one’s foot in the door can still be difficult due to the sheer number of people who apply to these roles. To help you pursue a career working for a charity, here are some tips to consider. 

Do some voluntary work.

Volunteering at a charity can show that you’re passionate about a particular cause and can give you charity work experience, which may encourage recruiters to consider you if you pursue a paid role. You can also be the first to hear about potential vacancies when working as a volunteer, allowing you to apply for them before anyone else does. 

Use transferable skills

If you’ve got job experience in other sectors, you may already have skills that are useful when working for a charity. Previous work experience in social media marketing could help you to land a social media marketing job at a charity where you’ll be doing essentially the same thing. Meanwhile, if you previously worked in the claims department of an insurance company, you may make an excellent grant writer.

Chase the right qualifications.

Specific qualifications could help when trying to land certain types of paid charity work. A Certificate IV in Community Services could be excellent for many community-based charity roles. An accounting degree could meanwhile help you to land a job in the accounting department of a charity. 

Network at charity events

Getting to know people who work in charities can also help you to land a job. These people could recommend you to their employers or let you know when vacancies are going. Going to charity events (especially volunteering at them) can be a great way to meet these key connections. 

Start your own charity.

If you’ve always been a bit entrepreneurial, you could even consider launching your own non-profit organisation. You can pay yourself a wage out of the funds you raise just as you would with a business. However, you need to be certain that you can raise enough funds to pay yourself and fund your cause. 

What are some great examples of charity-based jobs?

There is a range of different roles to consider when working at a charity. A few popular roles include:

Fundraiser

As a fundraiser, you’ll be helping to encourage donations – either face-to-face, over the phone or through other channels. Those with a sales background can thrive in this role, as it involves very similar strategies. The difference is that you’re selling a just cause, and not a product or service. 

Grant writer

Grant writers help to decide where a charity’s funds will be spent – helping to identify the most suitable applicants and projects. They are often in charge of managing a charity’s budget and may help with aspects like accounting. Research into causes is also a key part of this role. 

Charity marketer

Charity marketers work with fundraisers to help promote a charity and attract fundraisers. However, marketers tend to focus more on aspects like managing social media accounts, email mailing lists, website content and advertising. Experience in marketing can help you get into this role. 

Case manager

Case managers help to create support plans for individuals and families. They may collaborate with grant writers to assess the needs of applicants for funding. These can also provide hands-on support, from finding accommodation for people experiencing homelessness to exploring treatment options for cancer patients, while also reviewing progress. 

Volunteer coordinator

Charities that hire volunteers typically require a coordinator to assign where each volunteer will go and what each volunteer will be doing. This role is ideal for those with management experience, as it is all about managing people.

Conclusion

Getting a job working for a charity could be a chance to make a difference to the world, pursue your values, enjoy a generous benefit package and explore a diverse array of roles. While it’s a competitive job market, you can increase your chance of landing a job by considering strategies such as volunteering, developing transferable skills, getting the right qualifications and networking – or you can start your own charity. Make sure to explore the different roles and choose a role that matches your skills and personality.