Charity and voluntary work

Charity and voluntary work (sometimes referred to as third-sector work) can be personally rewarding and provide the opportunity to pursue a variety of careers. Work in this sector is suited to those who want to align their careers with making a positive difference in the world.

Typical jobs in this sector include:

  • charity fundraiser
  • charity officer
  • international aid worker
  • volunteer coordinator
  • youth worker.

Key skills that are useful in this sector include:

  • time management
  • sensitivity and discreet handling of personal information
  • team-working, especially with diverse colleagues
  • flexibility
  • knowledge of additional languages.

For job profiles and detailed information on pursuing a career in this sector, see the Prospects website:

Charity and voluntary work profile

Contents

How to get a job

To prepare for a career in charity and voluntary work, you should research the sector carefully. You should also talk with people who are in the sector already.

Work experience is also a requirement for gaining employment in this sector. You can get this through work experience programmes, internships, and volunteering.

Make a connection

To connect with people already working in the sector, consider joining Saint Connect, the University of St Andrews’ exclusive, global, online community for networking and career mentoring.

See more ideas for making a connection.

Internships

Internships are a common way of gaining work experience in this sector. However, paid internships are rare and are often not publicly advertised. For paid internships, see:

Unpaid internships are much more common ways of gaining work experience. These are usually at least eight weeks long and can sometimes be completed on a flexible basis alongside your studies. They are commonly offered by large, well-known charities and non-governmental organisations, such as:

Find internships (Careers Centre)

Volunteering

Voluntary work is a common route to gaining work experience in this sector, especially among small and medium-sized organisations:

Find out more about volunteering in St Andrews on the University’s volunteering page.

Attend events

The Careers Centre often puts on events where you can talk to employers visiting St Andrews. Visit the events page for more information.

Finding a job

Check out our job listings for vacancies or see the resources below for jobs in the charity and voluntary work sector.

Find jobs (Careers Centre)

Jobs in the UK

Graduate training schemes

A graduate training scheme is a paid, entry-level job that also acts as a training programme. Graduate training schemes are very rare in this sector, though you may be able to find advertised opportunities among the sources listed above.

One of the few available schemes is the Charityworks graduate talent programme. This is a year-long programme in which you are placed in a paid, full-time role in a partner charity. It also includes a leadership programme, which you complete alongside your placement.

Jobs outside the UK

Applying for a job

The application process within this sector will vary, especially since you could work for a very large or a very small organisation.

For large organisations, you can expect to:

For a smaller organisation, you can expect any combination of the above, though completing an application form or video interview is less likely.

The application process for charity and voluntary work may vary according to which organisation you are applying to. Research the organisation to understand the skills, competencies and values they are looking for. Also check the organisation’s website, as many provide details on their recruitment and selection processes.

If you would like personalised help on any aspect of applying for a job, you can book an appointment with a careers adviser.  

Applying for a job

Additional resources