Big name companies such as Barclays and Deloitte probably make regular appearances on your radar on campus and at careers fairs, aided by a handsome array of freebies to make sure you don't forget them in a hurry.
While these companies offer fantastic graduate opportunities with exciting starting salaries and opportunities to climb the career ladder, working for a big target driven corporation may not be your ideal job. Amidst all the pomp and circumstance, it is easy to forget that as well as the public and private sectors, the non-profit sector holds an array of job opportunities. However, many non-profit organisations do not have the funds to pump into travelling around universities and seducing students. It is not that the jobs are not there, it is simply that you have to go looking for them, as opposed to them looking for you.Charities need a team dedicated to finance, fundraising, management and communication. They therefore welcome graduates from a vast array of subjects. What they do require is proof of your interest in the third sector and passion for helping your local community. What have you done during your time at/post university to demonstrate your interest? Most universities will have a plethora of opportunities for you to get involved in through volunteering and fundraising. These opportunities will enable you to gain firsthand experience in the non-profit sector and to meet and network with potential future employers. As with the rest of the jobs market, the third sector is competitive to get into, so do not take for granted that you will be able to walk into a job simply because you have a degree and the organisation in question does not require you to go through an overtly rigorous series of tests and interviews to land the job. A strong and focused covering letter and CV are imperative. You must be highly self motivated as jobs in this sector may not be widely advertised. Make it clear on your application for internships and jobs not why you want to work in the third sector generally, but why you would like to work for the charity in question specifically and what you have done in your past to prove your suitability to the job. Go through the job criteria, highlight the important features they are looking for in a job candidate, and structure your CV around these factors to ensure you sell yourself to the best of your abilityA job in the third sector can be rewarding and enlightening, however it requires hard work and perseverance. The third sector encompasses a wide range of fields, such as international development, youth work or the environment, so think long and hard about what you are specifically passionate about and remember it is a proactive, not reactive, industry.
