10 things I have learned as a graduate in the charity sector
I graduated from university in June 2014 and started working for a charity a month later. Here’s what I have learnt over the last year.
1. This is a sector that listens
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Even as the most junior member of my team I am listened to and my opinions and ideas are respected (though not always acted upon). I have not found hierarchy a problem – the ethos of one of the most senior individuals I worked with was “don’t give your employees tasks you wouldn’t do yourself”.
2. ‘Small charity problems’
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No heating? Wear a coat and gloves in the office. No internet? Work on that report you’ve been putting off. No light in the toilet? Pee in the dark.
I’ve learned to take small charity problems in my stride and have been truly amazed at some of the ingenious solutions I’ve come up with.
3. *That* small line in your contract
“Any other duties as designated by your line manager” was a point in my employment contract that I never expected to be used – but boy was I wrong. I’ve decorated cakes, tackled a fly infestation, worn silly costumes, assembled countless papers … I could go on.
4. How to answer questions from my peers
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Since working in the sector I’ve been asked: why do you work for a charity? But where is the career path? So you organise cake sales and stuff? I thought you could only get a well-paid charity job if you had a proper career first?
In response I often run through my diverse, challenging and highly engaging daily tasks, and remind myself that while it’s definitely not easy, working in the voluntary sector is rewarding.
5. Aim for extinction
Photograph: John Stillwell/PA
If everything was right in the world, would society need charities? Organisations should aim to get everything done – cure the social ill they are fighting and become extinct.
This ambition was something I stumbled across in my first few weeks – and while it may be a difficult concept for organisations who have been around for years to understand, I think it could transform the charity sector.
6. Cause first, charity second
I’ve witnessed blunders because of pointless competition between organisations with the same remit. If parties had collaborated and focused on their cause, not their organisation, a lot of stress and duplicated effort could have been avoided.
7. Seek out opportunities
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Do you want to witness government activity? Ask to shadow the person responsible for lobbying. Or attend a high level meeting? Offer to go along and take notes. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. But if you ask, and are creative and helpful, you won’t regret a missed opportunity.
8. If you really can’t keep up, colleagues will help
It’s your second week and you are co-facilitating a workshop, writing a report longer than your dissertation and getting to grips with three new projects.
The charity sector definitely is not an easy option, but if you are struggling speak to a colleague. I’ve found it’s better to ask for help than to keep quiet.
9. The sector needs to realise the untapped potential of graduates
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I was one of the lucky few that achieved the unachievable, the holy grail of the sector – a paid internship. I, like many others, could not have supported myself through an unpaid internship and I know I wouldn’t be writing this today if it wasn’t for that basic wage.
The charity sector has many diverse, exciting and engaging opportunities that it should be able to offer graduates. Graduates who have an excess of energy and enthusiasm to bring to their work, but all too often they aren’t welcomed or even given an opportunity to prove themselves. They have to work for nothing for months to even stand a chance at paid employment.
10. It’s hard, graft, but it’s worth it
Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
I’ve never worked so hard before but I’ve achieved more in a year than I ever believed possible.
Confessions of a charity professional is the Guardian Voluntary Sector Network’s anonymous series where charity workers tell it how it is. If you would like to pitch us an idea, click here.