Work experience

[flibbertigibbert]

I'm looking for a career in the charity sector at the moment and am not having much luck due to lack of experience.

I want to write to some of the big national charities and ask about doing some work experience in their head offices. I'm looking to spend a few days helping out in the office. Do you think most organisations would allow this?

How would you write an email like this? Sorry if this sounds a bit silly, but I'm really lacking in confidence when it comes to putting myself forward.

Is there a particular type of charity you want to work for? eg health, childrens, overseas aid, poverty

Or a particular type of work you want to ultimately get? eg admin, services, fundraising, IT, management

Most volunteer opportunities are local rather than at head offices.

I'm most interested in overseas aid and health.

At the moment I'm interested in fundraising, but I don't know a great deal about the different sectors. Ideally, I'd be able to get some experience in head office and spend a bit of time in a couple of different departments.

At the moment I'm volunteering at a hostel and doing a bit of work around the office when needed, but it's a very small charity.

There are lots of volunteering opportunities in fundraising. Most charities are always on the lookout for people to distribute and collect cans. Lots of charities have regional networks of comminity fundraisers who organise local fundraising events.

Which type of fundraising are you interested in? Most charities recruit people for specific roles (eg corporate, grants, legacy, events, comminity) rather than general fundraisers.
For community roles they would want experience of recruiting and managing volunteers so getting any volunteering work yourself would be helpful.

The problem with other fundraising roles is that they are done by paid staff- there are almost never any volunteering opportunities in these areas.

Cancer research does run some kind of (graduate?) work experience program giving a taster of their different functions.

There is a program called 'Raisers Edge' which most fundraising posts ask for knowledge of.

Also try to contact your local/regional volunteer centre, if you have one.

why dont you come to the shop and do some work?