Choosing a career in the charity sector

Those wishing to carve out a fulfilling career may be unaware of the significant opportunities for career progression and training that the non-profit sector can offer. The reality is that Ireland’s large charity sector offers a wide range of possible career paths, making it the perfect fit for the socially-conscious professional.

Charities Institute Ireland (CII) is a representative body for some of Ireland's best-known charities and its online careers platform – the jobs desk on its website – functions as a one-stop-shop for those seeking work in the non-profit sector.

Liz Hughes, chief executive of CII, explains that there are over 10,000 registered charities in Ireland, ranging from small community groups to large organisations with an international footprint. This means employment opportunities are as diverse as they are plentiful.

“The charity sector directly employs 190,000 people in positions that are just as varied as the private sector,” she explains. Currently, the CII jobs-desk features a wide variety of vacancies across areas like human resources, CRM management, finance, communications, fundraising and social work. The establishment of the charity regulator has also helped the sector become more transparent and accountable; with this has come new job opportunities in areas like governance.

Despite this, when people think of charities, fundraising is often what immediately springs to mind. Many charities do rely heavily on fundraising and the need for skills and expertise in this area is high, Hughes says, adding that CII has seen an increase in demand for the specialist qualifications in fundraising it provides.

“Having a recognised qualification is a significant advantage for those who wish to pursue a fundraising career, as does great relationship management and innovative business development skills,” she explains.

Yet the sector can often be overlooked by professionals seeking to further their careers, with the perception that salaries fall short compared with similar roles in the private sector. There are also concerns that career progression can be limited, particularly in smaller charities. Hughes admits there are significant challenges to be overcome to ensure charities continue to attract top talent.

“In order for the sector to continue to provide impactful services and innovative solutions to social problems, it also needs to be attractive to talented professionals and visionaries into the future and this can be challenging for the sector when we are at almost full employment,” she says.

There are bright spots on the horizon, however. Recent reports from Deloitte and others indicate that Generation Z (those born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s) actively seek a career that is more "purpose-driven". This is good news for the charity sector, says Hughes.

“The new generation of employees actively want to make a positive impact and where better to enable employees to fulfil their career potential while making a lasting contribution to society than the charity sector.”

Conor Roe’s experience

Conor Roe is one of that new generation. A social sciences graduate, he specialised in social work. Having attended a talk by Focus Ireland during his time in college, he was intrigued by their graduate placement programme. Roe went for the interview and was successful; immediately after finishing his degree in 2012 he started with Focus Ireland working with families in homeless accommodation.

“I was originally just going to do it for a year before thinking of what I would do next, but it lit a match under me. The graduate programme is so training and skills-based and I got a real insight into working with vulnerable people. It made me realise I love this type of work.” Upon completion of the graduate programme, he stayed with the charity, in a variety of different roles. Roe also studied for a higher diploma and masters in psychotherapy studies during this time. “I loved the therapeutic side and seeing the person as a whole so it inspired me to do further study.”

Roe is now an assistant project leader at the Focus Ireland coffee shop in Temple Bar in Dublin. Open 365 days a year it provides hot and nutritious low-cost food to people who are experiencing homelessness. It also functions as an information and support centre. He says he views his work as part of the bigger picture.

“Homelessness is a symptom that something has gone wrong in society and social policy. I know I can look back on my work and my work life and know I tried to make a difference and tried to help people. I know I am not going to change the world but at the end of each day I know I have made at least one person smile today and there is something so powerful in that.”