Posts Tagged charity jobs

Make that seasonal job into an ethical career!

December 11, 2008 at 3:59 pm · Filed under ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

The Christmas period can be a big bonus to anyone looking for work. It isn’t just the highstreet shops, pubs and restaurants that will be bowing under the December consumer pressure. Think of the charities that have massive drives over Christmas to feed and shelter the homeless, or the debt charities dealing with people desperate to be able to afford the holidays. You may even wish to spend the Christmas period volunteering with a charity or a community group. This work may not have to end come January, however. If you really impress your employers, you might just be able to score an ethical job on a permanent basis, or at least, be first on the list for consideration when a position becomes available in future. Here’s JuicyJobs.biz’s guide to making the most of that Christmas job.

  1. Work, work, work: The seasonal job will only be for a month at most, so work as hard as you can in that time. Never turn up late, do all of the hours you have agreed to do, and volunteer for more if there are any available. Being keen is the first thing that impresses employers, and it will stick in their mind when a vacancy comes up in the New Year.
  2. Learn as much as possible: Don’t just sit around and stick to the same task because you feel safe with it. If an opportunity comes up, volunteer for other tasks to demonstrate your willingness to learn, versatility and confidence. It also means that if a permanent position becomes available, you already have the advantage of knowledge of more than one aspect of the company.
  3. Make your intentions known: You don’t have to hassle your employer or demand that they offer you a permanent position at the end of your temporary contract, as this will only put them off. It doesn’t hurt, however, to make sure your employer knows that you would be very interested if a position comes up, and, before you leave at the end of the contract, ensure that you remind your employer of this too.
  4. Tackle the Christmas rush: The festive season is the perfect time to demonstrate your calmness under pressure, as whatever company you work for will probably be inundated with work. Keep a cool head and try not to panic if you start to feel swamped; just keep working methodically through it all. This will help you stand out from other Christmas temps as professional and clear-headed.

Looking for a green job or attempting to start an ethical career can be hard, but this holiday season could be a real boost to your employability. Whatever you end up doing over Christmas, make sure you learn something from it that will look great on your CV when the New Year comes. Keep up with the latest vacancies on JuicyJobs.biz in the meantime.

Author and resource box
Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Credit crunch creates charity jobs

December 11, 2008 at 2:40 pm · Filed under ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , ,

If you are looking to start an ethical career, the midst of a recession may not seem like a good time to do it. Every day, redundancies and repossessions are splashed across the headlines. In early December, however, the dreaded credit crunch has created jobs; in the charity sector.

Birmingham’s National Debtline, which provides support and advice for people struggling in arrears, has been under terrific strain since the recession hit, with demand for help and advice rising to 20,000 callers per month.

The organisation has been forced to begin its largest ever recruitment drive in twenty years, with 60 charity jobs to fill at its Five Ways headquarters. It has been granted £5.85 million from the government to help pay for extra staff over the next two years.

National Debtline is struggling to meet the needs of clients, with phone “ringing off the hook” according to staff, and so is looking to recruit 50 extra telephone advisors and around seven office managers on salaries between £25,000 and £30,000.

National Debtline chief executive Paul Mullins said: “We have helped over 90,000 clients this year, including 8,000 struggling with mortgage arrears.

“There have been various large-scale redundancies announced in the West Midlands and it is important that people know there is support and advice available, including various job opportunities.”

Beccy Boden Wilks, National Debtline press officer, said: “December is normally the quietest period because people are getting ready for Christmas but it’s showing no sign of slowing down this year.

“We are doing our best to cope but the calls are currently at the level they normally are for January, February and March.”

If you are looking to start a charity career, or find a more ethical job, the recession is likely to put debt, redundancy and homeless charities under unprecedented strain. Now could be the best time to start. To find great job opportunities within the charity sector, search JuicyJobs.biz listings, and don’t forget to keep updated on all the latest ethical career news.

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Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Internships: A great way to get ahead in an ethical career

December 2, 2008 at 10:47 am · Filed under ethical jobs, green jobs ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Internships can be a fantastic way to make contacts, gain experience, learn new skills, and feel a sense of purpose during your search for a green job or an ethical career. There are, however, many different types of internship, and various employers may expect different things from their interns. So, here at JuicyJobs.biz, we decided to put together this handy quick introduction to getting an internship and getting your foot on that ladder.

What is an internship?

An internship is a period of work experience or a placement within a company, normally for a set period of time, in which you work with and learn from your employer. It’s a little like being an apprentice. Often, internships are unpaid positions.

What do I get out of it?

In media and charity jobs, interns do not normally get paid. In engineering, legal, technology, medicine, and business, there is more chance of at least part-payment. It is customary, however, to provide interns with expenses for travel and food (up to a limit), so it at least costs you nothing to take part. That aside, internships can greatly boost your employability, allowing you to work in a position which you would be less likely to get if it were a paid position. You get all of that experience and training, without having had to get the job first, which breaks the cycle of not having enough experience to get a job, but not having a job to get the experience from. You could also make useful contacts who might help you find work after the internship. Graduate employers hire around 20% of their interns for jobs or paid training schemes, so whilst an internship is not a ticket to a job, there is a possibility there. You will also have another source for references, and something great to list on your CV or refer to in interviews.

How long do they last?

This depends on the employer. Some have required periods for interns to work with them for, ranging from a month to a year normally. Some could be a few weeks. In many cases, however, internship length can be negotiated, so don’t be afraid to ask if you really feel the need to change it.

How do I get one?

Internships are strange things. Some large companies, such as think tanks, charities, legal firms and large businesses run regular and structured internship programmes which you apply for as you would a job, with application forms and interview sessions. These will be posted on job websites just like any other position. You may also, however, wish to approach companies for internships on your own initiative. Make a list of companies you would love to work for, draft a cover letter explaining what you want and what you can offer them, and send it out to them with a copy of your CV. You never know where it may lead you.

How do I get a good one?

With large companies, it is likely that a code of conduct for the employer and the intern will exist. Check if the company you have applied for an internship with has one of these; if they do, it is likely to be published on their website. With smaller companies, if they offer you a position, it is wise to discuss before you accept the terms of the internship; how long will it last, how many hours per week it requires, what expenses are available, and what training you will receive. You may even wish to ask for this in writing. Remember, you do not have to take the first offer you get, and you deserve fair treatment for your free labour.

Keep these tips in mind, and give internships a go. They could be the stepping stone between you and your dream green career!

Author and resource box
Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Is the public sector the new place to be?

October 2, 2008 at 2:03 pm · Filed under Environment, ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

The public sector is, to some, a mysterious or little-understood world.  A common preconception is that it is entirely composed of local and national governmental bodies, and furthermore, is bureaucratic, stiffly hierarchical and boring.

 

In fact, the public sector comprises of a much wider range of organisations, including charities, the NHS, the BBC, the army, the police and various educational bodies.  Last year one-fifth of people working in the UK were employed in the public sector.  The question is; do they know something you don’t?

 

The public sector is stuffed full of fantastic charity jobs, volunteering jobs and environmental positions, and is a great way to start off your ethical career.  If you need more proof, just take a look at the Public Service Career Information Report, courtesy of Iceni Productions.

 

The study asked people from all kinds of public sector careers how they felt about their jobs, in terms of career progression, training, pay and much more.  The results bust the myths that have surrounded the sector for so long.

 

There is no career progression

Half the respondents said that they had an opportunity for promotion at the time of the research, whilst 90% said they had plenty of opportunity to gain valuable training, which in turn can aid career progression.

 

The public sector is no place to make money

Six out of ten public sector employees considered themselves well-paid, which, in the current economic climate, is reasonable.  An impressive 89%, however, said that they were provided with great benefits such as a generous pension from their employers, boosting their economic situation.

 

Public sector employees are hidden away in “ivory towers” of authorities

Maybe a few are, but if daily contact with clients, customers and partners is what makes your day, take note; 86% of respondents said that they have regular interaction with a range of people other than their colleagues.

 

The public sector is all bureaucracy and no fun stuff

Public sector work is infamous for its alleged obsession with red tape, and that can put off job seekers who fear they will be bogged down with administrative paperwork and no enjoyable work.  The survey shows, however, that 75% of respondents said their job involved making important decisions, whilst even more (79%) said that their job allowed them room to be creative and express ideas.

 

Public sector work feels pointless, repetitive, and unfulfilling

Apparently, not so!  Over 80% of the respondents said that their work was varied enough to keep them interested, that they had great job satisfaction, and that one of the main attractions of the job was that they felt they were contributing something worthwhile to society.

 

Almost all of the respondents said they would recommend working in the public sector, in any of its many areas, and with credentials like these, who wouldn’t?  If you would like a charity career or maybe want to turn your hand to a volunteering job, but are apprehensive of the public sector; don’t be.  It seems to be the new place to build a great career.

 

 

Author and resource box

Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz.  Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical job.

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Charities compete for £1m NESTA prize

October 2, 2008 at 1:35 pm · Filed under ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Critics say that the charity sector is dull and unprofessional when compared to the private sector.  If you ever needed any proof, however, that a charity career can be exciting and even more fast-paced than any other, look no further. With green issues high on society’s agenda, the green and ethical sectors are becoming more and more competitive, meaning that environmental careers and ethical jobs can be just as high-flying and inspiring.

Take a look, for example, at the awards up for grabs in the charity sector.  Awards for innovation and business sense are ten-a-penny in media and technology, but the greens and ethical bods are catching up. Last week, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) announced their top ten finalists for the Big Green Challenge.

The Big Green Challenge is a competition between a wide range of community groups and charities to see who can cut their carbon emissions the most in one year.  The finalists have each been given funding (some up to £20,000) with which to implement their energy-saving ideas, and the most effective group will win a staggering £1 million at the end of the twelve month period.

There were over 300 applications for the competition, but NESTA have shortlisted just ten for the final runnings.  Those groups are: Back 2 Earth (London); the Community Sustainability Trust (Oxford); Faith and Climate Change in Birmingham; Global Generation (London); Light Foot (Shropshire); Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust; St Bede’s Catholic School (Lancashire); Meadows Ozone Community Energy Company (Nottingham); Three Green Valleys (Brecon Beacons); and the Waste Oil Recycling Project in Prisons (Sussex).

Vicki Costello of the Innovation Challenges team at NESTA, stated on the organisation’s blog:

“The Finalists, and all the Big Green Challengers, are harnessing their ingenuity, practical thinking, and community knowledge to try to achieve their goal of moving their community towards a lower carbon future.”

It is projects like these that demonstrate how important green issues are becoming.  Big Green Challengers, and other schemes like it, show how working in charity and community organisations really are where the ingenuity and creativity is at, making them the perfect place to start an ethical career or find a fantastic volunteering job.

Author and resource box

Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living. For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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