Careers at Charityworks
Founded in 2009, Charityworks is a talent development scheme for the non-profit sector. As an organisation, it matches job seekers with charity and non-profit job placements across the UK through the Charityworks trainee scheme.
For anyone pursuing a role in the field, this is a great opportunity to not only gain first-hand work experience, but to access the tools and support you need to launch a successful non-profit career.
Types of Roles
The Charityworks trainee programme is a full-time, paid 12-month placement through which you'll be assigned a role that matches your preferred social or charitable cause as closely as possible.
The organisation partners with a range of national and local charities, NPOs and housing associations, with notable names including the NSPCC, AgeUK and Cancer Research UK.
The roles on offer are varied and cover many different disciplines, but some common pathways include:
Frontline and customer-facing roles: where you'll be involved in the development and/or delivery of key services.
Business development and fundraising: a good option for those interested in ensuring organisational growth through new business and fundraising opportunities.
Communication and campaigns: marketing graduates will find this route particularly fulfilling, with its focus on raising an organisation's profile through PR, social media and communication strategies.
Other popular roles include:
- Internal communications
- Human resources
- Technology
- Finance
- Research and policy
In conjunction with your full-time role, you'll take part in a leadership programme. This involves group and self-directed learning projects designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to move forward after your placement is complete.
How To Get A Job With Charityworks
Recruitment for the Charityworks trainee programme takes place in either autumn or winter each year. You'll need to check the exact details for the year you intend to apply.
Graduates and non-graduates alike are welcome to apply for the scheme, but you must be able to demonstrate a passion for your preferred cause, either through paid or unpaid experience.
You must also have the right to work in the UK, and show a range of key skills and competencies. These will be assessed through an open and fair application process, as outlined below.
Charityworks Application Process
Charityworks Application Form
The first stage in the process is an online application form. As mentioned, you'll need to check the specific opening dates for your year of application, but the typical time frame is October/November to February/March.
To complete the application form, you'll need to submit your personal details, qualifications and work history, as well as answer four selection questions. These are designed to assess the motivations behind your application.
It's highly advisable you familiarise yourself with what Charityworks looks for, including the key competencies of:
- Beneficiary and customer focus
- Communicate with impact
- Build positive relationships
- Resilient
- Results driven
- Innovative and entrepreneurial
- Adaptable
- Commitment to personal development
Charityworks Assessment Centre
Once you've submitted your application form, it will be assessed by two members of the recruitment team. If deemed promising, you'll be shortlisted to attend an assessment centre. These are a full day of activities held at dedicated premises across the country, typically throughout May and June.
The exact activities you take part in will vary, but you can expect an interview and a range of group and individual tasks. These may include various psychometric assessments, case studies, role play exercises, and presentations.
Charityworks Aptitude Tests
Charityworks Verbal reasoning Test
A verbal reasoning assessment is a type of aptitude test that is commonly used by employers in the charity sector. The test measures a range of skills, including verbal comprehension, critical thinking, and the ability to draw inferences from written text. Candidates need to demonstrate the ability to understand and interpret complex written information.
Charityworks Situational Judgement Test
A situational judgement test is a type of psychological test that is often used to measure an individual's ability to make judgements and solve problems in a given situation. The test-taker is presented with a series of hypothetical scenarios and then asking them to choose the most appropriate course of action. The scenarios are designed to be realistic and reflect the types of situations that employees might encounter on the job.
Charityworks Logical Reasoning Test
Employers often use logical reasoning assessments as a way of assessing whether candidates have the skills required for the job. Employees in the charity sector need to have strong logical reasoning skills to be successful. These skills are essential for understanding complex information, making sound decisions, and spotting errors.
You'll be given advance notice of what your assessment centre involves. Be sure to make the most of this and prepare yourself fully for the day.
How well you perform at the assessment centre will determine if you progress to the next stage. This is an invitation to take part in the Charityworks placement matching process.
Charityworks Placement Matching
It is at this stage that you'll be paired with one of Charityworks' partner organisations and assigned a role within it. You'll be given the chance to state certain criteria for your placement, such as geographical location, the types of roles you'd be happy to consider, and the social causes you feel most strongly about.
These will all be taken into consideration, but there is no guarantee that all your boxes will be ticked. Charityworks will match you with the most suitable placement available, but you should be prepared to make some compromises.
Once you have accepted a placement offer, references will be sought and pre-employment checks carried out before an official offer of employment is made.
Charityworks Feedback
All applicants that reach the assessment centre stage, whether successful in securing a placement or not, will be offered quantitative feedback on their performance throughout the selection.
If you were unsuccessful, this is a good opportunity to assess your own strengths and weaknesses. Charityworks uses a merit-based scoring system, so you'll have a clear indication of where you were marked highly, and the areas you need to improve on.
Tip to Get Hired At Charityworks
Demonstrate Your Passion for the Non-Profit Sector
Charityworks is looking for the most committed individuals, so to secure yourself a placement you need to have a vested interest in a particular social or charitable cause. You will be asked to demonstrate this as part of your application, so if you don't yet have experience secure some as soon as you can.
This doesn't have to be paid employment. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities available that will prove just as beneficial to you.
Keep an Open Mind
Remember that the job offer you receive may not match your ideal placement. This is because Charityworks has to fill real roles that are open at its partner organisations, so it cannot always make a specific pathway available to you.
Be open to new opportunities. The aim of the Charityworks trainee programme is to introduce you to the non-profit sector and give you the skills you need to become successful, and those skills are typically transferable to all job roles.
Practice for Success
Preparation is key for any job application process, and Charityworks is no different. Practice interview techniques, work on your body language, and prepare answers for commonly asked interview questions.
If they form part of your assessment centre, take plenty of aptitude tests, and try your hand at some role play, case study and presentation exercises.
