The voluntary sector is an exciting and varied sector for anyone looking to develop their career. There are a wide range of organisations that vary significantly in purpose and size offering great opportunities to make the most of the things you enjoy and are good at. Typically the voluntary sector is highly skilled at:

• Providing services that no-one else provides
• Campaigning
• Offering information and advice in an understanding environment
• High quality counselling and advice services often free of charge
• Funding research and project pilots that struggle to attract funding elsewhere.

As well as a passion for what they do, organisations in the voluntary sector recognise and respond to the need to professionalise how they structure and operate - so now is a fantastic time to be coming into this sector.

Before you make the decision to consider working in the sector, it is worth reviewing the skills and experience that you would bring to a voluntary or charitable organisation. Try out the following resources:

Know Yourself - Tips for reflecting on your interests and values and where they might best be accommodated in the sector.

Skills Matching Tool -  A great way of matching the things that you are good at with possible voluntary sector career routes and live vacancies in this sector.