Job hunting? Use your spare time to be the best candidate

Job hunting can be exhausting. Whether you’re starting out in your career or looking for your next move, the waiting period between applying for jobs and securing your ideal role in the charity sector can feel particularly frustrating. This is particularly true if the charities you’d like to work for are seeking experience you haven’t yet had the chance to gain. The good news is that you don’t have to put your development on hold while you’re job hunting. We take a look at the things you can do to strengthen your CV, build your confidence and ensure you’re the best candidate.  

Improve your CV 

Job hunting is easier with a great CV, so it’s worth taking some time to review what you’ve created and see if there are any tweaks that should be made. Ask yourself, does your CV explain clearly what you can offer? Are your most relevant skills easy to spot? And is your CV tailored to the roles you’re applying for? These questions will help you assess whether you’re fully showcasing your talents and knowledge. If you need some guidance, consider passing your CV through AI, with a few detailed prompts. Then tailor AI’s suggestions so that it’s still your own work, and is an honest reflection of your capabilities. 

If you’ve recently left school, college or university and you don’t yet have relevant work experience, think about projects you took on that can demonstrate your skills. Perhaps you took part in a presentation which required teamwork, project management or leadership skills. Or if you had a weekend job in a shop or a bar, you can discuss your customer service approach. The key is to connect these experiences to the role you’re applying for. 

Volunteer to develop your knowledge 

If you’re planning to go down the charity sector route, volunteering can be a great way to gain valuable experience. There are various options you could consider:  

• Take a look at CharityJob’s volunteering roles for anything from social media engagement opportunities through to administrative work and flyer distributors. If you’re unsure about where to start, take a look at our helpful volunteer guides.  
• Volunteer at your local charity shop, or support a fundraising event happening in your area.  
• Consider contributing your skills to a small organisation, or arrange a period of work experience.  

Don’t limit yourself only to opportunities that are directly linked to your dream role, as every bit of voluntary work can provide useful experience when you’re job hunting. For example, you might gain experience in communication, team work, or working with the public. These are all things you can talk about on your CV and in interviews. Plus, you’ll also get a deeper insight into the immense value that volunteers add to charities and small organisations. 

Learn new skills to ensure you’re the best candidate 

You don’t need to be in further study to keep developing professionally. There are always free or affordable courses, tutorials and webinars which can help build your skills and knowledge. For example, The Open University offers a range of free courses, while organisations such as NonprofitReady offer free learning resources that are helpful for anyone working in the not-for-profit sector.  

Standing out in today’s job market means being able to learn and upskill quickly, while also being confident in sharing those skills. Alongside experience and technical knowledge, skills like collaboration, communication and being comfortable working through ambiguity are increasingly important.  If you’re stuck on what kind of skills or knowledge to develop, look at what’s highlighted in the job descriptions you’re interested in, and focus on those. You don’t need to become an expert overnight. Even completing a short course can show that you’re willing to learn and take initiative. If you’re keen to identify areas where you could develop your skills and knowledge, this BBC article highlights some of the key skills employers are looking for.  

Build your professional network to help with job hunting

Connect with people working in areas you’re interested in. This can be done by following charities and organisations, attending online or in-person events and joining professional communities.  

CharityConnect is a great place to start. You can join communities, ask questions, and start discussions with professionals in the sector. Expanding your professional network isn’t just a great way to connect, but also to learn. For example, if you’re interested in fundraising, you could speak to someone who works in fundraising and ask how they got started, or what they wish they’d known sooner. Conversations with those in the sector can give you insights that you might not otherwise find in a job description.  

Create something you can show charity employers 

While you’re job hunting, think about simultaneously doing your own projects which can show employers your interests and what you can do. For example, if you’re interested in research, write an article exploring an issue you care about, and post it on LinkedIn. Interested in communications? Start a blog or launch a social media project. Interested in fundraising? Organise a small fundraising challenge or event. These projects don’t have to be anything huge or demanding, but they’ll allow you to demonstrate how you think, and show employers what you can do. As your project progresses, make sure you create a list of skills you’ve developed and challenges you’ve overcome, as real-life examples are useful when writing cover letters and taking part in interviews. 

Practice your interview skills 

Even if you don’t have an interview lined up, it’s always good to practice your interview skills so you’re prepared when the time comes. Think about common interview questions as well as the types of topics that are specific to the roles you’re applying for. Think about the answers you’ll talk through using the STAR method, so you can fully showcase why you’d be a great fit for the role, with examples of how your skills align. You could even ask a friend or family member to give you a mock interview. 

If you want to learn more about how to approach and prep for interview questions, check out our range of blogs devoted to interview tips.  

Remember to take care of yourself when you’re job hunting

When you’re unemployed, just at the start of your career or recently out of school or university, it can feel like you should be spending every minute applying. But constantly searching for jobs and refreshing your emails won’t make it any easier or quicker. Focus on having a structure and taking regular breaks. Set aside specific days or times of the week for your job search, and try to switch off when you’re not focusing on job hunting. And in your free time do things you enjoy: go see friends, exercise or just go for a walk.  

Looking for a job can be stressful, especially when you don’t know how long it will take. Taking time for yourself isn’t a waste of time. You’ll have more energy and a clearer head when you do sit down to focus on your job search.

A final thought: job hunting is a valuable stage of your career! 

It can be frustrating when you’re eager to get started, but remember that your career isn’t only developing when you’re receiving a payslip. Whatever you’re doing now – whether that’s volunteering, learning new skills or making connections – is all a valuable part of building your career. 

So if you’re still waiting for your opportunity, don’t see this time as standing still. Use it to build your skills, learn more about what you want to do, and network. And don’t forget to keep checking CharityJob to find the perfect role for you.