Exploring the Charities and NGOs sector

The new year brings our next industry week, Charities & NGOs. From 24 – 28 January, UCL Careers will be hosting an exciting range of virtual events focusing on this rewarding sector.

What to expect

We are delighted to welcome speakers from:

• Big name charities
• Community NGOs
• International organisations
• Think tanks
• Social enterprises

Each event will feature a panel discussion followed by a Q&A session. Look out for UCL alumni on out panel. This could be you one day!

Discussion topics include:

• Getting into the sector
• How the sector is changing
• A recruiter’s perspective
• Finding a career that makes a difference

Events and booking

Events can be extremely popular, so book early via myUCLCareers to avoid disappointment.

Further information will be available in 2022-23. 

Preparing for the week 

Do your research and read one of our UCL Careers articles:

• Careers in charities & NGOs – This guide from UCL Careers will help you to discover the roles available, employer directories, key job sites, sample internships and graduate schemes, opportunities for under-represented groups, professional bodies, industry insights, and how UCL can support you.
• Advice on starting your career in Charities and NGOs – In this article, Jonathan Cohen, Executive Director at Conciliation Resources gives his top tips for anyone interested in starting a career in charities and NGOs. Discover his main dos and don’ts, getting work experience, alternatives to internships, and how to approach applications.
• Charities & NGOs Week archive – Watch recordings of events from previous years, discover case studies of professionals working in the sector, and hear from students who have carried out volunteering and work experience projects. This will give you a flavour of the week to come, and an insight into a range of roles within the voluntary sector.

Asking your burning questions

We are lucky enough to have an exciting line up of panellists who are keen to talk to you and answer your questions. At each event, we will dedicate a substantial amount of time to the Q&A discussion. This is a great way to find out more about a particular sector, organisation or role that you are interested in, so it is worth preparing some questions beforehand to make the most of the opportunity.

Unsure what to ask? Maybe virtual networking feels daunting. Read one of our articles for an idea of what to expect and the type of questions that you could ask our speakers:

• Networking – This article from The Careers Group provides a guide for anyone looking to improve their networking skills. Look out for suggested questions that you could ask to one of our speakers.
• How to network at a careers event – In this Target Jobs article, discover how to network with confidence at careers events.