Practitioner research project

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Practitioner research project Career pathways
for graduates into the voluntary/community sector

• Fiona Christie
• Careers consultant University of Manchester
• Fiona.christie_at_manchester.ac.uk

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My agenda

• Background and aims of research
• Initial planned outcomes
• Review of literature/relevant context
• Methods and progress so far

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Aim of research (original proposal)

• To build a detailed picture of the nature and
  range of opportunities for graduates (including
  specific graduate entry programmes) into the
  voluntary and community sector with a particular
  focus on management and administration roles
  (including fundraising, marketing and
  communications, HR, finance).

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Background rationale for aim

• Specialist responsibility for the voluntary
  sector for 7 years now -involved interviewing
  and doing regular talks on the subject as well as
  directing our Kaleidoscope careers Fair
• Missing link between the aspirations of
  graduates and opportunities available.
• Commitment of the many students I have met who
  would like to work in the sector.
• Voluntary sector does not offer clear and
  accessible pathways into employment. The number
  of paid opportunities that are specifically
  targeted at students and graduates are tiny.
• Particularly the case in management and
  administration roles, whereas for students who
  may have a clearer vocational objective, e.g.
  social work, - things may be more
  straightforward.
• This applies across the board from
  super-charities to very small ones. The careers
  literature for the sector is limited and reflects
  the patchy and varied ways into the sector.

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Background - Blame the messenger!

• I think that university careers services should
  include a lot more information about working for
  charities within their more general booklets for
  students. I find a lot of books actually
  encouraging graduates to work for such unethical
  businesses as Nestle and Shell, even though the
  university has a Nestle boycott. Manchester
  student
• I find clients can be very frustrated by the
  lack of transparent schemes and entry points for
  graduates in comparison with the commercial
  world. They hold that against us in the careers
  centre, thinking we don't choose to promote the
  voluntary sector. We spend a lot of energy
  trying to redress that balance. Response from
  HE advisers survey

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Background - Why I was able to do it?

• Flexibility possible as I work part time
• Enthusiasm and commitment to the subject
• A development opportunity for me!
• Willingness to network to get participants/support
  
• Great opportunity to find out more with
  credibility of doing a national research project

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Background - rationale for scope of research

• Focus on the careers in charities that are not
  associated with clear professional pathways where
  there is ample information available already
• So management, administration, fundraising, HR,
  marketing, PR, finance, IT, volunteer management,
  policy, research

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Initial planned outcomes

• A publication that offers labour market insights
  and information which will be of use to graduates
  seeking to go into the voluntary sector.
• A minimum of 12 quality case studies which make
  comparisons between different types of charities
  and different types of role.

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Initial planned outcomes

• Recommendations to employers in the sector and
  the Voluntary sector workforce hub as to how best
  to access graduate recruits and the benefits to
  them as employers of doing so.
• Findings disseminated via the NCVO and AGCAS
  primarily, and published on www.hecsu.ac.uk. This
  will most likely be in a pdf format. Disseminate
  findings at relevant events e.g., AGCAS
  biennial and in relevant publications e.g.,
  Phoenix.

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Review of relevant literature

• Voluntary sector almanac 2006 (Figures for
  context)
• Voluntary sector workforce hub has published
  numerous relevant reports www.voluntarysectorskill
  s.org.uk
• Third Sector first choice proposal of career
  entry scheme for graduates 2008 unconfirmed
• Pathways to employment in the Voluntary/community
  sector Marion Lacey (2006)
• Futureskills (2003)
• Inside research 2006 Voluntary sector salary
  survey

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Review the DLHE context -unfavourable

• What does DLHE tell us? Not a lot!
• Very hard to use data to get a picture of those
  going into the sector. Voluntary sector
  peripheral. The nature of charity may put it
  into different industry categories eg.,
  heritage, conservation, education
• From HESA 2004/5 - clearly defined VCS would
  probably fall under industry code 8530 Social
  work, community, counselling and charitable
  services - 3.6 of total cohort went into this
  field -
• 37 of cohort going into voluntary work belonged
  to Industry code above (included fundraisers,
  environment conservation, social science
  researchers)
• Relevant occupational codes within DLHE 11143
  senior officials of charities 41141 charity
  officers 35435 fundraising, campaigns and
  appeals organizers - are not all associated with
  the SIC code above actually represent only
  0.3 of total cohort

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Review policy context - favourable

• All sides of the political spectrum are saying
  they want to use voluntary sector more
  (eg.,Office for Third sector)
• Delivery of public services? Some controversy
  about this opportunity, compromise, risk?
  Partnership working
• Challenges to legal framework eg.,Charities
  Bill, Advisory group on campaigning and Voluntary
  sector
• UK workforce hub ChangeUp funding

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Methodology

• Already some changes to this (discussions with
  Voluntary sector workforce hub researcher)
• Key features
• HE consultants survey
• Case studies/ interviews with recent graduates
• Interviews with HR staff
• Miscellaneous

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HE advisers survey

• Voluntary sector workforce hub keen on this
• 69 responses from 55 Universities
• Thank you if you replied!

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HE advisers comments

• Students are often dissatisfied with the idea of
  gaining unpaid relevant work experience and with
  the increasing level of debt students have, it is
  becoming more difficult for them.
• Wish that students are realistic (which many
  are) re the self development work/time necessary
  to enter, and continue/progress in this sector.
  Wish that students would use more imagination.
  The tenacity and determination of some students
  continues to encourage me. They need to believe
  in the power of networks and serendipity.

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Graduate case studies

• Am I asking the right questions
• What/where did you study at University and when
  did you finish?
• Why did you choose to work in the
  voluntary/community sector?
• What is your role?
• What does your job/role involve?
• What are the ups and downs of your job/role?
• Did you have to complete any further
  education/training to get this job/role?
• How did you get into your job/role?
• What was your background prior to doing this
  work?
• Did you have any experience of volunteering prior
  to getting into the sector?
• Do you have any thoughts about your career
  progression in the sector?
• How easy do you think it is to get a job in the
  sector?
• What is your view of pay levels in the
  voluntary/community sector?

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Case studies so far

• 29 so far

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Points of interest - volunteering

• Didnt have volunteering experience but had
  donated and supported charities. Very interested
  in cancer issue and academic studies gave clear
  connection to the charity. Only 2 out of 5 grad
  trainees had volunteering experience so
  dangerous to generalise about volunteers.
  (Corporate services graduate trainee at CRUK)
• I had bought into the myth that you have to
  volunteer for months or even years to get a good
  job in the sector - I'm sure that is the case for
  some of the high profile national organisations,
  but it's not the case everywhere. (GMCVO
  Partnership project manager)

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Points of interest - volunteering

• I have volunteered on the Ffestiniog Railway in
  North Wales since I was 14. I have also always
  helped with Brownies and Guides. Whilst at
  university I was involved in a number of
  committees, most relevant being the charities
  committee, but I also helped organise the Summer
  Ball and organised Freshers Week for my college
  during my 3rd Year. All these experiences were so
  valuable and I'm sure it would have taken me much
  longer to get into this sector without them.
  (HSBP community fundraiser)

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Points of interest - volunteering

• I did a lot of voluntary work for the students'
  union while at Edinburgh University, and I'd also
  done some volunteering with disabled people and
  at a primary school. My Fabian Society internship
  was also voluntary. (policy and information
  officer Asthma UK)
• The VSO YfD year in the Philippines was
  voluntary, although VSO paid for accommodation
  and gave a reasonable living allowance. I also
  volunteered on a summer building and teaching
  project in Kenya. (Livelihoods Research
  assistant intern Oxfam)

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Points of interest - Pay?

• Everybody at x charity gets paid 2-3000 less
  than other charities would pay for the same job.
  Again, I believe that x charity loses a lot of
  good staff to other charities or to the public /
  private sectors for that reason.
• I think the pay is pretty good, though there
  aren't a lot of people who choose to work in the
  voluntary sector for the money. I think my salary
  probably does compare quite well to similar jobs
  in the public sector.

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Pay? Longer term volunteering coping?

• It's a challenge, but people have different
  strategies some people work solidly for 6 months
  or so, earning money to pay for the internship
  others (like me) work part time during their
  internship others scrape by on expenses claims
  and savings. Oxford is expensive, but dozens of
  people cope on no or low wages. (Oxfam)
• ATD provides accommodation for all its full-time
  volunteers, so this obviously helps a great deal.
  I didnt receive any money for the first month
  but for the second and third months I have
  received 120. Although this is not a lot it has
  covered essentials. I had 500 saved when I began
  and have recently started a bar job so that I
  have a little extra. However, if I stay on as a
  full-time volunteer then I will receive roughly
  400 a month, which is plenty to live on

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HR staff interviews

• 5 staff interviewed so far the next stage

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HR staff questions

• Am I asking the right questions
• Do you have a strategy re dealing with the
  recruitment of students and graduates?
• Do you work with Universities in any way already,
  eg., through providing volunteering, placements
  etc.
• What methods do you use to recruit/advertise for
  jobs generally?
• How important is volunteering experience when
  applying for jobs?
• Do you have any general advice for applicants
  about your approach to job applications and
  interviews?
• What skills and qualities do you look for in
  candidates?
• How competitive is it to get a job working for
  your charity? Are there any jobs that are hard to
  fill?
• How common is it that people move from the public
  or private sector to the voluntary/community
  sector?
• What is your view regarding the career
  progression opportunities available in the
  voluntary/community sector?
• What professional development/training/qualificati
  ons can enhance a career in the
  voluntary/community sector?

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Observations so far

• Shift from quantitative to qualitative approach
  more appropriate to sector
• How to organise all the data I have? Should I
  include all case studies or not

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Conclusion

• Really appreciate any feedback on my approach so
  far
• Recommendations of organisations/people to
  approach
• What would you like the resource to look like?