Career transition experiences – from the corporate sector

After previously working in tax at a big-four accounting firm, Sarah sought a transition to the charity sector. She now works as a service manager for an intermediary body in the sector, using her expertise to support other charities with fundraising. She has written for us about her experiences.

What inspired your change to the charity sector?

Having worked in the private sector for a decade, I had started to feel my work lacked purpose. I was becoming more senior and getting a larger workload, but I realised I wasn’t getting satisfaction from my job in the way I once did. I had been getting more involved in the CSR programmes at work and one day I asked myself why I couldn't just make that my day job?

How did you go about your transition, and what did you find difficult?

It took me some time to make it a reality. I had a conversation with my boss and explained I wanted to do something different. I hadn’t worked out exactly what I wanted to do, but I had been with my employer for seven years and was lucky enough that I was able to take a sabbatical of up to a year. This meant that I could return to my job if I wanted to, which offered me a back-up plan.

I had some savings, so I spent the next six months doing a little travelling, but for the majority of the time I was volunteering with three different charities - one large, one medium and one small. Each charity did things I care a lot about, so as well as being rewarding, working with different-sized charities allowed me to see if working in the third sector was still something I truly wanted to do and helped me try out the different cultures.

I was glad I tried different types of organisations, as it was clear to me that I preferred the larger, more structured environments. This made sense considering I’d come from a large professional services organisation.

After six months I started to look for work, but it was tough going. Although I had a strong CV (and many people told me I’d be snapped up) and volunteering experience, I found there was some suspicion and scepticism about my reasons for moving to the charitable sector. Was I looking for an easy life? Did I think I could come in and ‘save’ the charity with my private sector experience? I was asked about it in every interview and I was glad I had my volunteering experience to show my planned intention to move to the sector. As I got more frustrated and it was becoming more necessary for me to find work, I started to apply for roles with lower salaries that were quite different from what I had been doing, and that exacerbated the situation.

In the end I got a role through networking. Through some of the volunteering I had done in my previous role, I attended an event where I met someone from the organisation I now work for. I’d kept in touch with her and just as I was starting to lose faith, a role came up, she contacted me and eventually I was offered the job. It was something that was a senior manager level, which matched my previous role and included a salary that met my expectations. I knew this was the right next step for me.

How does the not-for-profit sector differ from the corporate sector (for better or for worse)?

For the better, although it sounds cliché, I prefer the people. Generally, there are fewer egos. At the end of a difficult meeting, no grudges are held. We can all agree to disagree, and we know we are all fighting for the same thing. That keeps me going.

For the worse, I do find there can be less accountability. Clients are more forgiving of a charity and it means that as an organisation, we can get away with things that wouldn't be accepted in a private sector environment - this thwarts innovation and drive. Also, there is a certain discomfort with the idea that a charity should be ‘commercial’ - that it should make a ‘profit’, even if we know those funds would go back into the charity to do more good. Both these points are difficult to adjust to when you’re coming from a high performing commercial environment, and it can be frustrating as it takes longer to meet goals.

What aspect of your role now do you find most rewarding?

I know that the work I do is helping the mission of the organisation. Even when I don't see the direct benefit and it’s just part of a wider aim, I know the overall purpose and I’m happy to be a part of that. This isn't something I felt in my previous role, where I couldn't see anything other than the ultimate goal of profit.

What do you find most challenging about it?

Apart from the above points, I find it hard that pay and benefits are not comparable. I’m paid well for the work I do, but I’ve taken a significant pay cut - I sometimes wish I had the private sector benefits I used to have. It seems unfair that doing something with more purpose means you have to sacrifice the overall pay and benefits. I do believe this will change over the next decade, but it does go some way to understanding the lack of diversity in the third sector.

What advice would you give someone considering the same change?

Volunteer, so that you will have some experience to speak about and give credence to why you are changing your career path. Network, network, network - it makes you more interesting, you learn lots and it can provide you with opportunity. And if you’re making the change to the sector, make sure you are working somewhere where you believe in the mission - it can carry you through on the tough days!