Raj Khera has spent most of her professional life working in the charity sector but says she is still surprised by misconceptions about what it’s like. “When I first joined, some of my family members asked if I was going to be paid for the job – like many people, they assumed charities only hired volunteers, or perhaps that I would be street fundraising or working in a shop,” she says. “But even I was oblivious at first to the kinds of career paths there are within the charity sector, how large an operation it is, and how many different functions and specialisms there are.”
Myths about limited career opportunities, below average salaries, and a poor work-life balance, means senior professionals may write off the charity sector without due consideration. But a survey last year of 2,500 professionals from 29 different sectors, commissioned by the tech firm Reboot Online, found that those working for charities were among the happiest, scoring higher than advertising, law, engineering and accountancy. Charity employees have the second highest rating of any sector for good working relationships, positive impact on others, and say their job has had a positive impact on their mental health.
