Advice Needed!

Posted by JANE HAWKINS on January 13, 2019 at 1:24pm in Workplace Matters

Hi,

I would appreciate any advice out there regarding volunteering in a HR role for a charity. I am trying to transition from Retail Management into HR. As of July 2018, I have my CIPD Level 5 Diploma. I am actively applying for paid HR positions but so far, I have not had a lot of success & so I am now considering volunteering one day a week for a charity. Does anyone have any experience of theis please? Any hints and tips?Any advice would be exceptionally valuable. Thanks, Jane

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Replies

Kirsty January 26, 2019 at 8:51pm

Hi Jane,

Not sure if this will be helpful or not as I am in the East Midlands. My local council allows people to apply to volunteer in different departments including HR, hopefully your local council might allow this too?

I also know a lot of housing associations encourage volunteering in many areas and found this to be the case especially when supporting homeless or other vulnerable people.

When I was previously looking for a placement for a different course I wrote and email and sent it to a list of companies and was successful that way in gaining a work experience placement.

Hope you find work experience soon.

Best wishes,

Kirsty
- JANE HAWKINS > Kirsty January 27, 2019 at 1:19pm
  
  Hi Kirsty,
  
  Thank you so much for this advice, I will contact my council, I really wouldn't have thought of that.
  
  Thanks again, Jane
Martyn Halliwell January 22, 2019 at 1:51pm

Hi Jane,

Have you tried housing trusts in your area? They tend to be "not for profit" rather than charity but have similarities. Worth a look.

Best of luck,

Martyn
- JANE HAWKINS > Martyn Halliwell January 27, 2019 at 1:20pm
  
  Hi Martyn,
  
  Thanks for your reply, several people have now suggested this, so I will certainly look into it.
  
  Thanks again, Jane
Sarah Loates January 17, 2019 at 8:19am

Hi Jane

I would definitely reccomend this as a means of getting HR experience. In the past I have conntected learners from the programme with charities for them to get HR experience on their CV, (I am currently a Trustee of 2 charities).

It is a win / win for the organisation and the individual, just make sure what activities you would be getting invovled in, and perhaps some timeframes around this to manage expectations.

Good Luck!

Sarah
- JANE HAWKINS > Sarah Loates January 17, 2019 at 6:50pm
  
  Hi Sarah,
  
  Thank you for taking the time to reply, I really value your advice. I have e mailed a few initial enquiries but so far, no response. I will keep trying! Any further tips would be very much appreciated at this stage.
  
  Thanks again, Jane
Arun Bhatnagar January 15, 2019 at 8:22am
Gary Norris January 14, 2019 at 9:33am

Hi Jane

Have you seen this post?

https://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/hr-volunteer-opportunity-to-hel...

Best wishes,

Gary

HR Volunteer opportunity to help a charity

A volunteer opportunity has arisen for a HR professional who would relish being a member of an innovative growing Charity by working with a strategic…
- JANE HAWKINS > Gary Norris January 16, 2019 at 9:20am
  
  Hi Gary,
  
  Thanks for your post, I have taken look. Looks like a great charity to be involved in. I am based in East Sussex, so need to find a charity down here.
  
  Thanks again, Jane