Subject: Concern about taking a job outside the sector

Hi H, it's difficult to say without knowing what jobs you've done over the past three years, what the NHS job is and more detail about your career plans. But I would have thought that a short-term job in the NHS would be good experience that you could apply to future roles? Best to be doing something than nothing. Alternatively think about volunteering as a consultant or becoming a Trustee - all good experience to help you on the road to your ultimate goal. Good Luck! 

Hi John

Thanks for the reply.  I'm an accountant by  training so that's how I got into charities but have tried to broaden my experience and also had project management and support roles.  The NHS role is also finance so that's another concern.  I tried to find an internship or some shadowing with a consultant but haven't managed to find anything.  I'm also a committee member for a small charity and have been looking for some other voluntary work but that's not come to much as yet.  The times, I guess are very difficult at the moment but I am keen to progress and be able to make my next move a positive one rather than something I've purely been forced to do.  I'm wondering if anyone else has NHS experience and whether this has been beneficial and how?

So you are looking for future roles away from the finance side rather than looking for roles which just use your training? Working for a small organisation would give you an opportunity to experience many areas of the business. I would also say that charities are often keen to find Trustees who have proven finance experience. This might be a good way of broadening your experience. Then its all about how you present yourself in your application / interview - stressing the transferrable skills you have.

Hi H2007,

here are some pages which you might find useful:

• become a trustee
• find a new job

as well as the other discussions on the site about making job applications and going for interview.

Hi

Thanks both (again!).  I do appreciate your input.  The problem being that I feel I've done the above (voluntary and committee work and used the charity  websites as well as going to Forum 3), and have also been told I interviewed well but have been pipped at the post by people more experienced than me.  I don't think I really have enough experience outside finance to find a broader role in the current climate, and even to get a higher level finance job seems difficult.  The small charity  idea was part of the "grand plan" that isn't really coming off at the moment which is how I've ended up with the "job outside the sector" dilemma!  Also, I don't know if anyone else has found this but I used a non work example in an interview but was asked for another work-based one, which unless I made one up, I just couldn't give! 

Thanks again.  I hope I may be able to offer some input in return on something!