Charities don’t have monopolies on good. There are fantastic businesses out there, for example, that bring more good into the world than a lot of charities do. There are also a lot of good people who choose not to work for charities for a variety of reasons–many of whom will volunteer for charities, providing the extra, free help that is the only way that most charities can function.

1. If you want to do things for people (rather than work with them)

If you have a Victorian idea of charity where you and your fellow charity workers bestow gifts from on high to some grateful, needy beneficiaries, I’d prefer you didn’t join the sector. Doing things ‘for’ people just doesn’t work; at best it is only a temporary stop-gap. To make real change and to treat people with the respect they deserve you need to work with them, to find out the things that really matter to them and how they would prefer you to engage with them.

We discussed this topic at a recent seminar I chaired, about working with your beneficiaries. I still see a lot of people in the sector who, because of their general attitude (or sometimes because of the background they come from), don’t truly understand the lives of their beneficiaries or what it is like to be in their situation.

2. If you think it is all about you (it isn’t)

If you work for a charity, everything you do should be about helping further your cause. If you develop an ego, this will get in the way. I’ve seen enough of the sector now to see the difference between the people who really care about the cause and those who like their ego to be massaged. Of course there is nothing wrong in taking pride in what you do, and setting yourself goals and rewarding yourself when you reach them is a great way to keep motivated. However, that doesn’t mean you need to think too much of yourself. I had a practical example of this recently.

I spoke at an ACOSVO Conference in Edinburgh. I was struck by how brilliant the attendees were and yet how modest they were. When they shared information about themselves, it was in order to explain why they had a particular perspective on a topic or to share an example that might be useful to others, not to make themselves look good, name drop or #humblebrag. I am sorry to say that in London I have been to quite a lot of events where a number of the participants seemed to love explaining just how amazing they were and how everyone should listen to them and their opinions. If your ego is too big for your charity–or indeed, the charity sector–please go and work somewhere else.

3. If you think the charity sector is an easy option (it isn’t)
4. If you care only about a particular charity, not a cause (not the right attitude)
5. If you think that working for a charity makes you virtuous (it doesn’t)

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