# Climbing the job ladder – how to get on in fundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/09/19/climbing-job-ladder-how-get-fundraising/
- Published: 2011-09-19T14:07:45+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

I recently worked with an international charity to recruit a junior fundraiser. 
The role received over 400 applications which has got me thinking – what does it
take to stand out from the crowd and how do you make sure you even get to the interview
stage let alone secure your dream fundraising job?

A word I see again and again in CV’s and cover letters is ‘passionate’. Candidates
are frequently passionate about fundraising or passionate about working for a charity
or worthwhile cause, but is passion enough? Gethyn Williams, Director of Workforce
Development at the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services wrote recently 
in The Guardian [ ‘In the voluntary sector, passion is a vital complement to ability but it’s not in itself a skillset.’](http://www.guardian.co.uk/voluntary-sector-network/2011/aug/26/we-need-to-retain-passion%20%20)‘

To my mind passion and commitment need to be backed up with tangible evidence of
suitability – facts and figures of fundraising targets met, and income achieved.
Just having a degree in International Relations doesn’t cut it as there will be 
another candidate who has a Masters or a Ph.D. Volunteering in your local charity
shop every once in a while or taking part in the charity pub quiz doesn’t do it 
either as there will be another candidate who has worked as an unpaid intern at 
a charity for the last 6 months who will also be applying. A strategic, professional
approach can get you a long way. That and a CV that is typo free.

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