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I’ve worked in banking for six years at various levels, including branch management. I'm hoping that my MBA will help me towards changing sector as my dissertation was on “The Effects and Future of Fair Trade in the Global Economy”. How can I successfully get into fair trade? Over 2,000 Fairtrade products are now available – a massive increase from 850 in 2005 – so there’s a huge Fairtrade movement. Lots of companies are approaching us about switching their product line to Fairtrade so there’s opportunities at the tiniest Fairtrade pioneering company, who maybe just have a few products, to large companies like Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s. There may well be roles in accounts at these organisations which you can apply for along with everyone else. Your MBA dissertation will definitely help demonstrate your commitment and interest in fair trade so you should highlight this in job applications. At the Fairtrade Foundation we currently have 50 members of staff working within the departments of Commercial Relations, Communications, Certification, and Finance and Resources. Our Commercial Relations team is fast growing so that might be a possibility. We have quite a few people who’ve moved from the corporate to the charity sector. Vacancies are advertised on our website, on the CharityJob website and in The Guardian. One way to gain experience is by volunteering. We rely on the skills of around 30 volunteers who are needed in various departments. We do have specialist volunteer positions that are advertised on our website too. If you have particular skills and you’d like to volunteer with a specific Fairtrade organisation, you could ask to be placed in the relevant department. Laura Blake, marketing manager at Divine Chocolate Ltd, answers: It can feel like you have pigeon holed yourself when you’ve been in a particular career or industry for a number of years but this isn’t necessarily the case. After working for four years in the health and beauty industry and one year in the banking sector, I wanted to move into something more rewarding. I had always been passionate about Fairtrade and chocolate, so Divine Chocolate was a natural choice for me. A good start is to hand select companies you would like to work for. Look on their websites, and in the press for opportunities. If they are advertising a position within your area of expertise, get creative. Send in your application with something that makes you stand out from the crowd and show the company you are really interested in them. When I applied for a marketing position here at Divine Chocolate, I sent my CV in with a greetings card with a cheeky message on the front: “Chocolate is the answer. I don’t care what the question is.” It helped me get an interview! In the interview, highlight any transferable skills you have that would benefit the company. For example Divine Chocolate liked the training I had received during my time in the banking industry. Your MBA and dissertation will be a good focal point, and will give you the opportunity to discuss your opinions and show your passion for fair trade in the interview. It is well worth pursuing a career in fair trade. Moving from the banking sector into Divine Chocolate, a small farmer-owned company, was the best career move I ever made.
The Fairtrade Foundation Marks and Spencer Sainsbury’s CharityJob Divine Chocolate
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