Age
25

Education
Degree in biology from Durham University.

So, what do you actually do?
Manage a team of around 100 volunteers who take the most important issues affecting the world’s poorest people to the UK public at festivals, gigs and conferences. We raise awareness of the problem and give people the chance to do something about it.

What do you do at these events?
Once the volunteers have arrived I’ll do a few ice-breakers, brief them on the campaign and generally make sure everything runs smoothly. You need to be organised, adaptable and cope well under pressure, even after four days at a muddy festival!

What’s so ethical about your job?
Every year Oxfam and its allies bring changes that help improve the lives of millions of poor people. In 2005, the UK Government announced an extra £1 billion a year in aid and support for an international arms trade treaty. The calls gathered by my team played an important part in bringing them about.

How did you get into it?
After graduating I did a sabbatical managing the student RAG, running all kinds of fundraising events including club nights and hitch hikes to Amsterdam. It gave me the experience I needed to win a competitive place on a graduate marketing scheme. After a year working for big consumer goods companies, I joined Oxfam’s graduate recruitment scheme.

What skills and experience do you need in this sector?
Project management skills and experience are essential. In the interview, I was able to use examples from my marketing and event management background. Working for a large multinational gave me a really useful understanding of how organisations work and how to get things done.

Most memorable experience in this job?
Dancing like crazy to Basement Jaxx in my wellies, as the rain poured down at Glastonbury.

What are the best things about your job?
Doing something I believe in, working with great people and getting paid to go to festivals.

And the worst?
Working almost every weekend, and slashing my previous salary in half.

Any top tips for someone wanting to get into this work?
I’d always wanted to work for an organisation like Oxfam. But in order to get a foot in the door I had to get experience elsewhere first. Whether you care passionately about washing powder or not, doing a graduate scheme with a big company can help you get further, quicker within a charity.


Oxfam
www.oxfam.org.uk