Image: Photographer Tim Mossholder

  • Align directly with the job description
    • Go through the role description line by line.
    • For each required skill or competency, prepare a clear example from your experience.
    • Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) so the interviewer can easily “tick off” each skill as you speak.
  • Translate your skills into charity language
    • Swap corporate terms for people-focused equivalents (e.g. “supporter engagement” instead of “client management”).
    • Show how your corporate experience transfers into impact for communities and beneficiaries.
  • Evidence outcomes, not just outputs
    • Charities want to hear about impact, how your actions improved a situation, made a difference, or created value for people.
    • Always finish your STAR answers with the tangible result.
  • Demonstrate values and motivation
    • Be clear about why you want to work in the charity sector and why their cause matters to you.
  • Show adaptability and collaboration
    • Highlight times you’ve worked with limited resources, in cross-functional teams, or had to be creative and flexible.
    • This reassures interviewers you can thrive in the charity sector’s collaborative, resource-conscious environment.
  • Demonstrate humility and willingness to learn
    • Acknowledge you are moving into a new sector.
    • Show that you are open to listening, adapting, and learning from colleagues, beneficiaries, and partners.
  • Do your homework on the organisation
    • Read the charity’s strategy, campaigns, and annual report.
    • Link your skills and experience to their priorities so you can demonstrate alignment in the interview.
  • Highlight inclusivity and empathy
    • Emotional intelligence is highly valued in the charity sector.
    • Be ready with examples that show how you’ve considered diverse needs and perspectives.
  • Prepare examples of resourcefulness
    • Show how you’ve delivered results on tight budgets or through creative solutions.
    • This demonstrates you can make funding and resources go further.

Learning the lingo!

Corporate Term Charity Sector Equivalent When to Use in Interview
Client / Customer Supporter, donor, partner, beneficiary When describing who you’ve worked with or served. Be specific (e.g. donor vs beneficiary).
Revenue / Profit Income, funding, resources, sustainability When talking about financial outcomes or growth.
Sales pipeline Partnership pipeline, fundraising pipeline, prospective supporters When explaining business development or prospecting skills.
ROI (Return on Investment) Impact, outcomes, value for beneficiaries When asked about results or value delivered. Focus on social rather than financial impact.
Business development Partnership development, fundraising, income generation When discussing building relationships to bring in funding.
Account management Partner stewardship, supporter care When explaining ongoing relationship management.
Product launch Programme rollout, service launch, campaign delivery When discussing introducing something new.
Market share Reach, engagement, awareness When talking about influence, audience growth, or visibility.
KPIs / Targets Impact measures, outcomes, objectives When discussing performance measurement.
Efficiency gains Maximising resources, making funding go further When describing doing more with less.
Stakeholders Partners, supporters, communities, beneficiaries When explaining who you’ve engaged with.
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Social impact, purpose-led partnership When framing corporate-charity collaboration.
Human resources (HR) People team, staff and volunteer support When referencing people development or management.
Operations Service delivery, programme management When discussing execution and delivery.
Brand positioning Reputation, public awareness, trust When talking about communications and profile building.