Oxfam experience

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever, or is currently working in Oxfam (or in any other charity shop) as a volunteer? Is it good experience, hard work, flexible, rewarding, etc? Some feedback would be so useful, as I was hinking that if i can't get a job over the summer, then I may apply there as I've got plenty of free time over the hols...

Reply 1

BlackHawk

17

Working as a volunteer in a shop will give you valuable experience as well as helping others. You may or may not be qualified straight from school to get a retail or bar job, but with working in a charity shop you can add some experience to your CV. You will have dealt with customers, done some cash handeling, stock control, and maybe even sole charge and cashing up. At the same time you will be helping out a charity, which you may find rewarding. You can volunteer as little or as much of your time as you wish, so it is flexible.

Reply 2

~pml~

1

~nat~

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever, or is currently working in Oxfam (or in any other charity shop) as a volunteer? Is it good experience, hard work, flexible, rewarding, etc? Some feedback would be so useful, as I was hinking that if i can't get a job over the summer, then I may apply there as I've got plenty of free time over the hols...

Hello there. I've never worked in Oxfam but have worked in a charity shop before and trust me, you'll have THE best time in the world. And yeah, seeing as you're the volunteer, it's you who dictates your hours so it's all very flexible. Well, I had fun anyway but that's coming from who who loves doing that kind of thing... It's not everyone's cup of tea but go for it! :smile:

Reply 3

~nat~

OP

1

~Pui~

Hello there. I've never worked in Oxfam but have worked in a charity shop before and trust me, you'll have THE best time in the world. And yeah, seeing as you're the volunteer, it's you who dictates your hours so it's all very flexible. Well, I had fun anyway but that's coming from who who loves doing that kind of thing... It's not everyone's cup of tea but go for it! :smile:

using your words, I think that I'm the person who does love 'doing that kind of thing!' I may just go for it...

Were there other younger volunteers, or was it mostly older adults?

Reply 4

josh1988uk

1

would you say this sort of work looks good on your ucas application?

Reply 5

BigDog04

1

~nat~

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever, or is currently working in Oxfam (or in any other charity shop) as a volunteer? Is it good experience, hard work, flexible, rewarding, etc? Some feedback would be so useful, as I was hinking that if i can't get a job over the summer, then I may apply there as I've got plenty of free time over the hols...

I think I can help with this - if you want more info pm me cos Im not on here that often.
I worked for Oxfam for about 6 months - it was fantastic great mixture of people and interesting work. I worked in a book shop Oxfam hence didnt deal with clothes-Lunch and transportation are paid for and you can socialise with different people. There were elderly people, GCSE,A Level + uni students, involuntarily unemployed and full time workers who voluntered on weekends. You get to relate to a wide variety of people - it makes working in a graduate job a lot easier + looks good on cv. It also lets you learn about yourself and how you come across to others. Lastly you are also doing your bit to help people not as fortunate as you and making a contribution to alleviating poverty permanently.

The hours were flexible - I did 4 hours a week when i was busy up to about 12 when i had more free time. Its v flexible - my manager basically asked me to come in whenever I could -the work in the bookshop is virtually the same as working in WHsmiths/Waterstones. I had an awesome time and was genuinely sad to leave.Only bad thing is you dont get paid but I already had another paid part-time job so that covered it.You will love it especially if you like to meet new people.

Reply 6

~nat~

OP

1

BigDog04

I think I can help with this - if you want more info pm me cos Im not on here that often.
I worked for Oxfam for about 6 months - it was fantastic great mixture of people and interesting work. I worked in a book shop Oxfam hence didnt deal with clothes-Lunch and transportation are paid for and you can socialise with different people. There were elderly people, GCSE,A Level + uni students, involuntarily unemployed and full time workers who voluntered on weekends. You get to relate to a wide variety of people - it makes working in a graduate job a lot easier + looks good on cv. It also lets you learn about yourself and how you come across to others. Lastly you are also doing your bit to help people not as fortunate as you and making a contribution to alleviating poverty permanently.

The hours were flexible - I did 4 hours a week when i was busy up to about 12 when i had more free time. Its v flexible - my manager basically asked me to come in whenever I could -the work in the bookshop is virtually the same as working in WHsmiths/Waterstones. I had an awesome time and was genuinely sad to leave.Only bad thing is you dont get paid but I already had another paid part-time job so that covered it.You will love it especially if you like to meet new people.

thanks excellent, thank you for your help! and thanks to everyone for their help so far...

Reply 7

The Colonel

13

Slightly selfish BUT does it look good for ucas?

Reply 8

~nat~

OP

1

The Colonel

Slightly selfish BUT does it look good for ucas?

i'd imagine that it'd look better or your CV in general, rather than for UCAS - in a CV, it can be used to show you have acquired more practical skills when applying for another job, rather than just to be briefly mentioned in a personal statement for 'extra-curricular stuff'.
I'm wanting to do it to gain experience and to give something back within my hols, rather than to fill personal statement space, but i understand your question, as it wouldn't do any harm!

Reply 9

~pml~

1

~nat~

using your words, I think that I'm the person who does love 'doing that kind of thing!' I may just go for it...

Were there other younger volunteers, or was it mostly older adults?

lol... Well, I imagine it depends where you come from. Where I live, it's classed as a rather untrendy to do not that it really bothered me so it was mainly older people [25yrs plus though generally above 35] who volunteered or worked there. It was still great though. I'm used to liasing with older people anyway.

Go for it. You got nothing to lose! :smile:

Btw, to the other person who posted.... you got transport AND lunch paid for? lol. Damn. I never did. lol.

Oxfam experience

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