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As a father of two boys, I have started to educate myself on what it really means to support them to flourish. What should I be doing so they grow into happy, healthy and caring young men? How do I help them become people who look out for others, who contribute positively to society, and who feel able to navigate the inevitable challenges around identity, confidence and mental health? These questions feel deeply personal to me, but they also feel increasingly societal. Having

Most candidates prepare for one interview — and then repeat it at second stage. That’s a mistake. A first interview and a second interview are doing fundamentally different jobs. The panel is in a different headspace each time, listening for different things, testing different risks, and imagining you in a different way. If you walk into a final-stage interview with the same posture you brought to the first, you can underperform — not because your answers are poor, but becaus

The first interview isn’t just a test of your experience — it’s a test of how clearly, calmly, and convincingly you can translate that experience into value. The difference between a “good” candidate and a “standout” one is often marginal. Preparation, intention, and self-awareness are what tip the balance. This approach blends practical structure with ideas inspired by mental rehearsal, language framing, and state control (from Neuro-linguistic Programming), alongside perfor

At Charity Begins, our Inclusive by Design principle means we don’t just want to talk about diversity—we want to actively challenge bias, open doors, and create spaces where every voice can be heard. But what does truly inclusive recruitment actually look like in practice? It starts with Excellent Intentions —the understanding that true excellence begins in the mindset behind your hiring strategy. Building a team that reflects the diverse communities you serve isn’t about ti

Becoming a charity trustee is still one of the most overlooked career accelerators out there. Too often, board roles are misunderstood—seen as formal, slow-moving, or reserved for those at the very end of their careers. In reality, the opposite is true. The right trustee role can stretch you, sharpen you, and expose you to a level of thinking that most roles take years to reach. A trustee role should be life-enhancing—not a box-ticking exercise. Done properly, it gives you th

Why tailoring, motivation and attention to detail still matter and how to get them right. In a sector where time is tight and applications are plentiful, it’s tempting to view the cover letter as a formality, something to get out of the way and perhaps it's a task to leave to AI. A strong cover letter is often the foundation of an interview. It is where you demonstrate not just what you have done, but why this organisation, why this role, and why now. This article sets out ho

How to structure your CV so your experience is easy to understand and hard to ignore. For experienced charity professionals, a CV isn’t a biography. It’s a snapshot. Its job is not to tell your full story, but to help a hiring manager quickly understand: who you are what level you operate at where you add value whether it’s worth having a conversation This article sets out a clear, practical approach to structuring a charity CV so it does exactly that. 1. Start with a Tailore

Practical guidance for charity professionals navigating their next move with clarity, focus and confidence. Searching for a role in the charity and not-for-profit sector can feel overwhelming. The sector is broad, operating contexts vary widely, and many organisations are recruiting under pressure. Even for experienced candidates, this can create noise: plenty of roles, but not always clarity on where your skills will be most valued or how to stand out in a crowded market. Th