Jenny Adams

Area of work: Volunteer work organisation
Employer: Cancer Research UK
Qualifications: Theology and religious studies, Cambridge University; MPhil theology and religious studies, Cambridge University

I worked for a charity during my gap year so I had previous experience of the not-for-profit sector. I wanted a job that I could be enthusiastic about but that would also offer me challenging and stimulating work, so I joined the graduate scheme at Cancer Research UK.

My job

Cancer Research UK is dedicated to researching the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer. I work in the fundraising and marketing directorate, which generates income and support for our research. I have just started in my current position after finishing the graduate scheme as volunteer development manager. My job involves looking at new ways to engage volunteers in the  organisation.

I help develop new initiatives within the department itself and work with every other department in the organisation so internal meetings are quite common. I might have a meeting with our e-Business department, for example, to look at how we engage volunteers online. The challenge for me in this role is that I am managing people as well as complex projects.

During my two years on the scheme, I’ve been trained in business planning, project management, influencing and negotiating, finance and presentation skills. The scheme offers a wide range of experience but you can then choose to specialise in your area of interest.

Highs and lows

I work with great colleagues and my job is full of variety. I was lucky to find a job where I can really make a difference. Graduate careers in the public sector are competitive so you need to do everything you can to improve your chances. Spend time on your application form and research the organisation well. Completing an internship and getting previous experience is a great way to open up possibilities but you may also need to research different routes into the area that you want to join.