Frequently Asked Questions

Working in the Third Sector
What is the Third Sector?
How do I get into the Third Sector?
What is it like working in this sector?
How big is this sector?
Where can I work?
How can I become a volunteer?
Why are people paid if this is the voluntary sector?

Working with TPP
What does a recruitment consultant do?
Will you charge me fees?
Should I apply for job direct or use a recruitment consultancy?
Why should I register with TPP?
How many agencies should I register with?
If I am interested in an advertised position, how do I apply?
I have applied for a role, when will I hear back from you?
Can I apply if I live outside of the UK?
Can I send you my CV on spec?
I haven't told my present employer that I'm looking for a job, will you be discreet?

The Recruitment Process
What happens at registration?
What documentation do I need to register?
What happens if I need a CRB check?
What interview questions am I likely to be asked?
Can I get feedback from my interview?
If I am not successful, will you keep my details on file?
Should I accept a counter offer?

Temping with TPP
What are the advantages of temping?
How will I be paid?
Will I get holiday pay?
Who can give me a reference?

Career Advice
How can I improve my CV?
How do I write a supporting statement?
How do I write a cover letter?
How do I complete an application form?

If this FAQ has not answered your question, please email info@tpp.co.uk and we will do our best to assist.

Working in the Third Sector

What is the Third Sector?
The third sector is also known as the charity, voluntary or not for profit sector, and covers a large number of organisations. These can often include universities, schools and voluntary organisations. The majority of charities are registered with the Charity Commission. The defining aspects of third sector organisations are that they are separate from business and government, they do not distribute their profits to shareholders and they get funding from third parties. A charity’s main aim is to be of benefit to the public, and many of the major charities have become well known public names.

How do I get into the Third Sector?
These are TPP’s top 5 tips for breaking into the not for profit sector:

Volunteer
Be flexible & reasonable
Understand the sector
Attend conferences / courses
Tailor your CV

More advice is available from our article in the Guardian on Breaking into the third sector.

What is it like working in this sector?
Individuals working in this sector are often highly committed to their employer and the organisation’s cause. Working in this sector seems to inspire high levels of motivation and pride. As a sector, it can be one of the most progressive and fulfilling workplaces, offering opportunities for part-time employment, flexibility, work-life balance and volunteering.

How big is this sector?
There are over 160,000 registered charities in England and Wales, with a combined income of more than £52 billion.

There are over 668,000 paid staff in the UK voluntary sector, plus an additional 20.4 million formal volunteers and 30.9 million informal volunteers.

More information is available on the Charity Commission website.

Where can I work?
A large number of national and international organisations have their headquarters in London and the South East and almost one third of UK voluntary sector employees now live in these areas. However voluntary organisations operate throughout the UK and there are indications that the growth of the voluntary sector has been higher outside London and the South East between 1996 and 2005.
There are also opportunities to work in other countries.

How can I become a volunteer?
You become a volunteer by approaching an organisation you would like to work with. If you do not know of any organisations that you would like to volunteer for, use a search engine to find ‘volunteering roles in the UK’ - this will bring up all sites that host volunteering opportunities where you can browse and see what appeals to you the most.

Becoming a volunteer is much like applying for a job, as references will have to be taken up. You will normally be consulted on how long and on what days you want to work. Most importantly you need to be sure what skills you will be learning and what you want to get out of the volunteering.

Check out the ‘volunteer’ section on our website, here you will find help and advice on volunteering in the sector. We also have a volunteer job board which may help you with your next move.

Why are people paid if this is the voluntary sector?
The term "voluntary" service reflects the history of the voluntary sector. Many volunteers were the well to do in society with time on their hands. They could afford to conduct voluntary deeds without being paid. The principle of non-paid work has continued, but the task of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers has become more complex, requiring a paid person to co-ordinate all of the unpaid activities. Volunteer coordinators, directors, admin staff etc are now paid. Unpaid volunteers only claiming expenses that provide a service for a few hours a week still exist though and remain the backbone of many organisations.

Working with TPP

What does a recruitment consultant do?
A recruitment consultant acts as an intermediary between an employer and a jobseeker. They will advertise jobs, sift through applications, interview and shortlist a selection of candidates for the employer. Once an employer has made an appointment, the recruitment consultant will finalise salary details, the benefits package and start dates on behalf of the jobseeker.

TPP's consultants also proactively source potential candidates and offer them career advice.

Will you charge me fees?
TPP charge our employers a percentage when we successfully place a new member of staff. We do not charge jobseekers for any of our services.

Should I apply for job direct or use a recruitment consultancy?
Many employers, especially if they need to fill a role quickly, will only advertise roles through a recruitment consultancy. A recruitment consultant will not only act as a middleman to the employer, but will also give you advice on crafting your CV and interview technique to fit each particular role. We would therefore advise only applying through a consultancy.

If you do apply directly for any roles, you should let your recruitment consultant know so that applications are not duplicated.

Why should I register with TPP?
TPP’s consultants are dedicated to the success of your career. We look beyond your next move and offer advice and guidance to help you build a successful future career. We are constantly working on a large selection of charity jobs, and pride ourselves on our effecient and expert representation, which gets candidates the best possible offer.

Read more about TPP’s services to you.

If I am interested in an advertised position, how do I apply?
If you have registered on www.tpp.co.uk, you can apply through the website, or through our mobile site on your smart phone. You can also send your CV directly to the relevant team (see divisions links at the top right of this page).

I have applied for a role, when will I hear back from you?
Once you apply, your details your CV will be reviewed by a consultant who will be in touch shortly if we are able to assist you in your job search. If you do not hear from us within 3 working days then unfortunately we do not have any roles that currently meet your skills and experience.

Can I apply if I live outside of the UK?
You can certainly apply for roles if you live outside of the UK but are willing to relocate, although you must have a valid work permit to work within the UK. Please bear in mind that the majority of our roles are UK-based.

Can I send you my CV on spec?
Yes, please do so but also include information about your availability, salary and role requirements.

I haven't told my present employer that I'm looking for a job, will you be discreet?
Of course. Your details will be completely confidential and our consultants will be discreet when contacting you. We can also often arrange appointments outside of working hours.

The Recruitment Process

What happens at registration?
After reviewing your CV you will receive an email or telephone call to let you know whether we are able to assist you. If we are, you will be invited to come and meet with a consultant for a one to one interview, known as a registration. Our offices in London have private interview rooms, full testing facilities and are fully accessible.

Read more about the registration process here.

What documentation do I need to register?
You may need to provide one or more of the following:

Your CV
Full contact details of two recent work references
Proof of your Right to Work in the UK (if applicable)
A Passport or National ID card
Your National Insurance number
Any relevant qualification certificates

What happens if I need a CRB check?
TPP will process the application for you as long as you provide all the documentation and information required.

Read more about CRB checks here.

What interview questions am I likely to be asked?
Obviously this will vary between roles, and your consultant will give you tailored advice prior to each interview.

You can find out more interview advice here or read typical competency-based interview questions.

Can I get feedback from my interview?
At TPP we recognise that it is very important to get feedback from an interview whatever the outcome. Your consultant will always follow up with you after an interview, although it will usually be a couple of days before the client makes a decision and provides feedback. We pass on feedback as soon as we receive it.

If I am not successful, will you keep my details on file?
Yes, we will certainly keep your details on file and will contact you should any other suitable vacancies come up.

Should I accept a counter offer?
There are several things you should consider before accepting a counter offer.
Read our full article on counter offers here.

Temping with TPP

What are the advantages of temping?
Temping can provide valuable experience to a variety of candidates, for a variety of reasons. Read our full article on the advantages of temping in the third sector.

How will I be paid?
Each week you will need to complete a timesheet and get it signed by your employer and then faxed to TPP on Friday afternoon. We will then process your payment for the following Friday (excepting bank holidays or Christmas).

You can find more details on temping with TPP here.

Will I get holiday pay?
Yes, holiday pay for temps is accrued at 12.07% of your basic hourly pay rate.

Read more about holiday pay here.

Who can give me a reference?
If you have previously temped through an agency, we will need a reference from the agency, not the organisation you worked for. All reference contacts must still work for the relevant organisation – if they have since left please find the new HR contact.
TPP accept references from organisations where you have done volunteer work, but do not accept personal references.

Career Advice

How can I improve my CV?
Read our article on CV advice

How do I write a supporting statement?
Read our article on supporting statements

How do I write a cover letter?
Read our article on writing a covering letter

How do I complete an application form?
Read our article on completing application forms

More career advice is available on our website

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