Hi everyone, just looking for a little advice with regards to the ol' job hunt! 

I have now been in my role in a really lovely, but tiny four person charity for the past four years. I absolutely love it, but there's little opportunity to expand the role and get more experience, with all the income going directly into projects and staff development not being a key priority at the moment. I have no way to up-skill within the job, more than I already have done by attending IoF events and Small Charity Coalition training as well as online webinars and the good old fashioned text book! 

For the last few months I've been actively applying for positions, getting through to the first and second interviews, but never coming away with the job. After each time, I've asked for feedback where I've been told I seem very competent, friendly, personable etc, they have all like the presentations or work or pitches I've been asked to prepare, but it always goes to someone who's older, more experience in bringing in high net worth donations or events that are well over the entire income of the whole charity! The whole reason I was applying in the first place was to get that experience, it feels as if I'll never be able to catch up with the people also applying for the same positions. 

I've gone to recruiters, had a former manager check over my applications and CV, and I've applied for roles that I'm genuinely passionate about, I just can't seem to get them. It would be very difficult for me to take a pay cut to get a junior role at a larger charity, where I would already have a lot of that experience. 

If anyone has any tips or has gone through a similar experience, please do let me know! I'm so passionate about the third sector, having worked in fundraising for over five years now, I'm desperate to stay in it! 

Thanks, 

Em :)