FORUM3: Not-for-profit recruitment & volunteering event - Friday 10 & Saturday 11 October 2008

Work in a place you love, doing stuff that makes you feel great. Love the week.

Whatever your situation, if you're looking to find a job in the charity or wider not-for-profit sector, you've come to the right place. Whether you're looking for your first charity job, or whether you're looking for a new direction or challenge, forum3 is the perfect place to advance your career and find your dream job.

• 1000's of jobs and volunteering roles
• 70 free seminars
• Over 100 exhibitors

This year's event will be bigger and better than ever. With more exhibitors, a comprehensive programme of seminars and workshops, a CV advice zone and breakout areas where you can chat with potential employers, forum3 is the perfect environment for you to make the next step in your career.

Top tips for making the most of your visit to forum3:

1) Bring a copy of your CV

Undoubtedly the best way to quickly outline to exhibitors what experience you already have; so make sure it’s up to date and well presented. And don’t just hand it out to everyone; see it as a way to make a meaningful connection with a potential employer.

2) Dress smartly

OK, maybe not a dinner jacket. Just make sure you're wearing something comfortable, but that's relatively smart. Exhibitors are unlikely to take you seriously if you turn up in your battered jeans, mucky t-shirt and muddy trainers.

3) Use your time wisely

Decide which exhibitors you'll approach, and what you want from them, before you start walking around the show. Della Davis of the UK Workforce Hub says: "It really helps to think about what you want to get out of the day – whether it's gathering information, talking to people and getting a 'feel' for the sector, or a more focused job search."

4) Look at the seminar programme

A chance to hear in more detail about specific areas within the sector, forum3’s seminars could be one of the most useful parts of the show for you. Download seminar programme.

5) Ask questions

If you've done your research, you should have plenty of queries that you’re dying to get answered. But in the heat of the moment, you’ll forget them all – write them down! Don't be afraid to ask something that seems obvious, or questions you fear might make you look foolish. Even Ed Milliband, minister for charities, says the sector can be tricky to get your head around.

6) Go with an open mind

While being clear about the career sectors you're most interested, you could come across something entirely new. Be prepared to investigate. Paul Anderson, Head of London and South East at Homeless Link, says: "Although you should be clear about your own skills, you should never say never."

7) Follow up afterwards

If you're serious about a job in this sector, your exhibition experience doesn’t end when you walk out the doors. If you've come across anything new then look into it. Follow up any contacts you made. Stay in touch. Exhibitors will talk to hundreds of people during the event, so you may need to remind them how keen you are.

8) Create a job-seeker account on forum3 Jobs

The exhibitors - and a broad range of other not-for-profit employers - advertise their temporary, permanent and voluntary charity jobs on forum3 Jobs, our companion Job board, on a year-round basis. So if you want to keep abreast of the latest charity and not-for-profit jobs then sign up to forum3 Jobs.

"We were extremely busy; it felt like we spoke to all 13,770 visitors! We spoke to over 1,500 people and the quality and calibre of them was excellent. We met people with useful and interesting skills that were very relevant to our needs including, for example, project managers and others with hugely transferable skills and experience from other sectors. There was also a lot of interest in our internship scheme. We shall certainly be back next year". Rob Farace, Cancer Research UK

Be life rich - come and get your free ticket today!

www.forum3.co.uk

Business Design Centre
Islington
London
(Nearest tube: Angel)