Didn't get the job, but still work there as a volunteer!

DebtClearer

I still think good on you for doing it. I myself volunteer but mostly only so I can use the experience for a career change. Try and use the experience you have gained to hunt for other jobs. You never know you may even find that when you do get an offer and you tell them that you are leaving they might find a role for you. I certainly wouldn't pin hopes on this company now though as like I said, that vacancy was potentially your easiest route in from what you have said.

whitewing

I think you will have had a good chance of getting it. The other person may not turn up, may turn up and hate it, may turn up and love it and generate loads of new work for everyone. It could still have a very positive ending for you.

Mrs_Arcanum

Was in a similar situation on a temp job I had at a charity. My immediate boss wanted to take me on permanently but TPTB wanted to take on an over qualified person with marketing skills as this would always be useful, where someone who got on with the scut work at the bottom of the pile did not bring enough skills.

However, I did help to train the person to do my job and got a lovely reference when I finally got a permanent job elsewhere.

Pupnik

Sounds like a frustrating situation to be in, I think you are doing the right thing with sticking it out for the sake of the reference, although I imagine it must be tempting to tell them to shove it. Hopefully something great will come along and you can move on to something paid

Savvy_Sue

maryroberts wrote: »

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice please?

We have several times appointed an outsider rather than a volunteer to a paid job where I work: it is a case of who performs best at interview. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't, we've generally been able to appoint the volunteer who didn't get it initially.

So go back, be gracious, and ask for feedback. And keep applying ...

Mistral001

Paid workers for charities perhaps need to be hired very carefully as afterall it is a salary that is going to come out of donations or out of government funding. Lots of boxes need ticking then perhaps. That could mean that the best person on paper will perhaps get the job and being a volunteer knowing the work perhaps will not count for so much when it is all added up.