Opportunities

Choosing a placement

Every placement is unique as it is developed by our partners to meet a specific need – just like a job would be.

We generally ask that you apply to volunteer in your area of expertise, rather than for a specific placement. Once you have completed the application process we will work with you to find a placement that appeals and matches your skills.

This means that we can get the most suitable volunteers into placements as efficiently as possible.

Occasionally we have roles that are ready and waiting to be filled in the next three months. If there are any in your area you will be able to view them on the skills pages below.

Types of placement

Most of our placements last between one and two years, though we do have occasional six-month roles.

The vast majority of placements fit into one of the sectors on this page. Click on the relevant sector to find out more. If you can’t see an area which matches your experience, have a look at our Current Roles, where we also list a number of highly specialised roles.

You can find out which countries we work in here.

If you're 18 - 22 we have other opportunities, which you can find in the Youth section.

Experience required

To volunteer with VSO, you'll need both professional experience and qualifications. As a general rule, the more experience you have the better.

Requirements vary depending on skill-set, so make sure to check the page for your sector, but at minimum you'll need:

two years' experience for 12 - 24 month placements
Five years' experience for six months placements. These tend to be consultancy roles aimed at carrying out specific projects.

You’ll also need excellent soft skills.