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How can I apply?

To apply, please submit this online form by midday on Wednesday 4 October 2023.

Group interviews will take place virtually, via Zoom, across Monday 9 October – Tuesday 10 October 2023.

Comments from previous callers

“…a fantastic opportunity to develop my negotiation skills – very useful preparation for my career as a barrister!”

“The training was simply excellent, I was quite nervous at the thought of telephoning, so were many people, but by the end of the sessions I felt ready for almost anything.”

“Great for my CV, friendly atmosphere, new friends and earning money too! If I enjoy my next part-time job has as much as this one, I’ll be happy!”

Work with us

Student Callers

Applications for the Autumn 2023 Telethon are now closed! 

We are recruiting for a team of student callers to work on our Autumn 2023 Telephone Fundraising Campaign. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a friendly team in which you can build your skills, make a difference and gain fundraising experience.

If you are enthusiastic, reliable, comfortable speaking over the phone and passionate about making a difference at Exeter, then we would love to hear from you!

Callers will be required to make calls to alumni (graduates) to:

- Build on our relationship with them and make them feel important to Exeter

- Update them on current news and developments

- Update their contact details and record on a computer system

- Most importantly, ask them for a donation to support the University

The last telethon raised over £107,000 in support of scholarships and bursaries, student clubs and societies, health and environmental research.

As a telephone fundraiser, you will be part of a team of 50 students calling alumni who you have something in common with; for example they may have studied the same course, lived in the same halls or played the same sport as you at university.

You will be provided with some background information and will ask alumni for financial gifts towards the University. You will also inform them about what is currently happening at Exeter and answer any queries they may have. You will be raising money for the University, supporting our Alumni Annual Fund, scholarships and bursaries, and health and environmental research fundraising campaigns.

We are looking for students with:

  • Excellent spoken and written English
  • A clear telephone manner
  • A naturally outgoing personality and a polite and pleasant manner
  • Strong team spirit
  • A positive outlook on student life at the University of Exeter and the ability to project a positive image of the University
  • Reliability and punctuality
  • Ability to work autonomously with guidance
  • IT literate
  • An interest in fundraising
  • The self-confidence to ask for donations and to negotiate over the telephone
  • The ability to deal with confidential information in a discreet and tactful manner

No former experience of telephone fundraising or sales is required as full training will be provided.

All applicants for this role need a National Insurance Number and the Right to Work in the UK for the full duration of the job they are applying for.

We welcome all applicants and the diversity they bring. You will be required to provide evidence of your Right to Work in the UK if selected for interview stage.

Details of acceptable documents can be found here: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/employment/righttowork/proof/how/

The training weekend is compulsory – you cannot work without having attended both days. The training will take place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October 2023, 9am to 4pm, on Streatham campus.

Our Autumn 2023 Telethon will run from Monday 31 October to Sunday 3 December 2023. Our callers will be calling in the evenings on Monday to Thursday, during the day on Saturdays, and in the afternoons and evening on Sundays. We do not call on Fridays. 

Team A will work the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday shifts and Team B will work the Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday shifts. We do not call on Fridays. 

Shift times are as follows:

  • Weekdays (Monday - Thursday): 5.45pm - 9pm
  • Saturday: 10.45am - 5pm
  • Sunday: 1.45pm - 8pm

Callers who complete all of their allocated shifts will receive a retention bonus of £50 at the end of the Campaign.

For this Campaign, the first week of calling (Monday 30 October – Sunday 5 November) will take place on site at Streatham Campus. The remaining Campaign weeks will take place off site, along with a single-day mid-Campaign training session on site at Streatham Campus.

For the off site portion of the Campaign, the expectation is that the role will be carried out in your own accommodation in a quiet room you are able to set aside for this work. This will require the sole use of a laptop and smart phone in order to carry out the tasks of a telephone fundraiser. Calling will take place via an App so you will not incur any charges to your phone bill.

We are proud to be a Living Wage accredited employer. You will be paid £12.22 per hour (£10.90 plus £1.32 holiday pay). Weekly timesheets are submitted using the eClaims system and must be submitted by the payroll deadline (see Payroll deadlines tab).

All temporary and casual workers are paid monthly, one month in arrears. Our Pay Guidelines (2021) show which weeks you can expect to receive payment for in each month, and the allocated eClaims submission and approval deadlines. Payments in advance of the allocated pay date cannot be made.

The work should be rewarding, challenging and good fun. The team, even those not together in person, will be in an energetic call-room atmosphere with an enjoyable team spirit. It is a great opportunity to speak to people who are already successful in your chosen field and find out about how Exeter has helped them. You will also be contributing to the development of your University by asking for donations to support our fundraising Campaign.

You will receive a lot of advice and support during each calling session directly from the Campaign Manager and via the software used and you will gain useful transferable skills and work experience for your CV.

To apply, please submit this online form by midday on Wednesday 4 October 2023.

Group interviews will take place virtually, via Zoom, across Monday 9 October – Tuesday 10 October 2023.