Vantaggi
A lot of freedom in showing initiative and trying new ideas, managing an Oxfam shop is much like running your own business. Working for a charity is a pleasure, you are often surrounded by wonderful selfless people (volunteers and staff) who give you encouragement even in times of struggle and stress.
Svantaggi
Very little support, very little training, almost no options for career growth and development (most ambitious employees leave within a year or two because of this, no matter what positions they take whether it is field or head office). Sometimes too much responsibility is dumped on lower and mid-management (expectations are often very high in terms of financial performance) staff and it feels as if the higher level managers are not doing anything productive (they are, in fact, putting obstacles in your way because of how out of touch they are with what's happening on the ground).