Development Jobs 101

The Beginning:


The Bare Bones of Prepping for an International Career:
Alanna Shaikh has a great blog, and she writes an international development careers newsletter that costs $2 a month and is well worth it. This post has five basic things you can do now for your career, available here.

International Development Jobs, An Introduction:
This article explains the various sectors and job roles in the international development sphere – a good introduction. Scroll to the end for a list of articles from professionals on how to get a job. Available here.

How to become an AidWorker:
Another introduction, with some useful insights. Good blog to explore, available here.


The Middle:


Aid Work: What Recruiters Really Look for:
Full blog post here.


“Many candidates interested in working in international development and emergency aid are convinced that finding a job in this sector is just a matter of knowing the right people inside organisations and getting recommendations from them. This is absolutely not the case. Many others think that if they get the right kind of education - a master's degree in a relevant subject, for instance - they they automatically qualify for a job as aid worker. This is not true either.
It's difficult to board a moving train, but once you're on, you can move easily from one car to another. That's what it's like in relief and development. The key can be summarised in one word: experience.”

Education, Experience and Personality:

The third in a five-part series, available here.

“There are a lot of people wanting to be aid workers. Far and away the most popular roles are those that are based out of western countries but with a healthy dose of travel...
In brief, aid agencies are looking for a mix of appropriate skills, relevant experience, and the right personality. It’s a bit of a nebulous mix and there’s no magic formula. However, if you’re lacking one of these three, you’re really going to struggle to get employed by an NGO.


And The End...


How to find a job:
How to network, and how to apply for jobs, available here. Extensive list of sites with job listings at the end.