Finding the Right Career in International Development

Working in international development appeals to many people. It often combines travelling with charity work, project management, and a sense of achievement. There are so many areas in most development organizations – from finance to marketing to human resources – that it’s almost impossible not to find something that is a good fit for you.

Let’s look at some of the things you should think about to find the right career in the field of international development.

What Is Your Background and Experience?

People with qualifications in disaster management and humanitarian response are often suited to jobs in policy and research or programmes. However, the skills acquired during your studies will make you a great candidate for many jobs in the international development sector, including refugee organizations and advocacy networks.

If you have qualifications in other topics, such as marketing and communications, finance, or business management, there are plenty of other areas to put your skills to good use. And experience from other sectors can often translate well into the world of international development if you have the right aptitude and are open-minded.

What Do You Enjoy?

Finding the right job in any field should depend heavily on what you enjoy doing. You will spend a large part of your day at work, so making sure you enjoy what you’re doing is important. Working for a charity or other development organization can often be challenging, tiring, and take a lot of energy from you. But it can be very rewarding and give you a high sense of job satisfaction.

Regardless of your experience and qualifications, if you feel like you are suited to a particular area, invest time in pursuing it. Speak to other people in similar jobs who will often be happy to share information and advice with you.

Are You Ready for Different Cultures and Environments?

People who don’t want to travel very much or explore other cultures can still pursue a career in international development. There are many office jobs which are based in cities and towns around the world, where travel isn’t ever a requirement.

If you are ready to embrace new cultures and environments and want this to be a large part of your career, consider programmes and operations jobs. These will generally give you the most opportunities to travel to,or live in, other countries.

Speak to somebody at the organization before applying for a job to ask for more detail on the level of travel which is involved with a specific role.

Are You a Good Communicator?

Many roles in international development involve working for charities and other organizations with stretched resources. Good communication and a willingness to work well alongside others is a crucial requirement in this sector.

Technical roles will often involve more solo work, while jobs in finance, fundraising and campaigning, and human resources will require effective communication, good interpersonal skills, and great teamwork.

Conclusion

Ultimately, finding the right career will take time and your mindset may change as time goes by. But regardless of where your roles in international development take you, there will be opportunities and experiences along the way.