Hello all,

Does anyone in here have a great int dev job and feel they are making a difference in the world and also feeling particularly altruistic be willing to do a quick resume review? It's only one page. I searched for help on FIVRR but a lot of the resume specialists aren't very familiar with this field. I'm too broke to pay you because I'm helping my family back home but I will send good vibes your way ~~♡

Thank you reddit strangers

Hi everyone,

I'm writing because I'm at a Crossroads in my career. I graduated about 2 years ago with two masters degrees one in International Development and one in global Health with a concentration in maternal and child health. After graduation I had to take care of a family member in the Midwest so I worked in a hospital setting and now want to Pivot back to my true love and passion which is international socioeconomic development. However, the job market is awful and I'm having trouble marketing myself to International organizations after working in healthcare. It should be noted that I come from and am very connected to my home country Sudan that is currently in war and crisis. I would really like to do something to help my people and have always dreamed of having my own Grassroots nonprofits International Development organization that does radical Grassroots activism and work. I have many contacts on the ground but now the whole country is in turmoil as many of you are likely aware. I would love to invest time building the organization and trying to get grant funding I have so many ideas and people willing to help. However the situation in Sudan changes day by day and it is unclear whether it will end anytime soon. Do any of you think that I could have my organization focus on the Sudanese diaspora as a whole and work in refugee camps during Health interventions? Is that even feasible or safe? Do I have a better chance getting a job at a multilateral Institution and working on helping rebuild my home country (after God knows how long) in the future? I want to be cognizant of time. It should also be noted that since then I have also gained Global Health Consulting experience for an International Development organization. I speak Arabic and English fluently. Thanks in advance.

Hi team, I have been working in international development for the past few years and took up an in-country role last year in Papua New Guinea.

I live in one of the more remote provinces and am well embedded in the local community. Aside from my day job I am supporting the local sports club with some funding and grant acquisition.

Recently I have been thinking I could do more in terms of providing some basic trainings for community members (particularity youth) on skills and topics we would probably take for granted in the west.

Some ideas I have so far are:

• Basic computer skills training (focused on word and excel use, and emails)
• CV and cover letter creation

I wanted to get some additional thoughts and ideas from members of this group who may have found themselves in a similar situation.

Grateful for any ideas or comments

Is it possible to find it here? My colleagues are mostly in programs. Self taught m&e concepts. My boss has moved halfway across the world and their life and work plate is full.

There are professionals on associate or officer level like me but we are in an archipelago and they are far away.

I know LinkedIn has a group but I’ve seen it used as a resource sharing than for mentorship.

Would love to hear your two cents.

I am a UK based physics graduate currently employed in the financial sector and looking to do a postgrad in International Development. I have been thinking about the possibility of completing my studies in mainland Europe - does anyone have a list of good universities/courses?

Hello everyone,

I'm reaching out for some career advice, critique, or a bit of encouragement. I completed my master's in IDS at a European university in 2022. I've presented my research at conferences, worked at the OECD, and recently launched my own non-profit. Overall, I have a broad range of experience including research and analysis, project management, development, evaluation, and private sector engagement.

However, I've been facing challenges in entering the workforce, particularly in achieving my goal of working in D.C. Despite applying to 150+ jobs, I have yet to hear back from any of them. I've followed advice to contact recruiters and hiring managers directly and have even had meetings with two of them. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to progress past these initial meetings. I've also applied for internships and a variety of positions, including entry-level roles, but haven't had any luck. This has led me to start comparing my progress to that of my peers and wonder what I might be missing.

I know many others have been in similar situations, and I would greatly appreciate any advice you could offer. If anyone is willing to review my resume, suggest recruiting agencies, share some advice, or simply provide some encouragement, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you!

Also, I’m 26F (American) and have an extensive background socio-economic development:)

Hello everyone,

I'm reaching out for some career advice, critique, or a bit of encouragement. I completed my master's in IDS at a European university in 2022. I've presented my research at conferences, worked at the OECD, and recently launched my own non-profit. Overall, I have a broad range of experience including research and analysis, project management, development, evaluation, and private sector engagement.

However, I've been facing challenges in entering the workforce, particularly in achieving my goal of working in D.C. Despite applying to 150+ jobs, I have yet to hear back from any of them. I've followed advice to contact recruiters and hiring managers directly and have even had meetings with two of them. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to progress past these initial meetings. I've also applied for internships and a variety of positions, including entry-level roles, but haven't had any luck. This has led me to start comparing my progress to that of my peers and wonder what I might be missing.

I know many others have been in similar situations, and I would greatly appreciate any advice you could offer. If anyone is willing to review my resume, suggest recruiting agencies, share some advice, or simply provide some encouragement, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you!

Also, I’m 26F (American) and have an extensive background socio-economic development:)

Hi, I recently found some interesting games to practice my skills in world development. Today's round was difficult though. Do you know any similar games?

Hi intl dev community -

I am looking for ideas, resources, experiences, insights etc on promoting learning in a geographically dispersed organization.

My organization is made up of mainly colleagues across Sub-Saharan Africa (mainly Eastern with a select few colleagues in West and Southern) and a handful of US- and remote-based folks. The organization has a big research and policy agenda and it's important to our strategy leads that mid- and senior-level leadership in the countries we operate in are familiar and comfortable with the landscape we are working in, the findings from both internal and commissioned research, etc.

However, the current approach to learning to to share reports, long emails, two pagers, write-ups, academic papers, et cetera - basically, very reading-heavy, which is fine for some of us but I do not believe is a preferred mechanism for the uptake of information for many of my colleagues. Brown bag lunches is one idea that is being considered, but am looking for thoughts on other ideas that may not require meetings (trying to avoid the NGO trap of endless meetings).

TLDR; I'm looking for ideas and experiences on promoting a culture of learning (ie: understanding results from program evaluations, familiarization with sector trends and research, etc) in an organization that has many employees who may not be from a reading-centric culture or who may prefer to take in information through storytelling, auditory or participatory means, et cetera. Thoughts, experiences, tools, etc, are welcomed!

Hey everyone!

I’m starting a masters program this year and have two choices that suit my basic requirements: SOAS University of London, and the University of Portsmouth.

Does anyone have experience with either of these universities? I’m looking for opinions from students, HR etc.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

Is it possible? The WB website says: "J-1 – Student/Exchange (non-fee contract only)", see here. Does that mean WB cannot give STC contracts with pay if I am a J-1 student?
My university gives off-campus employment authorizations to the State department for Academic Training in my field of practice, so legally speaking, it should be possible.

I am looking to get into development banking after I leave university, and after completing my BA in Economics and Finance at Leeds Beckett University, I have offers to either study MSc Global Development at the University of Manchester, or MA International Development at the University of Sheffield. I live between the two cities, so I'll be living at home either way.

I'm torn between these two decisions, and I need some help. Can anyone here give me a hand?

What other industries or positions might value MEL experience in international development?

Hey! Has anyone ever had two rounds of interview for an ETC position at IFC or the World Bank? I passed the assessment test over a month ago and had a panel interview with 3 people a couple of weeks ago, I am now asked to go through another interview with the hiring manager. Is that common practice and if so how does the interview with the hiring manager differ from the panel interview?

The movement to “decolonize” global health has gained traction in recent years. For centuries, the legacy of colonialism has continued to shape the health outcomes of those in developing countries. To decolonize healthcare means making it more accessible to those that are marginalized by existing systems. What are some ways in which practitioners can achieve this?

I write more about this here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thedevelopingeconomist/p/decolonizing-public-health-in-developing?r=29ekcf&utm_medium=ios

Hello, I am a third-year student in a bachelor program, and I've been looking for an internship with the United Nations to complement my previous background in humanitarian work and international development. However, the only position I've had any luck with is essentially a UN fundraising internship.

Is a "Private Sector Partnerships" internship with the UN less prestigious than others more directly related to the specific organ's field of work? Will it still be a good addition to my CV and help me break into the international development field, or should I try and look for others?

This report implies that technical compliance does not mean enforcement:

• Nevertheless, critics within the literature argue these conditions prioritise technical compliance, especially with standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), over effective implementation.

At the same time, some sources suggest (I can't find right now though) that technical compliance does mean enforcement.

So does technical compliance means that actual implementation of laws should be accounted, or does it just mean black letter rules?

​

So I'm looking into humanitarian work as a career. I don't have prior experience and have not gone to college. I would like to know if anyone has any advice on where to start or look.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thegpi/p/on-growth-education-and-immigration?r=mo66&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

I’m very interested in Deggendorf institute of technology(in Germany) and their MA in International tourism development. I am seeing on the website that 87% of students at the college have been able to find employment after 2 months.

After the program I would like a marketing role helping develop new international locations. I would also be open to staying in Germany.

My worry is finding meaningful employment after my program concludes. I am currently in the Peace Corps and about a year into my service. Would it be a smarter choice to seek employment then worry about a masters at a later date?

Link to programprogram webpage:

Over 4 years as a consultant, in the WB you are still considered junior, is it better to leave to and work for the private sector at this stage to enhance the profile and go back at IOs or rather to wait and endure for an opportunity for a real contract?

Hey folks, I’m starting my MPA in Baruch College this fall. I work in my city’s local government and the MPA program is largely suited for that sector since it focuses on domestic policy.

But I am still interested in foreign service/international NGO work. Would an MPA still help me find avenues in that world? Or would a more international focused degree like an MIA be required.

Hi everyone,

I've been admitted to the MPAs offered by SIPA/Columbia and UCL (UK). Although I do have some experience in the int'l development sector, I believe having a master’s degree will definitely improve my career prospects, as I often hold back from applying to jobs for not meeting the minimum education requirements.

While it may seem obvious to many that I'd choose an Ivy, Columbia just made my experience as an offer holder very stressful. My offer is conditional, so they want me to take additional quantitative courses and pay for the tuition deposit before I ever know if I'll have enough scholarships to pay for it. Besides, Columbia is extremely expensive, so even if I get some scholarships (I'm applying for several), chances are they won't be enough to cover all costs. So I'm leaning towards going to UCL.

I've already done my research on LinkedIn and I've seen UCL graduates working for the World Bank, UNICEF and other organizations I'd like to work for one day. But people keep me telling that I'm making a bad decision as UCL is not as known as Columbia and uni life is the UK is quite dull and all about academics.

Anyway, any thoughts? Is school brand so highly valued in the intl dev sector?

PS: I'm an international student and I did my bachelor's at the top school in my country.

I (30f) have a degree in Law (not a lawyer) and have been working in tech sector for 9 years.

I am looking to career change and become a humanitarian aid worker. How do I go about changing my career and getting a role in the field?

It looks like there are some natural career paths for graduates, however I am later in my career.

I have done pretty well in my career and have racked up a lot of change management, digital transformation, and leadership experience.

I have a couple of months volunteering experience in parts of Africa and have been fortunate enough to travel around parts of Africa and Asia.

I have always wanted to become a humanitarian worker (I thought it was a pipe dream and really wish I pursued this sooner).

Do you have any advice on how I can move into the field?

I am a young (26) non-member national joining the OECD soon on a temporary staff position (an A1 equivalent). Usually junior level positions like this at the OECD come with a lot of workload, job insecurity, and not a decent pay. Since I am a non-member national, I cannot work for more than two years there, and there is no scope for longer term employment (unless I change my nationality).

Those who have been/are in this position, what would your advice be to make the most of it? Potentially, also how to find something long term there?

I’ve been working for UN agencies for 5 years, and I recently started preparing for the foreign service.

I find it really stimulating from an intellectual point of view, and despite of the fact that I know real dev work happens at the grassroot level, it seems like a good compromise between

1. Having a seat and a voice at the table
2. Working in international relations

To be honest with myself, I am not ready or willing to quit everything and start working for a small NGO. So the FS seems like a good path.

However, I recently came across a very interesting start-up working in sustainable groceries. I have no idea of what the salary might be, and the tasks are probably related to business development, which is totally outside of my current field of expertise but I’m confident I could do well and keep training myself if they give me a chance to work for them.

On one hand, the idea of growing a project I believe in excites me. On the other, I have never worked for the private sector before.

I am 30 years old so I feel my time for fucking-up is running out. Luckily, I have a decent amount of savings.

My question is, where do you think I can achieve a bigger impact? Sometimes I think diplomacy will be mostly consular work..but also being present where important discussions are made and a very stimulating lifestyle.

Hi everyone,

CONTEXT:

I'm an international student and I've been recently admitted into the MPA programs offered by SIPA/Columbia and UCL (UK).

As I didn't get any fellowship from these schools so far, I'm applying for several external scholarships from my home country. None of them covers all costs. Apart from these, I'm also applying for two scholarships (one full and another partial) directly from my MPA at UCL - and I'm also waiting to hear from Chevening.

MY DILEMMA:

• SIPA is/was still my priority, but Columbia is extremely expensive.
• Plus, my offer from Columbia is CONDITIONAL. They want me to take more quantitative courses and get a B+ before classes begin. This is stressful and costs money. Also, they extended my enrollment confirmation deadline for just 30 days more, but I won't have the results of the scholarships by then, meaning I'd have to spend more or less USD 4K (courses + tuition deposit) even before knowing if I'll have enough money to go to Columbia.

SO...

• I've decided to go to UCL as my offer is unconditional and the program is way more affordable. If a get at least one partial scholarship (either from UCL or from my country) I can cover the remaining expenses with my savings. I'm thinking of choosing UCL for all external scholarships I'm applying for, so that I can increase the chances of having all my grad schoolcovered. I know some people who went to Columbia with even 5 scholarships and still had to get a loan to pay for the rest lol.

HOWEVER...

• I talked with a UCL alumna who did a double degree NYU/UCL and she compared the US and UK systems. She told me the UK education system is very individualistic and professors don't really care about you, while in the US collaboration/group work is encouraged and professors are more approachable and willing to help. She also told me networking opportunities are scarce at UCL. In sum, she told me it's you against the world in the UK. Another thing that worries me is that I'm already 30 and she told me most master students in the UK are like 21-22 and chances are I'll be the uncle of the class and will be excluded by other students. Seriously, I don't wanna cross the ocean to get isolated and bullied 🤡😂

Any insights?? I'm really confused.

Hello! I'm curious to hear more about your thoughts on h1b sponsorship by an NGO/ IntlDev org/ Local non-profit etc..... A lot of people on this thread say it's very hard right now but what are some ways around this that you've heard of? Any specific niche fields known to sponsor more? or any specific orgs? states in the USA?

Any feedback is highly appreciated.

Hi there,

I’ve previously gone through the complete OECD interview process and it generally consisted of the following steps: application => video interview => written text => panel interview => outcome

However, I applied recently for a professional level position and the process so far only included my application followed by a full panel interview (including job specific and competency questions).

Fast forward 2-3 weeks, and I now received an email that says that I need to fill in a personal information form as I’m being invited to “interviews”.

I find this to be a little strange as the HR person at the panel interview clarified the entire process and did not mention any further interviews.

One guess is that the request for personal information (nationality, marital status, current salary, etc) was sent out automatically…

Is that a new development at the OECD?