How to get into International
Development
Shaun Harris
Careers Consultant, LSE Careers
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Guidelines and tips
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
University Rankings
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Our save-the-student-ebooks!
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
Getting Started in International Development: A Seminar by Shaun Harris from LSE Careers, Lecture notes of Project Management
An overview of the International Development sector, including key players, types of jobs, and where to find them. It also offers practical tips on gaining experience and applying for jobs. various sectors such as INGOs, governments and international organizations, think tanks and academia, and the private sector.
Typology: Lecture notes
2021/2022
1 / 39
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
Related documents
Partial preview of the text
Download Getting Started in International Development: A Seminar by Shaun Harris from LSE Careers and more Lecture notes Project Management in PDF only on Docsity!
How to get into International
Development
Shaun Harris
Careers Consultant, LSE Careers
Today’s seminar is designed to give you…
- An understanding of what the sector looks like. Key players.
Types of jobs.
- Information on where jobs are advertised (and how to find
ones that aren’t).
- Practical tips on how you can get development experience.
INGO…
Context
Largest sector
40,000 globally
Focus
Regional, Thematic, Dual Mandate
Entry level jobs
Project asst, team administrator, programme assistant
Salaries
15-20k in UK
Advantages – less bureaucracy, campaigning
Disadvantages – funding, salary
“the larger the bureaucracy, the
Bigger the salary”
Further Resources
Graduate & internship schemes Catholic Relief Services: Fellowship scheme Medair Save the Children: 12 mth HTS ACTED – overseas internships Charityworks
Jobs Devex, Devnet, Bond, Charityjob, Charity People, Alertnet, Reliefweb, Comminit, Mango, Idealist
Information - Eldis, LSE Careers
Governments and International Organisations…
Government ID Depts
More likely to have graduate training schemes
DFID – c. 2500 staff Head office Local office Consultancies e.g. IDS, ODI Civil Service Fast Stream 50 week graduate training scheme DESA – Masters plus 3 yrs
Advantages More structured career path Large budgets = large influence
Disadvantages Bureaucracy Competitive entry
Further resources dfid.gov.uk usaid.gov DANIDA JICA
International Organisations
Professional level jobs Experienced hires
Consultants
Structured schemes e.g. JPO, LEAD, NETI
Internships Use to make contacts
Advantages Broad areas of work Some structured schemes Salary & benefits
Disadvantages Bureaucracy Competitive entry
Private sector…
- Development Consultancy
- Professional service firms
- Management consultants
- Development consultants
Recruit in two ways
- Staff members (some grad entry)
- Short term project based
Advantages
- Big projects & large budgets
Disadvantages
- Removed from final beneficiaries
- Time spent on preparing bids/tenders
Private sector…
• Funds & Foundations
• Social enterprise/start
ups
• CSR
• Multinational
Criteria based career thinking…
Start where
you are most
confident
Be flexible
Planning vs.
evolving
Sector
Role
Interests
Other
How & when to look for jobs
Applying for advertised jobs
Organisation websites
Use specialist websites
Sign up to recruitment agencies
LSE Careers, Devex , Devnet, Bond
Idealist, Charityjob, CharityPeople
Eldis. Guardian, Microfinance
Gateway. Escape the City
When to get started
Key stages
Start making contacts now – conferences, events etc.
Note deadlines for any schemes
By Jan/Feb apply for volunteering alongside your degree
Apply for jobs three months before ready to work
Have a backup plan
How to get experience
Volunteering & Internships
In developing countries
In advance
e.g. VSO, ICS, Skillshare
Global Health Corps
In situ
In Europe/N America
Volunteer at head/
regional office
Further resources
VSO, UNV, Peacecorps
Do-it.org
LSE Volunteering Centre
Start somewhere and work up
Admin jobs
Temp jobs
Start elsewhere and move across
Further resources
Charityjob
Charitypeople
BOND
DEVEX
Guardian
CVs for the International
Development sector
Shaun Harris
LSE Careers
This seminar is designed to give you…
- An understanding of what ID employers want from a
CV
- A clear idea of what to include in each section
- A way to write powerful cover letters: using the ICME
rule