Job Discussion Forums

[lclaroche]

Hello,

I posted a similar question in the Africa section, and thought I could try here as well. I apologize if I break any forum rules.

I've been in education for over six years, mostly in inner-city US high schools. I've also traveled and lived extensively abroad. In my spare time, I volunteer as a community organizer and sometimes journalism. I'm reaching that point where I got to move on and do something "interesting" abroad, but I don't want to teach ESL. Ideally, I'd like to work for an Non-Governmental Organization as relief or development worker (saving orphans in Sudan, etc etc), but I'm finding it difficult to get a foot in the door with any NGOs.

How do you get a job with an NGO? Anyone have any sure-fire techniques they can share?

Thanks!

Chris

[Justin Trullinger]

NGO work requires one of three things- NGO experience, advanced qualifications, or luck.

If you've spent time overseas with an NGO or relief organisation, then you're more attractive to others. Many people interested in this field pursue the Peace Corps or VSO for this reason. It involves working for free, though. As a matter of fact, most entry level development positions involve working for free. To get the experience to get in, you'll probably have to work for free...or...

Get an advanced degree. If you get an MA in development, international education, relief management, crisis management, conflict resolution, or something like that, the job market in NGOs gets a lot more open. This may not involve working for free...it's more like working for a year or two and paying a load of money for it.

Or, you can get really lucky. If you happen to be overseas, in a country where there is not a huge employment pool, and happen onto a connection with a smallish, low paying NGO who happen to need someone, your qualifications and experience may matter less than they usually would. This one can be the easiest, and cheapest, but is hard to plan for....


Best,
Justin

[khmerhit]

Start your own?

A degree in development isnt necessary, but it helps; a degree in accounting and or porject managegement would certainly help, as would a degree in water engineering, conflict res, that kind of thing.

After that, you volunteer!! Organize a volnteer posting from your home country, ie, NOT in-country. If you must go abroad, then go somewhere that is rife with ngos, like phnom penh or hanoi or bangkok, and volunteer but above all network. It works for some, but not all. (this is from obs, not experience.) There is a lot of turnover in nog-land; but once you're in, you're in. when your ocntract is up, you put your shingle out until the next person hires you.

If you want to work for the UN, it helps to have a PhD.

Timing is also important--- you want to be at the right place at the right time if youre going to start up your own ngo----meaning start yr own business, for that is what it is. Wait for the next Kabul, Baghdad, Kosovo, East Timor (no, you dont want to go to east timor), and stake yr claim!!

Personally, of course, I would recommend Cambodia--but that's just me.(:

[Mchristophermsw]

NOG Work?

Get a Degree in Social Work and you will have no problem.

I have an advanced degree in social work and I have done

International Social Work
Counseling
Therapy
Case Management
Teaching
Communtiy College Instructor
Drug Education
Anger Management
Forensic Work
Investigations
Independent Living Skills
Adoptions
Foster Care
Parent and community Trianing
Community Development

Worked with
Adults
Children
Eldely
Domestic Violent Victims
Sexual and Physical Abuse
Crisis Management
Pysciatric work

And I am sure I forget a few areas---but my point is you will be very marketable with large set of skills and knowledge--so now you have the qualifications but just like everything else in the end it is the connections or who you know. Get the degree and then just put yourself out there

Best wishes

[tedkarma]

Peace Corps - by far - the best path to NGO work. One, you'll make the contacts (if you actively seek them), and two, people will know you can hack living overseas in less than wonderful conditions, Three - former PCVs in admin positions will recognize your experience and put you near the front of the line.

Sometimes the next step from PC is to UN Volunteers (who earn MUCH more than PC volunteers). Then on from there into the system.

Volunteer - at the UN level - does not mean work free - just means a lower wage - but you can probably even save money at UN Vol wages.

This all really depends on your motivation though. Some NGOs are just ripping off the poor and undeveloped countries while their staff drive around in expensive SUVs - others are doing real work.

[Mchristophermsw]

Ted Karma has great advice but if you really want to do that type of work pursue that Degree so that it will be a career with a solid foundation.

In human services regardless of the place or population one works with, there are many pre and para professionals but when it comes to getting the jobs that pay more with good benifits and the ability to go up the ladder you need a degree. A long time ago you could be grandfathered in and it may still be like that in developing countries but for the most part, Human Resources has strict Degree requirments for upper level positions.

In my job with the Government they wont even look at you with out a BA But you have to have a Post-grad degree to make the real money and move up the ladder. Its just jumping through the hoops.

One thing I will say is that when it comes to getting that degree, it is a great oppertunity to network. In my grad program my advisor and many other faculity had so many over-seas connections...So its a good place to begin....

But if school is not your thing, then I would go Peace Corps or some other org to volunteer....its great experience and like TED KARMA stated, you can network while you are there and see what other doors open.....while having a piece of paper in your is important------We still live in the world of "Its who you Know that matters"

Good luck, and chew on I and TEDS advice---KIT and let us know how it all turns out.

[tedkarma]

I would guess most good NGO work - is going to require a graduate degree or more.

[serenitee]

Yes, I have definitely found that higher degrees are a requirement for most development/relief positions. I was actually surprised when I first started looking into the field of aid work how extremely competitive positions are...even volunteer assignments.

Anyone have any grad programs they recommend for getting into this line of work? It would be great to find something that wouldn't lead me into even greater debt on top of my undergrad loans... since working with international NGO's I'm sure I wouldn't make much anyways. Anyone have experience with this and know of schools that provide good assistantships, etc in return for discounted tuition?

***Also, if you are fluent in a second language you may have an advantage over other applicants.

These are some good sites to check out that I visit regularly:

http://www.reliefweb.com
http://www.idealist.org
http://www.usaid.gov/careers/