Work Towards a Career in International Development Work

Article and Photos by Caryn Sweeny

Children in a balwadi (preschool) in Bangalore, India pose for photos. Many NGOs work with children either through health programs or as part of programs aimed at helping countries improve their education systems.

As a study abroad student and later adviser, I encountered students whose ideals of international careers were as varied as the countries they set off to. The majority, however, fell into two camps: the wanna-be jetsetters, who would embark on glamorous careers in the corporate world; and the idealists, who planned on living in righteous poverty as they helped eradicate disease, illiteracy, and despair.

Fortunately, one doesn’t have to be Angelina Jolie or a Peace Corps volunteer in order to work and make a living internationally. There are scores of nonprofit, international, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the country (and world) seeking employees that are educated, culturally competent, and able to work collaboratively and as equals with locals on everything from HIV/AIDS prevention to water management education. The organizations vary from small community-based offices to organizations with locations and staff on six continents. Because these organizations are funded through government agencies, religious organizations, philanthropic organizations, and corporate social responsibility departments, they can offer competitive salaries and generous benefits. They may not pay as well as the corporate sector, but you’ll be able to pay off your student loans and eat more than ramen noodles while making a difference and see the world.

Based on tips from colleagues and friends in many of these organizations, the following is a do and don’t list for breaking into, and succeeding in, an international NGO career.

 ► Do develop one or two regional foci as early as undergraduate studies. Developing an expertise in Francophone West Africa or Central Asia will make you much more lucrative to organizations that work in those areas.

 ► Do study the rest of the world, too. There are lots of other places on the globe and sometimes, an organization just wants evidence of your ability to understand current issues in a global context.

 ► Do volunteer or intern for local internationally focused organizations. World Affairs Councils, refugee groups, cultural societies, and activist organizations are all good choices for starting your network. You may be the one who makes and presents the name tag for the French Ambassador to the United States before a function, and he may be delighted to hear about your recent study in Grenoble and introduce you to his wife, who is on the board of an organization that is hiring….

 ► Do study abroad. The options for study abroad are endless. Two weeks, six months, a year, in every location from England to Ecuador, studying language, or sculpture, or the art of the deal. Where isn’t even as important as what you make of it while there. Overcoming the challenges of living and learning in a new culture will show prospective employers that you have good adaptation and acclimation skills.

 ► Do pursue higher degrees. Masters and doctoral degrees aren’t essential for working internationally. But they do help build your knowledge base in a particular region or issue, and they give you access to some of the most accomplished and talented folks through seminars, campus events, and conferences. Not to mention the benefits you’ll reap from studying and socializing with international students and scholars. A little small talk and soon enough you’ll be at a fellow student’s apartment learning how to make pirogues or roll sushi while deepening your awareness of globalization or Japanese culture.

 ► Don’t discount any experience. Are you a babysitter for your Colombian neighbor’s children? Do you spend every Friday at your favorite Ethiopian restaurant? Did you skip the spring break mayhem for a day in Mexico to explore some inland ruins? Engage everyone in conversation and reflect on what you saw, heard, and felt. Becoming a cultural being is the first step toward a successful international career of any type.

 ► Don’t be a complacent traveler. Research different ways for getting below the surface of a country before you go. In South Africa, certainly, go on the township tour — but then also ask your guide privately if it would be possible to set up a visit to a hospital to visit and read to children, or to go to a school and answer questions about your home country for a little while. Again, these experiences and how you relay them during job interviews may make the most impact on the person interviewing, and give you a shot over someone who is well-traveled but not well-lived.

 ► Don’t assume only experienced, older staff get sent on international assignments. Older, more experienced staff are often weary of the field, particularly if they have children and families. Not to mention, as a junior to mid-level staffer, you’re a lot cheaper to send. In my first five years with my organization, I was sent to seven countries for work.

 ► Don’t forget you’ll still have to pay your dues. Paying dues is a common theme in the world of work, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to pay them faster. Volunteer early and often for grunt work. If your organization hosts foreign dignitaries or high-level international workers, volunteer to stay late to guide guests to the venue or to put together materials. Finally, learn as much as you can about the regions in which you want to work. Seek out those around you who work in those areas, and talk about current events and issues. When they need some help, they’ll think of you.

 ► Don’t forget language skills. Foreign language skills can be a critical tool in working with other cultures rather than just in other cultures. But if you are a researcher, or a manager, or a provider of technical assistance, the language skills may be secondary. You’ll likely have a locallybased colleague who can help you with translation. However, you’re not off the hook: learning some basics of the local language will not only show your respect for the people you’ll work with; it can also be a wonderful icebreaker as you struggle with each other’s languages!

For many, making a living in the NGO world is the happy medium between working for a multinational corporation and working in voluntary poverty (both of which are fine and noble callings on their own, if that’s your preference). There are drawbacks, from being at the whims of donors and governments, to long overtime hours, to non-profit salaries, to red tape, but at the heart of many of these organizations is a belief in participatory and collaborative development. Those who work with NGOs know that people around the world are capable of solving their own problems if they are provided with the means, tools, and expertise to do so. By working in the NGO world, you become one more asset in this fight.

A child in Bangalore, India practices reading as his teacher looks on.

Caryn Sweeney is a researcher with the Academy for Educational Development, an NGO based in Washington, D.C., where she studies primary education programs in India, China, and Brazil. Her work with AED has also taken her to Sri Lanka, South Africa, and domestically around the Mississippi Delta for different poverty-alleviation and educational programs. Prior to AED, Ms. Sweeney worked at Boston University’s Division of International Programs and did a study abroad program at Oxford University.