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The development sector is a popular choice for people who aren’t afraid to take on challenges, from living in rural areas to traveling to war zones for humanitarian causes. This ever-growing sector pays staff lucrative stipends with generous funding from donors around the world. Candidates can pursue their career locally in Bangladesh or across the border in regional or global stations of global development organizations. In recent times, given the unique appeal of getting paid while working for social welfare, more and more people are interested in pursuing a career in this sector. Hence, with increasing competition, candidates have to build themselves from scratch to secure jobs and maximize their potential in the development sector.
Volunteer for a cause
According to Dr. Abdul Qayoum, head of communications at a leading international development agency, working in the development sector essentially requires people to commit to working for the people, community, country and global good without the ulterior motive of profiting from it. Therefore, volunteering for any cause is always an important moment, whether for their neighborhood or during an emergency response. Current students can look for volunteer opportunities through UN Volunteers Bangladesh or other volunteer programs from local NGOs/INGOs. “First, we want to see the reflection of your genuine spirit towards social causes and soft skills that you have, then the technical know-how. It comes from volunteering in your school and neighborhood. So be alert and grab the volunteering opportunities around you,” adds Dr. Abdul Quayyum.
Practice communication skills
Both oral and written communication skills are essential tools at all levels in the development sector. Appropriate documentation of work is required to facilitate inter-agency collaboration, progress reporting to donors and advocacy to project-based required groups. Mr Ghalib Ibn Anwarul Azim, a regional policy and regulatory specialist at a United Nations development agency, says excellent writing and speaking skills are a priority in the development sector. He adds, “You might consider joining competitive debates, public speaking, and part-time writing opportunities to improve your communication skills.” Also, poor communication skills can potentially lead to misunderstanding, which is extremely harmful in this sector, as many ongoing projects are advocacy-oriented, where accurate and strategic messaging is an absolute must.
Learn a second UN language
Many goals of the development sector are universal. More often, inter-station collaboration is required at the global, regional and local levels for a range of different projects. Although English is one of the most widely spoken languages, the other official languages of the United Nations are also frequently used. Besides English, the other official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. Learning one of these languages would at least unlock many doors of opportunity. Whether you’re working as a translator, transcriber, proofreader, draftsman editor, or any other job position, knowing a language always helps. Those wishing to join global stations across borders may wish to learn the language of their dream destination and interest.
Develop multiple skills
The global labor market is moving towards specialization and the development sector is no exception. However, given that this sector is run with donor money, the priority to be cost-effective in project implementation is an important priority. As such, smaller teams with effective individuals with different skills are becoming more common in the sector. For example, if someone is excellent with specific technical knowledge, they would be even ahead in preference if they can do average quality graphic design. This is because the combination of these two skills can reduce the complications in the delivery process for fast graphic support at work. This applies to any secondary skill, whether it’s fundamental data analysis or photography. “We often prefer interns who have multiple skills and can flexibly support a range of activities when needed,” adds Mr. Ghalib Ibn Anurul Azim.
Show your profile
Most jobs in the development sector come with a detailed job description known as a Terms of Reference (ToR). These documents in most cases explicitly explain the ideal candidate and the required skills for the position. The cover letter and CV should reflect that the applicant has taken this extra time to thoroughly read the TOR and craft the application accordingly. As such, a suitable master is essential to provide you with the skills needed to thrive in the development sector. Surodeep Paul, a consultant at a leading global development organization, says the application should reflect their educational training. “The development sector, like any sector, has its characteristics that are not suitable for everyone. Please do your research and talk to people who are already working there before you decide to pursue your career here,” he adds. Therefore, the application should reflect the spirit and well-informed understanding of the vacancy required.
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