Life in the field: Careers in humanitarian response

“I started out by chance; I didn’t know anything like this career existed,” said Jessica Alexander of her 15 years in humanitarian aid. Alexander, who quit her marketing job at a young age to pursue humanitarian work, has held positions in Darfur, Sri Lanka and Haiti — to name a few — and the field has kept calling her back despite her best efforts to settle down or take a position at headquarters. The humanitarian worker is also now an author, and published a book about her experience called “Chasing Chaos: My decade In and Out of Humanitarian Aid.” Alexander shared what she’s learned during a recent Devex webinar, where she stressed that those who wish to enter this field must possess a high degree of adaptability and flexibility. A job description oftentimes won’t at all reflect your actual responsibilities, she said, which tend to exceed whatever was presented on paper due to the high stress and ever-changing environments that humanitarian aid workers must thrive in. “No field posting is really the same,” she said, noting that even the same organization might be highly effective in one location and struggling in another depending on staff, local government and a host of other variables. Check out the webinar to find out how Alexander navigated the challenges of life in the field — such as isolation and lack of communication with friends and family back home — and whether she considers herself an “aid junkie.” Looking to make a career move? Visit our career center for expert advice on how to navigate your job search - all you need is a Devex Career Account to get started.