Ask Devex: Newest marketable skills, how to overcome overqualification and more

Last week, Devex hosted an “Ask Devex” CrowdHall for career account members to pose their pressing career questions to Kate Warren, director of global recruitment services. The questions were many and varied, but here’s a few — along with Warren’s answers — that you don’t want to miss: 1. What are the newest marketable skills in the global development sector and what skills do you see becoming applicable in the nearest future? One trend that’s quickly translated to new marketable in skills global development is the increased push for strong monitoring and evaluation. Many professionals are specializing in M&E as its own area of expertise, yet these skills are complementary to many other positions, such as program managers and technical experts, Warren said. “Experience with statistics, qualitative and quantitative analysis and measuring impact are all in demand and will likely be for the foreseeable future,” she added. And, as budgets tighten, organizations are looking to hire “two-in-ones” for many positions, or someone who can provide a high level of technical expertise as well as strong program management. Other, newer marketable skills include experience applying private sector approaches to global development projects, building partnerships between the private, public and NGO sectors and the ability to work at the intersection of various development sectors — and understand how they all impact one another. Warren provided the example of a global health expert who might be familiar with how the health sector is impacted by and impacts agriculture, climate change, youth employment, education and more. She encouraged participants to check out these highlights from Devex’s recent International Development Career Forum in Washington, where industry leaders discussed how trends are impacting job opportunities. 2. Is it possible to be overqualified? Understanding the resistance to those who are seen as overqualified can help you develop a strategy to combat it, Warren said. As you advance in your career in international development, there tend to be more opportunities for those with a very specialized skill set vs. a generalist background. But there are both kinds of positions out there. “If your CV jumps around a lot, you want to try and focus it on two to three key areas of expertise to quickly convey why it’s valuable,” Warren said. Did you manage effective programs with a specific donor or in a specific region, even if they focused on different sectors? Or maybe you’ve worked with a variety of actors or programs and can now help build bridges and see linkages at the intersection of various efforts. “Whatever it is, you need to be able to tell a story about how your experience, although seemingly broad, can be specifically valuable,” Warren added. 3. What is the best way to transition from the military to a career in international development? I have management skills but lack development experience. Over the past decade, military and civilian organizations have been working together more closely as their lines blur in fragile states and conflict zones like Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s more common to see crossover from military to international development, as many retired armed forces have what is essentially development experience, Warren said. But the biggest challenge is the completely different work cultures and language, not to mention the process of applying for the job. “A military CV and international development CV couldn't be more different,” Warren said. “Those I've seen successfully make this switch have been able to translate their military jargon – including titles — to make sense to an international development audience.” Warren suggested focusing on international development consultancies that work in fragile states and are used to working alongside military. Many of these firms have been bought by Department of Defense contractors, so these companies would be an even better bet. USAID contractors are also evaluated on the percentage of veterans they employ, so many are actively seeking vets who can thrive in their work environment, she added. Interested in viewing the complete CrowdHall or posing your own career questions? Check out what a Devex Career Account has to offer.