GLASGOW, Scotland — Aspiring development professionals are having a tough time finding opportunities to gain experience, network, and land their first jobs in the sector amid the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic.
Recent graduates said they have noticed a slowdown in job postings for entry-level positions, while current students — some still months away from graduating — are already concerned about their prospects. Data from Devex’s development jobs board shows the number of postings dropped by 12% in April and 5% in May compared with the same periods last year.
Internships have also been disrupted — a problem for the many aspiring professionals who rely on these experiences to graduate or get their foot in the door at an organization. Reid Dobell, who is halfway through a master’s program in international development at Johns Hopkins University, told Devex that a number of students have seen internship opportunities fall through, which is causing anxiety.