Presented by Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
Finding your place in a changing sector may require new techniques, such as a more strategic, data-driven job search and a different approach to networking — not setting out to forge transactional relationships with staff at a particular organization, but treating it like detective work.
What’s the case you’re trying to solve, you ask? Whether you actually fit a niche, a role, or an organization, according to Spencer Campbell and Dan Freehling, career coaches who offered a refreshingly different approach to job searching in 2026 during a recent Devex career event.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing insights from Campbell, Freehling, and other experts on how to bring purpose and success to your 2026 job search. Plus, the best new job opportunities from Devex’s job board, from leading organizations such as Tetra Tech, UNOPS, and many others.
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Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Operations Manager
Cambiando Vidas DR
Dominican Republic
2. Policy and Advocacy Manager
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
United States (remote)
3. Executive Administrative Assistant, CEO
The Carter Center
United States
4. AI Enablement and Governance Lead
DT Global
Philippines
5. MEL Manager
Tetra Tech
Vietnam
6. Senior Director, Humanitarian Advocacy
CARE
Worldwide | United States (remote)
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is supporting the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in recruiting a senior HR officer for performance and reward. The role is based at AIIB’s headquarters in Beijing, China. Applications are open until Jan. 23.
+ See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
A smarter job search
During a recent Devex digital event, career coaches Dan Freehling and Spencer Campbell provided job seekers with expert guidance on finding their place in a changing sector and pursuing a more strategic, data-driven job search. Here are three key takeaways:
Outline your “fit hypothesis.” These are specific combinations of the type of role or job title you want and the subsector you are looking to work in. “Once you have your three combinations of these, this will form the basis of applying like a scientist,” Freehling said.
Keep it human. Despite job-search platforms promising instant results with AI-powered CVs, Campbell advised preparing a set of materials that are simple and speak directly to their strengths. The basics haven’t changed, he explained, except for recruiters being inundated with low-effort artificial intelligence spam.
Review and refine. The number of callbacks you receive from applications will tell you if you’re on the right track or not. You will get a lot of noes no matter what, Campbell said, but where a job seeker is getting only noes from 30-plus applications, something likely needs tweaking.
Read and watch: How to run a smarter job search in 2026 (Career)
Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Project Consultant — NDC Partnership
UNOPS
Mexico (remote)
2. Outreach and Partnership Coordinator
Cambiando Vidas DR
United States
3. Programme Management Specialist
UNOPS
Kenya
4. Individual Consultant: Proposal Writer(s)
Mercy Corps
United States
5. Individual Consultant: Global Environment Facility Funding Liaison Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization
Italy
6. CMC Senior Technical Adviser
U.S. Pharmacopeia
India
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn and Devex’s Job board.
Forget what you think you know about networking
“Consider applying to jobs as the last step, because networking really is the name of the game right now.”
— Radhika Bhatt, climate and social impact career coachIt’s no surprise that many job seekers still prioritize applications when job hunting, with networking treated as an afterthought. But according to experts I spoke to recently, there’s much to be gained by rethinking not just when you network, but how.
Before you start scrolling your LinkedIn connections for potential leads, first consider how you’ve networked in the past, and whether it’s aligned with relationship-building, rather than asking for immediate referrals. That means being intentional about who to speak with, doing research beforehand, and focusing conversations on learning rather than requests.
Jack Jarrett, an international HR adviser, described networking as “learning, not asking.” Starting with former colleagues, classmates, or peers removes pressure and makes conversations more genuine, he said.
Social impact career coach Kelsi Kriitmaa encouraged a slower, more immersive approach focused on giving before expecting anything in return. This might mean commenting thoughtfully on LinkedIn posts, attending panels, or sharing relevant research — small actions that signal genuine interest before requesting a conversation.
Read more: For those affected by USAID job loss, how to move forward in 2026 (Career)
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• U.S. funding bill would save key programs. Lawmakers have released a compromise foreign assistance appropriations bill that would avoid deeper cuts proposed by President Donald Trump, but it still needs to clear both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by Jan. 30.
• How funding humanitarian crises may change. A confidential memorandum of understanding signals a shift in the balance of power among U.N. relief agencies, with increased competition inside the U.N. bureaucracy for scarcer resources.
• Inside Germany’s new foreign aid agenda. Facing steep budget cuts and rising political pressure, BMZ has unveiled a strategy to prioritize high-impact regions and private sector partnerships
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About the author
Justin Sablich
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
