Gaining relevant work experience through internships can go a long way toward finding a development job. But those who know how to get the most out of these opportunities will be better positioned to break into the sector with the right role.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing tips on finding and leveraging internships. Plus, you can explore the latest globaldev job openings in the effort to help Ukraine and across the sector at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and many more top organizations.
+ A Devex Career Account gives you access to our entire global development job board, all of our career advice, and the ability to feature your professional profile for thousands of recruiters to find. For a limited time, we’re offering a 50% discount for new members!
Top jobs this week
Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
EDI Global
Kenya | United Kingdom
Senior Director, External Collaboration
USAID
United States
Program Quality and Strategy Manager
World Vision
South Sudan
International Financial Analyst
Islamic Relief Worldwide
Worldwide
Tipsheet: Leveraging internships
Internships are critical for embarking on a development career, but making the most of the experience is what really matters. Here are some tips to consider as you look for ways to get ahead in the sector, according to Kate Warren, Devex’s executive vice president:
• Be selective. Seek out opportunities that can provide “really substantive, hands-on experience,” Warren says. She suggests looking for roles working in the field or on technical projects.
• Prepare your pitch. Showing organizations how you can advance their mission through project-based work will make them more likely to bring you on board. Consider reaching out directly to department heads or staffers to find ways to contribute.
• Grow your network. Make sure you are focused on not just the work at hand but also the networking advantages that come with these experiences. This will be valuable when looking for references or setting up informational interviews.
Read: How to find and leverage volunteer and internship opportunities
+ Explore current internship opportunities on Devex’s job board.
Members-only jobs this week
Program Officer, Collaborative Philanthropy
Philanthropic foundation
United States
Codex Programme Specialist
United Nations agency
Remote
Research Analyst
Food-focused nonprofit
India
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer
International NGO
Tunisia
Update: Who’s hiring to help Ukraine
We’re continuing to track the groups that are actively hiring in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and some of the roles that need to be filled.
New opportunities:
• American Red Cross: United States — Program officer, Ukraine operations.
• FHI 360: Ukraine — Health coordinator.
• International Organization for Migration: Ukraine — Supply chain officer.
More new roles: The globaldev organizations hiring in response to Ukraine crisis
Ask an expert
You have questions, Career Hub has answers, thanks to Devex’s network of job coaches and other experts. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
On platforms like LinkedIn, what's the best way to present more than one role or skill set you offer?
Optimize your LinkedIn profile depending on where you want to go. Let’s say you were in project management but want to get into M&E [monitoring and evaluation]. Then, you should focus your profile on transferable skills, courses [or] education, and achievements for M&E. Use the full suite of your profile to make you stand out in that area.
A few tips on how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile:
• Use the “about” section to craft a compelling story. This is where you can bring your skill sets together and tell your potential employer [or] client what you bring to the table. … Who do you help [or] work with? What do you help them with?
• Your profile headline makes you stand out, and it’s the first thing that people see. It’s also searchable, so put the most relevant keywords in your headline.
• In the “experience” section, rather than presenting your job description, focus on skills and achievements.
• Don’t forget to utilize all sections of your profile ... [including] licenses, publications, courses, projects, et al. There are more ways to showcase roles and skill sets; you do not have to cram it all in the “experience” section.
Connect with Simone on LinkedIn.
Have a career development question? You can email Devex’s careers editor directly.
What we’re reading
How to answer the ‘tell me about yourself’ interview question. Acing it could be the key to ensuring your interviewers remember you as a standout candidate. [Fast Company]
Why health organizations should prioritize women leaders. Deliberate action is needed across the sector to dismantle systemic gender inequality, according to this op-ed. [Devex]
To keep up to date with all the must-read global development coverage, be sure to sign up to the daily Devex Newswire.
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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.
