Navigating a successful career path is challenging enough without that nagging internal voice saying things like “you’re not good enough for the job,” “you were lucky to get it,” and “you don’t actually deserve to be here.”
If this sounds familiar, you’re far from alone, and there are techniques that can help. In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing tips from a former aid worker who is now an expert in combating impostor syndrome. I also have insights from a project manager on how to successfully pivot to consulting. Plus, you can explore new job opportunities at the World Health Organization, Adeso, and more.
Top jobs this week
Director of Policy
Adeso
Remote
Senior Technical Officer, Influenza
World Health Organization
Switzerland
Deputy Manager, National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Refuge
United Kingdom
Associate, Digital Marketing
Human Rights Watch
Remote
Tipsheet: Tackling impostor syndrome
“We’re all human beings and we all have a degree of self-doubt — until we feel like we mastered a particular task or role.”
— Andrea Clarke, founder, Future Fit Co.The fear of being “found out” as a fraud at work is more common than you might think. Depending on the study, upwards of 70% of workers have felt this way at some point, with women experiencing a greater impact on their careers.
As global development professionals are not exempt from this psychological phenomenon, we asked Andrea Clarke, a former international aid worker who now trains corporate professionals, for tips on overcoming impostor syndrome.
• Embracing vulnerability. Whatever is making you feel vulnerable about a situation, “embrace it, acknowledge it, and set it aside,” Clarke advises. Often, it’s the newness and unfamiliarity of a situation or position that triggers impostor syndrome.
• Courteous confrontation. “We all have a responsibility to confront any level of friction with our colleagues, no matter how small that friction might be,” Clarke says. In doing so, you will build trust and bring yourself closer to them, instead of isolating yourself with your own thoughts.
• A flat-management approach. Don’t be shy about seeking help and advice. It’s about learning and experiencing something new, not about admitting deficiency. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in a warzone or … a corporate situation: never be afraid to ask for help,” Clarke says.
Worried you're a fraud? Here's how to tackle your impostor syndrome
A day in the life
Carmen Demeter got her start at the U.S. Agency for International Development but now works independently to help organizations and teams strengthen their management capabilities to implement development projects more effectively. As a consultant, she is also able to strike a healthy work-life balance for the first time in her career.
Speaking to Devex, Demeter shares lessons from her successful career pivot, advice for aspiring project managers, and more.
Read: Career advice from a project management consultant
Members-only jobs this week
Project Manager
United Nations agency
Kazakhstan
Senior Financial Management Operations Officer
Multilateral development bank
Ethiopia
Senior Officer, Financial Planning and Analysis
Nutrition-focused organization
Remote
Human Rights Manager, Social Responsibility
Multinational technology company
United States
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, as well as some of the roles that need to be filled.
IMPACT Initiatives. This Geneva-based “think-and-do tank” has focused its response efforts on collecting and disseminating research and data on a daily basis, including reports on living conditions in Ukraine and migration trends.
• Short-term contract — research manager in Poland or Ukraine.
• Short-term contract — geographic information systems officer in Poland or Ukraine.
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL. This French NGO specializes in helping victims of war and focuses on three vital needs: water, food, and shelter. It sent teams to Ukraine and Moldova in the early days of the crisis and is currently seeking help in both countries.
• Short-term contract — country director in Lviv, Ukraine.
• Short-term contract — WASH program manager in Chisinau, Moldova.
More new roles: The globaldev organizations hiring in response to Ukraine crisis
What we’re reading
Mental health and the return to the office. Supervisors are being called on to help workers navigate personal challenges, whether or not they have the training to do so. [The New York Times]
What salary transparency won’t solve for women. Efforts to make compensation more transparent may not do much more than confirm what most women already know. [Charter]
Will Ukraine spending mean less aid elsewhere? With aid budgets already stretched, the humanitarian community fears that other critical needs will suffer a loss of funding. [Devex Pro]
To keep up to date with all the must-read global development coverage, be sure to sign up to the daily Devex Newswire.
Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.
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.
