Events for networking over coffees or cocktails are slowly returning, but much of the action still happens at online gatherings or afterward on platforms like LinkedIn.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing tips on how to make connections that will last during virtual events. Plus, you can explore the latest globaldev job openings in the effort to help Ukraine and across the sector at World Learning, the UN Refugee Agency, and many more top development organizations.
+ Devex is taking a break next week, but we will be back with our next edition of Career Hub on Friday, Aug. 19. While we’re away, sign up for Devex Newswire to receive deep dives into some of this year’s key development topics, including the fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine and funding for the next pandemic.
Top jobs this week
Senior Technical Proposal Writer
World Learning
United States
Director General
Fundación Hondureña de Investigación Agrícola
Honduras
Staff Counsellor
UN Refugee Agency
Ukraine
Global Technical Excellence Lead
World Vision
Remote
Tipsheet: Virtual networking
More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual participation is still critical to many industry gatherings — as illustrated by the hybrid nature of last month’s Devex World conference.
I used that occasion to pick the brain of Jennifer Bangoura, Nexford University's director of career innovation, for her insights on making the most out of networking during virtual and hybrid events. Here are a few tips I came away with:
• Establish common ground. Name-checking the event you attended is enough to give a LinkedIn connection request some weight, but you can strengthen it further by identifying other things you may have in common.
• Front-load your prep work. By researching the people who are most relevant to your professional goals, you will know which sessions to focus on and won’t waste time scrambling for this info during the event.
• Follow up. “People will be surprised how over time … if you are liking and commenting on people's [social media] posts, those folks are going to recognize that,” Bangoura said.
Read: Tips for successful networking at virtual and hybrid events
+ 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. See the latest job opportunities.
In demand: Grant and proposal writers
Our in-house recruitment specialists are currently compiling talent pools based on specific global development skill sets. These lists are exclusive to our top recruiting organizations. We’re currently looking for these midlevel and senior-level candidates:
• Grant and proposal writers. Responsibilities include developing, writing, and coordinating donor proposals and technical reports.
We prioritize the most up-to-date profiles and CVs on Devex when considering candidates for inclusion. Get recruiters’ attention by updating your profile now. If you have yet to create a Devex profile, here’s how.
+ Writing an effective grant proposal forces you to articulate exactly what you plan to do and why it’s important. Here are some helpful guidelines to follow.
Members-only jobs this week
Resilience Development Manager
Anti-poverty organization
South Sudan
Program Officer
Private foundation
United States
Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist
International financial institution
Pakistan
Regional Recruitment Consultant
Sustainability consultancy
Singapore
Trend tracker: Popular contract positions
Of the nearly 7,600 short-term contract positions posted to Devex’s job board last month, 27% included salary information.
Meanwhile, the three most-viewed contract postings in July — all based remotely — were:
• Monitoring and evaluation consultant at World Learning, with applications now closed.
• International climate-smart agriculture specialist at Roots of Peace.
• Gender and social inclusion consultant at Global Communities.
+ ICYMI: For Career Account members, Devex hosted a digital event on how to upgrade your CV and bolster your chances of landing a new role in global development. Start your 15-day free trial to watch the video now.
What we’re reading
How to answer ‘Why do you want to work here?’ Here are strategies for approaching this common interview question and some examples for how to respond. [Harvard Business Review]
Why likability can backfire in leadership. When selecting people for leadership roles, likability may be less important than other predictors of effectiveness. [Fast Company]
How the debt crisis imperils development. Devex breaks down the global crisis in plain English, showing why debt is a huge danger for some of the most fragile nations. [Devex Pro]
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.
