When the dust settles after a sudden loss of employment, we’re left with a few different options, which often depend on our personal circumstances, including financial considerations. For some, trying something completely new can be an appealing option.
Keep up to date with global development’s top jobs and expert career advice by signing up to Devex Career Hub. Get it in your inbox every Friday.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing a few insights from our recent digital event to help get your career change off to the right start. Plus, some of the best new job opportunities from Devex’s board, from leading organizations such as JSI, UNOPS, and many others.
+ Join us on Thursday, March 20: Devex is hosting a digital event to help you find your next job within an evolving social impact landscape. To gain access to this and all digital events, advice guides, and job board, sign up for a Career Account with a free 15-day trial.
Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Guyana Country Director
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
United States | Guyana
2. Deputy Chief of Party, Côte d'Ivoire AMPPLIFY Activity
TechnoServe
Côte d'Ivoire
3. Senior Finance Officer (GCF - RTP)
The Pacific Community
Fiji
4. Programme Manager – C4ISR
UNOPS
Somalia
5. Resource Development Director | Habitat for Humanity Philippines
Habitat for Humanity International
Philippines
6. PFSCM Accounting Lead
JSI
United States
Devex Talent Solutions, our very own boutique recruitment agency, is assisting Feed the Children in its search for a regional director of Africa, a remote position, and a senior director of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning, or MEAL, which is also a remote role that can be based anywhere in Africa or in Washington D.C. Those interested in either role need to apply by May 7.
+ DTS is also seeking candidates for a senior environmental and social development specialist — CSO engagement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (closing March 20), among many others. See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
Career-pivot pitfalls: What not to do
“Instead of thinking about what's the perfect job, think about what is worth exploring [and] lean into your curiosity.”
— Simone Anzböck, international coachIf you find yourself considering a career change, it can be difficult to know where to start, and often, there are many first steps that can lead one astray. During our recent digital event, international coach Simone Anzböck provided guidance on what you should strive to do, as well as what to avoid, including these three common traps.
Thinking in job titles. A common challenge is identifying a role to work toward rather than starting with your own abilities. “Instead of thinking in job titles, think in terms of your skills — skills that you want to be known for, skills that you want to build and skills that you're interested in — as well as your strengths, your innate strengths,” she said.
Limiting your options. Your focus might be on figuring out the one right path to take to your next role, worried that a change of direction might take you in the wrong direction. However, focusing more on aligning opportunities with your strengths, skill sets, and values rather than a clearly defined role will likely lead you in the right direction.
Analysis paralysis. It’s easy to get stuck looking at all the options, rather than making progress. In this situation, Anzböck said, it might be best to simply try to do what feels right. She cited a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant.”
To learn about the steps you should take in order to make meaningful progress in your career shift, Career Account members can watch the full event featuring more insights from Anzböck.
Explore more: How to make a career change in a rapidly changing environment (Career)
Download: Career transition checklist — 7 steps for success (Career)
Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Senior Officer, AI Innovation and Access
Gates Foundation
United States
2. Individual Consultant: Technical Assistance to the Council of Governors
AGRA
Kenya
3. Programme Management Officer
U.N. Department of Safety and Security
United States
4. Environment and Climate Change Specialist - Somalia
Cowater International
Kenya (remote)
5. Senior Program Associate, Climate Resilience Practice
World Resources Institute
India
6. Senior Economist – Macro
DT Global
Indonesia
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn, our next early-week edition of Career Hub, and Devex’s Job board.
Funding freeze fallout: 4 silver linings to watch for
There’s no way around the fact that the dismantling of USAID is likely to have significant repercussions on the job market for the foreseeable future, experts tell Devex contributor Rebecca Root. But there is also hope that some of the Trump-induced changes will open up new opportunities in the sector. Here are four points to consider.
Increased mobilization. According to Lois Freeke, manager of the Asia-Pacific and international recruitment business at NGO Recruitment, new initiatives may arise to combat Trump’s “America First” agenda, such as more demand for immigration support and a redoubling of climate efforts.
Emerging skill sets. “It’s not just looking for people who can submit grants, proposals, and tenders anymore; it's going to be very much reliant on storytelling, partnerships, individual giving, and high-net-worth private philanthropy,, trusts, and foundations,” Freeke says.
Local focus. Development consultant Deborah Doane says the shift could also be used to grow more local and national civil societies. “Local people should be looking to local organizations, creating startups, creating new opportunities [and] growing homegrown organizations,” she says.
A resilient sector. Long-term data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on nonprofit employment shows that since 2007, employment in the sector has risen despite disruptive events such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more: As the USAID dust settles, what's the development job market outlook? (Career)
Latest updates: Tracking Trump’s cuts to international development
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• Judge orders Trump to pay USAID partners, again. Billions of dollars in foreign assistance for work completed before Feb. 13 must be paid, a U.S. District Court judge said, but another appeal will likely further delay the final outcome.
• USAID staff told to destroy documents. "Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” instructed Erica Y. Carr, the acting executive secretary of USAID, via an internal email.
• Will a woman ever lead the United Nations? A survey of women’s roles in international organizations, from the IMF to the U.N., shows a mixed picture of progress and backsliding.
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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.
