The U.S. aid freeze has been “an undeserved, but very much a wake-up call for international consultants … to level up your consulting practice,” says Loksan Harley, development consultant and co-founder of the Impact Consulting Hub.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing some key insights from Harley and development HR adviser Jack Jarrett on how international consultants affected by the USAID crisis can pivot to new opportunities. Plus, check out our expanded selection of the latest and best job leads.
Diversify to survive
For USAID consultants facing canceled projects or furloughs, or any development consultant wanting to open up new opportunities, “diversifying your clientele” should be the focus, according to Harley.
“We know that a lot of consultants may start their consulting journey by just working as a consultant for their previous employer, and then they can become comfortable and very much dependent on one organization. And this shows that we need to diversify,” Harley says. “This is about … positioning yourself more as an expert and not just a contractor, not just a project taker, but also a project maker.”
When looking to transition from a USAID project to others, such as those with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, or FCDO, the World Bank, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, or GIZ, “a lot of the skills there are highly transferable,” including “program management, compliance, stakeholder engagement and so forth,” says Jarrett. But one must get caught up on the differences as well.
One important aspect is “understanding the different donor languages and making sure that you’re tailoring that language to specific development opportunities,” Jarrett says.
For example, “when you’re looking to potentially go for [opportunities [with European governments], make sure you’re understanding the difference in terminology from, say, ‘log frame’ in USAID to ‘theory of change’ for FCDO,” he explains.
Watch: How to navigate the Trump effect on the development career path
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Devex Talent Solutions, our very own boutique recruitment agency, is assisting Roots in its search for a manager of finance and administration to be based in Vancouver, Canada. Those interested should apply by March 19.
+ DTS is also seeking candidates for an underwriter (sovereign risks) with the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (closing March 2), among many others. See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
Network your way into the World Bank
“I want to express interest in a given organization ... through connecting with them as a professional [not a candidate].”
— Roberto Amorosino, former senior HR specialist, World BankGiven how competitive World Bank roles are, networking is essential for consultants to bolster their chances. Not all consulting opportunities are posted publicly, either, and these can be discovered when networking as well. Here are a few tips from Roberto Amorosino, former senior HR specialist with the bank.
Connect as a professional. One key to networking with bank contacts, or any development professional, is to be “visible, not as a candidate, but as a professional. ... That’s the best way to demonstrate that I can be a resource,” which is ultimately what you want to get across.
Keep the focus on them. Show that you are in tune with the contact’s work and then demonstrate how you might fit into it in terms of a potential working relationship. By doing so, “me, as a reviewer, as a listener, I value that you have done research.”
Maximize your current network. Rather than only focusing on gaining new contacts at the bank, don’t overlook the value in your existing network. Even loose connections have the potential to help you reach your career goals.
Extend the conversation. Whether it’s over LinkedIn, email, or the phone, “the most important thing to do right away is to agree on how to keep the conversation going.” It’s usually as simple as asking your contact if it would be fine to keep in touch.
Download: Your guide to getting hired by the World Bank (Career)
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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.
