How to transition from the private sector to international development

Although it can be difficult to break into the global development business, professionals with private sector work experience are increasingly sought-after by aid organizations eager to prove value for money. People with backgrounds in finance or fundraising — anyone who can help aid organizations save, track or raise money — are particularly valuable. But many other skills and professional experiences can help you land your first job in humanitarian aid or global development. For instance, those with a background in law or human resources may find similar positions with an NGO or donor agency. Key for job applicants is to highlight relevant skills. If you’ve got abilities from the private sector that apply in international development, then you may be extremely marketable. This is especially true if you have some international work experience, even without a degree in foreign relations or international development, or if you have experience working on development projects. Banks, donors, NGOs and consultancies There’s more and more appreciation for experience in the private sector, said Kate Warren, Devex’s director of global recruiting services, echoing many other international development recruiters. Organizations that are interested in hiring private sector workers include the International Monetary Fund and other microfinance and bank-like organizations, plus NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations involved in fundraising, proposal writing or project management. These organizations hire people with a variety of backgrounds — even for positions in the field, especially if they involve a specialized skill you’ve honed in the private sector. The International Committee of the Red Cross, for instance, tends to ask for at least two years of previous professional experience in its field staff, and many people come from the private sector when first applying with the ICRC. According to Simone Aeschlimann, an ICRC human resources specialist, more than 80 professions are represented at ICRC, and a wide range of private sector skills are valued. “Among them are engineering skills, knowledge related to agronomy, environment protection, anything related to the medical field from nurses to specialized doctors, orthopedics, physiotherapists, communications, fundraising, finance, human resources, et cetera,” she said. Other types of development-focused organizations also hire individuals from the corporate world. UNICEF, for instance, likes to hire from the private sector. A job description for a fundraising manager position with UNICEF, for instance, specified that the successful candidate should have “five years of professional experience in private sector sales and marketing or fundraising, including familiarity with private sector fundraising methodologies.” Another example is the U.N. Development Program. The organization constantly looks for people with strong administrative skills and backgrounds in finance, budgets and accounting, said Michael Emery, its former recruitment chief. The U.S. Agency for International Development, like many other bilateral donors, hires individuals with a variety of backgrounds. Although successful foreign service candidates typically have prior international development experience, this is not the case for the agency’s civil service career tracks. In the civil service, the agency has a need for contract specialists with expertise in areas including program and project management, accounting and finance. For many other staff positions, USAID likes to hire people who have worked with one of USAID’s main partners, especially on a USAID-funded project. Most consulting firms involved in implementing development projects funded by USAID and other donors hire individuals with private sector experience. One person who has made that transition is Matt Daggett, who earned a master’s in business administration and worked for Boston Consulting Group before joining the team at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that aims to raise living standards in the developing world. At BCG, Daggett provided strategic advice to a range of corporate clients in the United States and Europe, and at Dalberg he advised leading international development NGOs, foundations, and international institutions working in emerging markets. When applying with Dalberg, Daggett highlighted both his directly applicable strategic consulting skill set honed at BCG as well as experience working on a nine-month pro bono project for Save the Children. “It’s easier to move into international development when you can bring relevant skill sets or sector expertise,” said Daggett. “People with a private sector background and less development experience will typically want to focus on how their skills can be applied to benefit the development organization. For example, every NGO needs experts in accounting, human resources, and legal issues.” So, if you’re interested in ultimately having a staff position with USAID or another donor organization, you may be able to start out by working for a consultancy that does straightforward private sector domestic consulting work as well as international development work. At some point, you may switch from domestic consulting to the international side, and eventually transition to working for a donor. Emphasize (and gain) relevant skills When making a transition from the private sector to an international development position, it is essential to focus on transferable skills. “You need to get a foot in the door,” Warren noted. “Leverage your skills to get that first position.” Private sector skills that are valuable in many international development organizations include proposal writing, any kind of report and technical writing, creating and managing budgets, and general project management. Accounting is another ability that may prove useful. Individuals in the private sector are often seen as more accustomed to quantifying their work and achieving results. This results orientation is becoming more important in the international development industry, which is strapped for cash and eager to boost aid effectiveness. In addition, more and more complex public-private partnerships require negotiation and management experience. According to Nick Macdonald, a blogger who writes about careers in relief and development, problem solving is also a valuable skill for individuals in humanitarian aid, who often need to find solutions to problems in difficult environments. “Show that you can get things done in a fast-moving and challenging environment,” Macdonald advised. Daggett noted that NGOs have lots of positions that parallel those at corporations. “Understand what the roles are called and how to translate your skills,” he said. “Bridge the gap by explaining how you could fill a need.” Competition for field positions is usually steep, and jobs often go to experienced aid workers and consultants. As you’re transitioning into the development sector, you may have better luck focusing on more administrative positions that require skills similar to yours. If you are an experienced recruiter, start by looking for an HR job with a development organization. If you are an attorney, seek an in-house legal position at an NGO’s headquarters. Figure out what skills are required for jobs at particular types of organizations and where your own experience may be a good fit. For example, microfinance organizations tend to offer a wealth of opportunities for people with backgrounds in areas such as banking, finance and sales. One person who has successfully made a switch to microfinance is Maria Largey, head of investor relations at Agora Microfinance. Largey became interested in microfinance while working at J.P. Morgan for nearly eight years. She got involved in an internal microfinance interest group at the financial services firm, and also took a course on microfinance during her free time. About three years ago, she took a job as director of fundraising at nonprofit Opportunity International. She joined Agora in the fall of 2010. “I had done sales, so the skills were transferable,” Largey recalled. “It’s the same theme: raising capital and liaising with investors.” So, if you’re an investment banker, you may discover that your experiences are very relevant in microfinance. People with a background in research or private equity may be able to transfer their skills likewise. It’s up to you to determine what you can bring to the table. “It sometimes feels a little overwhelming trying to pinpoint what you want to do,” said Largey. Her suggestion: “Identify what your most relevant skills are.” A like-for-like position can help you get a foot in the door to at least start in the sector. For example, a finance director at a bank may find a similar job at a microfinance organization. And you don’t have to have been involved in investment banking, necessarily. “At Opportunity International, there were quite a few retail bankers that came on board,” Largey said. “They took skills on the retail side and used those skills to help manage microfinance banks in the developing world.” If you don’t already have the skills you need, work on building them in your current job so that you can transition more easily to a development job. Know what type of job you want and why Before you make an effort to transition into the development sector, get informed so that you have realistic expectations about the business. “Career changers will express in various ways that they want to do something in development,” said Kevin Cusack, a career coach and director of World Service Enquiry in the United Kingdom. “Often, they’re not happy in their careers and want a more value-driven career. Why international development and not another volunteer-sector job? What skill and experience do they have that is relevant?” Be prepared to offer evidence that you are really interested in what the organization does. You may have been volunteering for it or similar groups, or donating money to charity. Recruiters will be looking at your motivation. “People should know why they want to work in humanitarian or development agencies rather than in the private sector,” Aeschlimann said. “If their motivation is other than humanitarian — for example, adventure-seeking — they might not last very long and will probably not contribute a lot to the development effort.” Work in the developing world Generally, international development organizations hire just a few management and team lead positions internationally for field work, and otherwise they hire locally. As a result, it will be difficult for someone from the private sector to land a field job with an international aid organization. Most NGOs want applicants for field positions to have at least three to five years experience in a similar job. This is especially true in high-stress environments such as conflict zones. “It can be disruptive to bring in new expatriates,” said Macdonald. “Hiring managers want to hire people who have proven themselves.” Even if your goal is to work at an NGO’s headquarters rather than in the field, it’s important to get some experience in the developing world. If you’ve never been to a developing country, interviewers at development organizations are going to have a hard time believing you have a passion for international development. “Going to the beach in Cancun for a week doesn’t count,” said Daggett, who worked on a nine-month pro-bono case for Save the Children in Central Asia and Peru during his time at BCG to gain more experience in the international development sector. If you already have an established career and can’t quit your job and join the Peace Corps, you might still find ways to gain relevant overseas experience. As an attorney, for instance, you might be able to take on a short-term pro bono project. If you work in consulting, you may be able to transfer to another office to get exposure to an emerging market. “Even if it’s not development, it gives you international experience,” Warren said. There are also different ways you can get relevant volunteer experience in the developing world. For example, a finance professional may be able to help small businesses in an emerging market, or an attorney may be able to do legal work for an NGO. Bankers Without Borders, Grameen Foundation’s global volunteer initiative, connects professionals who are interested in contributing their time and skills with microfinance institutions and other organizations that serve the poor. Volunteers come from diverse fields such as investment banking, risk management, information technology, translation services and marketing. If there’s a particular organization you’re interested in working for, you may also want to contact them to see if they have volunteer opportunities. Is the development aid business right for you? Before you make a major career move, make sure international development is a good fit. Do you really want to work on development assistance, or are you merely interested in working abroad? Is overseas development work a realistic option for you? “It’s a lifestyle more than a job,” Macdonald stressed. “It is fantastic, but it’s not always easy.” According to Aeschlimann, people should be aware that humanitarian work often involves danger, frustration and hardship in terms of living conditions, social life and even hygiene. “It is very hard work that is not always well paid,” she said. “It also means sacrifice in terms of personal and private life. People have to be ready to change their lives totally and should be prepared to face suffering, injustice, discrimination and war.” Alanna Shaikh, an international development professional who also publishes an e-newsletter with career advice, recommends reading blogs about the daily work of people in aid and development. One of her favorites is “Tales from the Hood,” which features “rants, raves and a few confessions about humanitarian aid work.” “Lost N Words” is a blog that describes an aid worker’s life in Afghanistan. Devex also offers a host of articles and blogs about the life of aid workers. Consider asking for informational interviews with international development professionals before sending out applications. These conversations will give you a sense of what working in the industry is really like, and help you determine it is what you want before making a change. A good place to network is the Devex website, which features the world’s largest database of development professionals. Look beyond the big names When you’re looking for your first position in the development industry, don’t just apply for jobs with the United Nations and brand name NGOs. Rather, it’s helpful to widen your search and look into working for smaller or less well-known organizations, too. “Most people make the mistake of going to the 10 or 12 organizations they’ve heard of,” said Daggett, “but there are hundreds of organizations just in the D.C. area.” Don’t expect your dream job overnight Chances are your first international development position won’t be your dream job in development. However, according to Warren, you can slowly work your way up to where you want to be through several strategic moves. For example, if someone currently works as a U.S. government defense contractor but wants to be in education, they might have to start by working as a contracting officer for USAID. From there, they could work with an organization that focuses on education. After that, they might finally get their dream job as a program officer working on education issues. Even after you have the type of job you desire, be prepared to change jobs frequently. “In many ways, it is a career Wild West,” said Macdonald. “You need to be comfortable building your own career. Expect to move around a lot.” Read more international development career advice.