Networking tips for global development consultants

As an independent consultant working in international development, how do you find the right partner organization, and how do you network your way into a job? This question was front-and-center at our one-hour webinar “Successful Consulting With EuropeAid,” which featured three seasoned consultants and leaders with Technical Assistance Consultants United, a membership organization representing the interests of individual aid experts. Following the event, TACU’s experts addressed several more questions from the webinar audience on navigating the aid consulting space. Here are some of the responses by Henry Leerentveld and Stephen Dewar, the group’s cofounders, as well as Michael Gericke, an advisory board member: Since networking appears essential to get consulting jobs, can you share a few best practices? In particular, who would you want to network with, and how? Everybody has their own views on this, depending on their personal experiences. However, in general, the most effective networking is with other experts. When an expert is invited to participate in a tender but cannot or does not want to do this (eg. he or she already committed to something else or for whatever other reason), he or she will usually pass on the request to suitably qualified friends and contacts. Initially, one can get to know other experts by joining appropriate groups on such networks as LinkedIn [eg. the Devex group on LinkedIn]. Better still, join TACU! Ultimately, the best way of networking is by maintaining contact with experts one works with on projects – but first, you have to get that initial assignment. After that, it is valuable to get known by the contractors. All the major players have their own websites and most have a facility encouraging experts to upload their CVs for inclusion in the contractors’ databases. However, since these databases often contain well over 10,000 names, it is hard to stand out. Once you have worked for a contractor – and both you and they are happy about how things went – there is a strong probability that the contractor will go back to you for future assignments. The biggest problem, as with many professions, is getting started. Patience, hard work and some luck, as with everything, are required. Is there a list or database of reliable contractors and unscrupulous “body shops”? If not, when might it be available, and where? TACU will be starting a database of this sort in the coming months. There are legal issues involved as we cannot say publicly that Contractor X is an unscrupulous firm. However, we are working on finding a solution to this so that experts can find out which contractors to avoid. We also want to publish annual lists of the best contractors. Both the black and white lists will be based on what TACU’s members report, based on their own experiences. Clearly, it will take some time before we get a sufficient volume of reports to cover most of the active contractors. In the meantime, if you are approached by a contractor about whom you know nothing, check their website and see if you can find any previous projects where you might know one or more of the experts involved whom you could approach directly. [The Devex website features a comprehensive, searchable organization database that includes contract award data where available; check out this list of EuropeAid implementing partners. Also, check out “Top global development organizations: The Devex lists.”] What tips could you give on finding a suitable contractor? Specifically for somebody who is still far from his 50s and particularly interested in humanitarian work? Technical assistance is different from humanitarian relief. We recommend you consult Devex, which has published a lot of valuable information and advice about careers in humanitarian relief. [For more Devex coverage of humanitarian careers and key players, visit Humanitarian aid: What you need to know.] Read more: - Consulting opportunities with DAI: FAQs (followup Q&A) - Contract negotiation FAQs for development consultants (followup Q&A) - How to Succeed as a Development Consultant (full webinar recording) - Individual consulting: Where the jobs are (webinar excerpt) - Individual consultant CVs: Tips and tricks (webinar excerpt) - How to get a senior consulting post - How to transition to development consulting - Global development consulting: How to gain the right experience - CV writing for foreign aid consultants: Your FAQs - What eurozone crisis? – EuropeAid consulting trends and pay rates - ’What’s my place in global development?’ On consulting: - Individual Consulting: A Primer - A Survival Guide to Consulting - UN to Introduce Online Application Tool for Consultants - A Global Consultant’s Daily Routine - Independent Consulting = Freedom + Flexibility - Administrative Expenses for Contractors - Basic Skills of Independent Consultants - Coping with Frequent Travel - How to Get Away from the Home Office Other career coverage: - Salary Negotiation Strategies for Aid Workers and Consultants: A Primer - Career Transitions: How to Figure Out if an Aid Job is Right for You - Secrets to a Successful Phone Interview for Development Aid Job Seekers - Resume Formats for International Development Professionals Read more international development career advice.