Watch: How to carve out a nontraditional career path

While many global development organizations still value job candidates with strong backgrounds in traditional areas such as working with donors and experience abroad, the sector’s landscape continues to evolve, and the definition of what makes a global development professional is expanding. At the same time, today’s world is increasingly defined by the acronym BANI — or “brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible” — according to career coach and development expert Simone Anzböck. In response, development careers need to be adaptable and resilient amid ever-changing environments and markets. Also, more and more professionals are seeking careers that allow them flexibility, freedom, and the ability to pursue various passions over time. “You might work in different industries and in different roles — and potentially at the same time,” Anzböck said of these new realities. “You’re basically using different skills on different projects” and building these over time, thereby developing a “portfolio career” of experience that can be tapped into, she said. For those who have nontraditional backgrounds but are driven by social impact and purpose, it’s essential to know how embracing a nonlinear career path can lead to a fulfilling, long-term working life in development. Devex recently hosted a digital event with Anzböck to help job candidates from a range of backgrounds leverage existing abilities and identify growth opportunities so that they can carve out a successful career in the sector. Highlights from this event include: • What defines a nontraditional career path, or portfolio career. • Which skills are required to thrive in a portfolio career. • How to determine the right career path and where to start. • The value of storytelling and building personal narratives. • Answers to specific questions from Devex community members. Speaker: Simone Anzböck, career coach and founder of Prosper Abroad. Moderator: Justin Sablich, careers editor at Devex.