Working in development is an attractive option for people around the world. The sector has grown significantly over the past two decades as organisations have become larger, more sophisticated and increasingly professionalised. Working for an NGO provides an opportunity to make a difference, support others in need and create positive change in communities the world over.
There are tens of thousands of opportunities advertised in NGOs every year, but the first thing you need to do is decide exactly what it is you want to do. What do you want to achieve? What drives you? What change do you want to see in the world? Take time to understand what motivates you and what will give you job satisfaction.
This will help you to significantly narrow down the type of work you want to do and what types of organisations you want to work for. Whether you want to work with refugees, animals, children, disabled people, victims of war, the elderly or any other cause that you can think of, there will be an NGO providing solutions and opportunities.
Securing a job in an NGO is competitive and just like any other it is your personal qualities, skills, knowledge and experience that will determine whether you can get your foot on that first step of the ladder. Invest in yourself and develop skills that are valuable to the role you want to do and the organisation you want to work for.
Look for jobs you might be interested and note what skills or experience they are looking for. You can look at entry level jobs to get an understanding of the basic requirements but look too at more senior positions to establish an appreciation of what experience and qualities you may need in the future.
For more information, visit https://www.fundsforngos.org/featured-articles/ngo-careers-job-ngo/
