Job hunting experts offer 3 tips for transitioning into development
During a recent digital event, global development career experts fielded questions on a range of topics, including how to gain an edge when transitioning into the sector.
By Justin Sablich // 25 June 2024All career paths present situations requiring expert input, and this is even more true in a sector as complex and vast as global development. This is why we held an open forum for Devex Career Account members to ask us any questions they’d like us to address during a recent digital event. While we received questions on a wide range of career development topics, the one that garnered the most attention was transitioning into the development sector. For those in this situation, career and leadership coach Dan Freehling suggests being “less concerned with the specific job or the specific organization” and having “breaking into international development” be the broader goal that guides your initial search. Freehling was joined by social impact talent agent Spencer Campbell in addressing questions from our members. Here are some more tips about how to successfully transition into the sector that emerged from our discussion. Find a mentor Connecting with “someone who's done exactly what you're trying to do” can be invaluable for those looking to make a career transition, Campbell said. Consider using LinkedIn as a resource by searching for staff profiles from organizations that are of interest, or ask those in your existing network if they know of anyone who they can connect you with. “See if you can find someone who might be willing to talk to you about their experience because you share something in common,” he said. Rather than seeking an immediate job referral, the focus should be on trying to understand “what were the exact steps [they] took to go from X to Y, and the specifics of that will likely be pretty helpful to you,” Campbell said. Don’t lose sight of your value Even though you may have 15 years or 20 years of experience working in another sector or job category, “when you're transitioning, there's a temptation to start over and think of yourself as new,” Freehling said. Therefore, to maintain a positive and confident mindset, it can be beneficial to not lose sight of your existing skills and experience, “owning” them, and keeping the focus on how you can apply this to a new field or sector, he said. Humility also goes a long way While being confident in what you can offer a development organization is helpful, there is such a thing as being overly self-assured, Campbell said, pointing out how “off-putting” it can be to a recruiter when a job candidate conveys having “some sort of entitlement” based on their previous role. If you are coming from a sector where you held a high-level position, it is important to demonstrate not only “the value you add in this new domain. But also, what are you excited to learn?” he said, adding that you shouldn’t “be afraid to open yourself up to maybe something that feels like it might be a step down, or two steps down” if it’s something that could “give you the purpose or satisfaction that you're missing.” “I think that humility kind of goes a long way in these conversations and opens some doors that otherwise would be closed,” Campbell said. Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.
All career paths present situations requiring expert input, and this is even more true in a sector as complex and vast as global development. This is why we held an open forum for Devex Career Account members to ask us any questions they’d like us to address during a recent digital event.
While we received questions on a wide range of career development topics, the one that garnered the most attention was transitioning into the development sector.
For those in this situation, career and leadership coach Dan Freehling suggests being “less concerned with the specific job or the specific organization” and having “breaking into international development” be the broader goal that guides your initial search.
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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.