World Service Enquiry Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk © copyright 2011
World Service Enquiry Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 World Service Enquiry information and advice www.wse.org.uk/pc.htm Kevin Cusack International Development Career coaching and mentoring www.kcoach.net Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Working in Development Volunteer for Development Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job and CV Advice • No answers… just some ideas! • Job sites • Applications and CVs Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 First, Questions… 1. Are you the ‘right’ kind of person? Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 First, Questions… 1. Are you the ‘right’ kind of person? 2. Do you have relevant skills? 3. Do you have 2+ years work exp? 4. Do you have evidence of commitment to the sector? Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Why you? •Moses Johnson is a development worker employed by CAUSE Canada. •Masters Degree International Relief and Development Studies from Uni of Sierra Leone Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Criteria? • Usually somebody with a professional training and/or skill base. • Have at least 2 years post qualification experience. Further employment may well require 3 to 5 years experience in the field. • Can show the ability to cope and is able to work with limited resources. • Has lived outside of Europe, i.e. has travelled, worked or volunteered overseas. Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Ways in? •‘Typical’ would be someone who began as a volunteer in the UK who then spent some time with an NGO overseas (possibly as a volunteer) and used that experience to move on to an HQ programme-related job OR •Developed a professional skill outside the sector, and through showing commitment as well as skill was able to transfer. Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Where do you start? • Research, research and research “I was on the Internet 10 or 12 hours a day, searching for jobs and researching information about companies.” • Network • Don’t send long rambling emails to every agency you can find! Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Real (Short) Email… To Whom It May Concern, I am a media graduate who is very interested in taking up paid international work preferably in Nigeria but I do not have experience of working with NGOs. Please advise. Sincerely, Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 What’s out there? • Technical – infrastructure, irrigation, watsan, public health, food distribution, needs assessment, judicial reform • Management/Administration – project direction, technical advice, coordination with donor agency/local government, project reports Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 What’s out there? • Research – typically at think-tanks, nonprofit organisations, universities • Look at the job market… •To see where you fit (or not) Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 The Sector • NGO, Charity, Social Enterprise, Civil Society groups • Commercial companies • Consultancies • Academic • Government/Europe • Bilateral and multilateral agencies Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 What types of jobs? Accountancy Outreach Worker Fundraising Administration Human Resources Advocacy Humanitarian Support Campaigning Information Technology Communications Marketing Copywriting Logistics / Warehouse Office Support Country Programme PA / Secretarial Management Policy Creative Design Publishing Development Education Media / PR Editing Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job Market • thirdsector.co.uk • jobs.guardian.co.uk • crownagents.com • europa.eu • eurobrussels.com • faststream.civilservice.gov.uk • indeed.co.uk, indeed.co.za … Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job Market • • • • • • • • • Reliefweb.int Eldis.org Devex.com Oneworld.net bond.org.uk - concordeurope.org Internationaljobs.org Devnetjobs.org AdamSmithInternational.com wyg.com Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job Market NGO types • skillshare.org • internationalservice.org.uk • islamic-relief.com • worldjewishaid.org • worldvision.org.uk • aidsalliance.org • alertnet.org • UN Jobs - https://jobs.un.org Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job Market • microfinancegateway.org • environmentjob.co.uk • pacificislandjobs.com • ngosindia.com • hotjobskenya.com jobvacancieschina.com • afghanaid.org.uk • charityjob.co.uk • wse.org.uk International Development jobs page Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Great minds DONT think alike Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Things that will help… • Start small think outside of the box Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Start Small • CamFed • Railway Children • Cambodia Action • Send a Cow • AbleChildAfrica • Azafady • Bees for Development Trust • Voice of Dalit International Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Things that will help… • Start small • Develop transferable skills • Commitment/Passion • Network (talk) • Join/Support • Volunteer • Languages French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic • Internships • Temping Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Passion • International Development • Gender • Children • Education • £1 • Find your mission! Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Engage your passion • Full time • Part time • Job share • Volunteer • Virtual Volunteer • Fundraise • Alternative holiday Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Virtual volunteer • thesite.org/workandstudy/volunteering • volunteermatch.org • UNV Online Volunteering service – onlinevolunteering.org • What can I do? – – – – Administration and maintenance Campaigning, consultations and research Media and publicity Website/Blog and online communities Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Training • Academic Training Development Studies Association www.devstud.org.uk Reliefweb www.reliefweb.int • Short course RedR www.redr.org Bond www.bond.org.uk Merlin www.merlin.org.uk Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Applications • Do as instructed – 2 pages, block capitals • Application form. • CV and cover letter. • Both! • You must match what they require. • Note: overseas contracts are fixed term. Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Application requirements 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. • Qualification. Specific experience/knowledge. Generic skill sets. Commitment to cause and diversity. Fit into the organisation. Give Evidence – – Hard skills Soft skills: personal qualities Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Employment facts • Sight Savers Head of Research, Haywards Heath • Progressio Programme Support Officer, London Central Services Administrator, London • Doctors of the World Events Assistant (3 days PT), London Consultant (2 weeks), Haiti • REDR Communications Officer, London • MedAir Human Resources Manager, S Sudan 36 6 55 5 35 5 36 6 55 7 70 5 147 2 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 And • 6 more Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Oxfam Criteria • Well developed interpersonal and team skills and proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations and ability to work under pressure and in response to changing needs. • Sympathy with the aims and objectives of Oxfam. • To be familiar with and abide by the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct and with the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum standards. Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Save the Children Criteria 5. Personal Interests, Skills, and Circumstances: a. Commitment to Save the Children's mission and values d. The resilience and personal circumstances to be able to travel within the country… e. Awareness of own strengths and weaknesses and evidence of commitment to self-managed personal development Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Common Errors • Not meeting the criteria • Not following instructions • Bad layout (CV) – Font too – Lack of white space • Spelling and punctuation [eye for detail] small often used to save space Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Common Errors • Bold + underline+ italics – Never use italic • Qualification and modules • Stupid or work email address • Undersell ability • No facts: £ and # Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Your CV • How did you arrive at the current format? • Did you analyse it’s purpose? • How long is it? • Why would I want to read it? Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Write a master CV • A CV is a sales document; tell them what is relevant to the person spec. • Don’t send a generic CV; each job requires you to highlight different experience. • You don’t have to disclose everything; it’s not your life story! • Know your skills to match the criteria. • Select relevant information with facts Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Write a master CV • And the problem with a • Your master CV should list everything you chronological CV is… have done. • Used as a reference when you are either filling in an application form or writing a job specific CV. • Common CV forms: Chronological and Functional/Skills based. Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Targeted CV Name Address Telephone Email Profile/Statement Skills with evidence Where and when Interests One or two pages it’s advert - not your life story Noan age, nationality, marital status, referees, picture or fancy fonts give hard facts substantiate Razors Edge or Access Max Eggert Tell them what you are Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Why use a targeted CV? • Hook HR to read all the information You do this by: • Profile • Relevant info with facts Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Kevin Cusack 34 King Crescent, Upton Cross, CR4 3HP, England Mobile: 070 52 21 54 38 Email: cusack6@fastmail.fm An energetic and successful Project Manager with a range of experience working in overseas development projects for 4 years, specialising in Capacity Building. Proven leadership skills in managing, developing and motivating international and local teams to achieve programme objectives. Key Skills Project Management • Managed information gathering in order to determine priorities for agriculture, education promotion and health initiatives with community members in rural Mexico • Oversee financial management of projects and as team leader in Zambia responsible for £60k budgets Coordination • Coordinate information flows, networks and knowledge with staff, partners and international donors Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 And… • Interests – Can back up your application give evidence of values, personality and motivation • And so what??? – “Proficient with MS Office” – “I have travelled to Uganda, Tanzania, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, India, Bolivia, Chile, China, South Korea, Spain” Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Cover Letter • Generate interest • 1 or 2 pages? • Your pitch of how you can solve their problem Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Cover Letter • NEVER use ‘I believe’ or ‘I think’ or ‘I am interested’ I believe that I can greatly contribute to… I desire to contribute my work experience to working for a leading NGO… I think I am suitably qualified… I am interested in working for you… Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Facts • FACTS FACTS FACTS with examples • Never tell them what they do Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Career Changers Don’t assume that: • Need to volunteer. • Need to get an ID qualification. • Need to have overseas experience. • That you can take your wife, children or the dog overseas. • Will make the same money! Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Working in Development It’s popular. It’s competitive. It’s hard But not impossible! Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Difficult… Not Impossible PA to Programme Manager Ute was working as a PA to two Directors of a major financial institution in London and was studying a Diploma in International Development at Birkbeck College. In a frenzy of cold calling agencies trying to find overseas work she was referred to World Service Enquiry. Now she has worked with a range of INGOs in Africa and Haiti. Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 5 Top Tips 1. Qualifications 2. Know your skills 3. Know the sector 4. Evidence of commitment and 5. Survivability Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Other help • People in Aid ID HR with free info • monster.co.uk, peopleunlimited.co.uk jobs, career advice, job hunting, CV tips • cv4.biz – CV writing service • Come and talk to me - kcoach.net Career consultation, job hunting strategy, help with CVs Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011 Stay focused and determined! Job-hunting and CV advice: wse.org.uk ©copyright 2011
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