“My belief is that as a people, as a group, as an industry, as we move out into different sectors, we’re going to bring that humanitarian ethos with us, and we will change the organizations in which we work” – Wayan Vota
More than 100,000 people working in global development may have been laid off since January 20 when a US Executive Order shut down foreign aid funding. Now experts who have built careers in foreign assistance are seeking employment in other sectors.
Resources are cropping up to support the transition. These are tools that can help translate resumes from global-development-speak to more accessible language, tools to polish interviewing skills and other tips for a pivot into a new kind of work. Practitioners in the Engineering for Change community have been affected. To help, these are some of the people, sites and tools to which they can turn.
The Career Pivot newsletter
When Wayan Vota was laid off from his job in global development as a digital transformation leader, he responded by launching the Career Pivot newsletter. The newsletter provides resources and announces events, such as a recent video conference with professionals who have successfully pivoted their international development careers.
We asked about their advice to new job hunters. Mr. Vota repeated two tips from the conference, both on how to update LinkedIn profiles.
First, remove the acronyms. Spell out the words that make up an acronym like “PEPFAR,” Mr. Vota says, but don’t stop there. Look at job ads to understand the language other sectors are using, and start connecting acronyms and professional experience to terms used in the places offering jobs.
Second, talk about accomplishments numerically. “Instead of saying something like ‘assisted in gathering reports,’ talk about leading a monthly data call that produces 14 reports for six different federal agencies,” for example, Mr. Vota says.
Propagating humanitarianism: The case for optimism
He did not say as much, but one tip that Mr. Vota exemplifies is to maintain optimism. By acknowledging the reasons for entering careers in international development, job seekers have an opportunity to improve new workplaces wherever they land. The layoffs in global development might have that positive effect in other sectors, Mr. Vota says.
“I got into international development because I wanted to help people. That integral part of me is not going to change when I take a new job. My belief is that as a people, as a group, as an industry, as we move out into different sectors, we’re going to bring that humanitarian ethos with us, and we will change the organizations in which we work,” Mr. Vota says.
AI tools for launching new careers
Nishat Jahan lists more than a dozen AI tools for job seekers in a LinkedIn post. Helpful links include:
- Interview Warmup by Google: Google’s free AI mock interviewer
- RightJoin.Co: AI-driven mock interviewing tool with technical and behavioral questions.
- Yoodli to improve interview skills and practice communication with real-time speech coaching.
- Kickresume AI Cover Letter: For custom cover letters and templates
- Payscale: AI-powered salary negotiation tool. Know your worth before setting the salary.
From Chaos to Clarity coaching and community
Ashima Khanna is a public health and international development professional now “open to work” on LinkedIn who has co-founded From Chaos to Clarity. The organization has a tagline of “What now? Helping you pivot your international aid career.” It is a community of “changemakers” with online and real-life events, a consultation service and other resources for making a transition out of international aid.
Resources and communities
International development professionals have been especially prolific in creating resources to help people. Now that they are the ones in need of help, those resources abound. Please tell us about the tools, communities and advice you have seen that can help with a career transition. Write your comments below.
