International Development

OCA

OFFICE OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT

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InternatIonal

Development

Introduction

1

Overview

Careers in development address the provision of overseas development assistance, capital, training and technical assistance to governments, for-profit, and private voluntary organizations to support improved living standards in developing and emerging economies. Development addresses health, democracy and governance, agriculture and natural resource management, economic growth, education, and infrastructure. Cross-cutting themes include gender, stakeholder engagement, and sustain-ability. Development professionals may spend extensive time overseas or may backstop projects, provide technical, and analytical and manage-rial support from headquarters, with intermittent travel. entry points on completing graduate school vary according to the individual’s previous experience, specific skills, and personal background. Overall, hks students should seek to build a distinctive, focused profile through the selection of coursework, internships, and where relevant, pae client or sypa

topic. in addition, students are encouraged to expand their profes-sional network through participation in cid and other Center-sponsored events, the programs of oca, and activities of pics.

Opportunities for hks graduates exist across all sectors. Candidates with limited international and/or profes-sional experience should expect initial positions to involve supporting roles in headquarters. As staff develop knowl-edge of the organization and greater technical expertise, assignments overseas for limited periods are routine. with 8–10 years experience, staff are considered technical experts and may expect 1–3 year assignments abroad with additional frequent travel or may take on a role at headquarters that involves project direction, provision of technical advice, and coordination with donor agencies. Graduates whose interest lies in research on the underly-ing causes of poverty may gravitate to careers in think tanks or advocacy organizations and to development agencies.

1 Overview

Skills for international Development who Has Hired Grads

resources 2 3

t

Discover What

You Want:

embrace the

possibilities

t

Set Your Sights:

define goals &

strategies

t

Connect & move

ahead:

plan, act,

re-evaluate

t

Consider options:

summer or full-time

t

prepare for What’s

next:

it’s a lifetime

journey

CreAtinG yOur Own CAreer ADvAnCement

roaDmap

“ Networking is about building

long-term, professional,

reciprocal relationships

where you share knowledge,

resources and information.”

— Michael Emery, Director, Division for Human Resources, unfpa

4

HKS PrOfileS

& SKillS fOr

internAtiOnAl

DevelOPment

Key skills include the following: t A passion for development t field experience in developing

countries is a prerequisite for career development

t evidence of an international mind-set, demonstrated by travel, studying, or living abroad

2

InternatIonal Development

HKS

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

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[email protected]

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www.hks.harvard.edu/career

t fluency in two or more languages t Design, monitoring and evaluation of

development projects all require a combination of quantitative and qualitative analytical skills t Project management skills

t technical depth, or at least a technical focus, preferred

t flexibility, curiosity, resourcefulness

a. International

organizations

u Development Banks

t background hks graduates are employed in varying numbers at all the major development banks and at un entities addressing poverty. the largest first employer of hks graduates is the world Bank, miga. the Bank hires young staff through three paths: the young Professionals Program, open only to candidates after completion of a graduate-level degree; the Junior Professional Associates, open only to candidates under 29 years; and consul-tants, on short-term or extended temporary contracts. About 99% of new hks hires start as consultants. for details on these and additional recruit-ment programs with nationality restric-tions, see The hks Guide to a World Bank

Job or Internship Search, an oca

infor-mation sheet.

new graduates are also, though with less frequency, employed by the ifc. Joint degree students holding an mba are eligible for recruitment to the Global transaction team. hks master’s gradu-ates are selected for a wide variety of analytical positions across the ifc’s nine sectors. the imf, the third division of the world Bank Group, does not recruit young graduates at the master’s level but does recruit phd-level candidates to the young economists Program and older, more experienced candidates to technical positions.

hks graduates were recently hired at banks listed below:

t African Development Bank (afdb) t Asian Development Bank

t european Bank for reconstruction and Development

t inter-American Development Bank t islamic Development Bank t oecd

All of the above hire young professionals through highly selective recruitment programs open to citizens of member countries. Age and other restrictions apply. resumes of successful hks candidates for the young Professionals Program and similar programs at other institutions may be viewed at oca. t desired skills International govern-ment organizations (igo) require diversified skill profiles. hks profiles most often include very strong quantita-tive skills, excellent analytical abilities, demonstrated ability to work well in cross-cultural teams, on-the-ground experience in developing countries, and fluency in two or more languages. language skills most often sought, in addition to english, are french, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, russian, and mandarin. Competitive candidates will also demonstrate through profes-sional experience, internships and academic courses an area of growing technical knowledge, for instance in rural development, education, gover-nance, etc.

t timeline for hiring young Professionals Programs hire 6–12 months in advance of start date. Staff positions and consultancies are filled on a rolling basis to start immediately. t tips for securing a job

Application deadlines for recruitment programs for full-time positions and internships are firm, but institutions may change programs and timelines vary from year to year, so do not rely entirely on precedent.

Always save a copy of the job descrip-tion when you apply. Past applicants have been flummoxed to find the relevant posting was no longer on the website when they were contacted for an interview.

tailor your resume to the position you are seeking. it should be concise but convey carefully and fully not only skills and experience, but any addition-al background information that is relevant. for example, you may have received all your tertiary education in the u.S. or europe, but you have a significant understanding of the context of development from where you grew up. include wording in the personal section to reflect this experience. Securing a position as a consultant usually requires extensive networking. ninety percent of networking success is in the research you do before you seek out contacts.

t salary level Salary levels, of course, vary with the type/level of position but are always competitive with or higher than public sector salaries of Organisation of economic Co-operation and Development (oecd) member countries. oca may share additional information by organization and type of contract.

t internships within the past three years afdb, Asian Development Bank, oecd, and world Bank/ifc have all hired hks interns. the size of the internship program varies widely by institutions and demand for interns fluctuates year to year. the world Bank is the largest employer of summer interns. the average number of hks students selecting bank internships is 8–10. for further details on process and timelines see oca Summary of igos.

InternatIonal Development

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v Un System

t background the un is composed of 6 principal organs, 15 agencies, and several specialized programmes and bodies. those most closely associated with development include undp, unicef, unctad, ilo, unaids, unfpa, wfp, and who, each a concentration of expertise recognized at a global level.

As the emphasis is on expertise, un bodies largely hire experienced profes-sional staff with relevant experience in developing countries. therefore, only some hks graduates are eligible to join the un immediately on graduation. Over time, however, additional graduates who build a competitive profile do go on to un posts. Several programs, including neti, ypp, and jpo, mentioned below, recruit highly talented young profession-als in their late twenties and early thirties. See hks Guide to a UN System

Job or Internships Search for more

complete information. you may also view resumes of past successful candidates at oca.

t desired skills

Of course, technical skills are specific to a position, but there are also “soft skills” and experience that are com-monly needed to work successfully in the un, including the ability to work in cross-cultural teams and complex environments, experience living and/or working in resource-constrained environ-ments, and the capacity to work suc-cessfully in a bureaucracy and to take the long view. language skills are important for field work, but may not be necessary for some roles such as budget and financial management. increasingly, un officers are encouraged to move across agencies in the course of their career, so flexibility and lateral thinking are valued.

t timeline for hiring Selection for neti and jpo is approximately six months. Selection for ypp is an 18-month process. Selection for posted vacancies varies widely across the un, from three to four months for unDP, uniCef and other units, to at least nine months for

the Secretariat. Consultancies are usually for an immediate start and may be very short term; however, consultan-cies may be extended as further funding becomes available and may be the entry point to a staff position.

t unicef new and emerging talent (neti) was instituted in 2008 and is open to candidates under 35 years old. Applicants should have 3–5 years of relevant work experience and fluency in english and in Arabic, Chinese, french, Portuguese, russian, or Spanish.

t Young professionals program (ypp) the un recruits annually through ypp. examination is subject-based. Applications are invited from citizens under 32 years old.

t jpo/associate expert twenty-seven sponsor countries fund a collective total of 251 two- to three-year jpo positions. nineteen countries sponsor Associate expert positions, which are similar to, but have some contrac-tual differences from, jpo positions. Appointments are usually available only to citizens of sponsoring coun-tries, but may also be offered to citizens of developing nations. t United nations volunteers (unv)

offers exceptional opportunities for committed individuals to undertake short-term work with modest compen-sation. unv seeks professionals to support its development programs with client agencies including undp, unhcr, and wfp. Candidates must be at least 25 years old and willing to commit to at least a 6-month assign-ment. Applicants should apply about four months in advance.

t Consultancies un System offers numerous opportunities for consul-tancies, short-term contracts for project-based work. hks graduates most commonly enter the un system through such contracts. Although there is no job security, competition for these positions can be intense.

salary level An overview of the

un salary structure is available at:

www.un.org/Depts/ohrm/salaries_ allowances/salary.htm

t internships internships are offered throughout the un System. Despite the fact that internships are unpaid, competition for internships is strong and candidates with previous interna-tional field experience, related work experience and relevant language skills are preferred. See hks Guide

to Job or Internship Search in the UN System for information on un

Secretariat, undp, unicef and other internships of popular interest to the hks community.

B. national Governments

t background Overall the largest employers of new hks graduates pursuing a development career are home country governments, providing the opportunity to work at the intersection of the 3Ds, defense, diplomacy, and development. Government positions are usually restrict-ed to a country’s citizens. Occasional exceptions to the rule are ministries in developing countries, who have hired hks foreign nationals on limited contracts. in addition, the Overseas Development institute (odi) fellow- ship Scheme offers two-year contracts to young economists to work overseas in a developing country.

internships in developing countries may be open to foreign nationals. Offers are usually arranged through contact with citizens who are hks graduates working within a ministry and/or through ongoing hks partnerships.

u United States Government

t background most cabinet offices and many agencies have an internation-al division. Of most frequent interest to hks graduates are the Dept. of State, including the u.S. foreign Service, usaid, and u.S. millennium Challenge Corporation (mcc), all of which hire Presidential management fellows, in addition to hiring through other

HKS

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

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www.hks.harvard.edu/career

InternatIonal Development

civil service streams. u.S. treasury, international Division, gao, and u.S. trade representative, opic seek candidates with hks profiles, particularly candidates with strong quantitative skills. usaid recruits through Junior Officers Program (jop) for its foreign Service.

Opportunities to work on short-term contract for usaid are offered through oti and ofda. Opportunities are available for foreign nationals to work as usaid national staff in their home country. t federal reserve twelve branches of the federal reserve Bank each have a regional economic focus within the united States, and, in certain branches, also address a significant international portfolio. Alumni report that experience at the fed, with its high reputation and its rigorous internal training programs, can be an important credential in establishing a development career in financial regulation or risk management. t desired skills the government seeks a very wide band of professional skills, ranging from highly quantitative and technically specialized to skills in general management and communica-tions, budget, and supply chain

management.

t timeline for hiring Applications to the Presidential management fellowship (pmf) are due in early fall of a student’s graduation year (see Knet for latest information). treasury, international Division, hires year round, usually visiting the Harvard campus in the fall to recruit for a summer start date. mcc recruits for immediate hire.

t tips for securing a job oca team includes a federal jobs coach to assist you in the process from completing a federal resume and application through interviewing and salary negotiation. t salary level pmf and foreign Service salaries are set at GS-9 to GS-11. hks graduates in the two-year programs are most often hired at GS-10 to GS-11 depending on agency and level of experience.

t internships Opportunties to work on development topics may be developed in most departments and agencies. the State Department offers internships in the Bureaus in washington, DC and in u.S. missions overseas. Students with development interests report strong experiences both in missions in develop-ing countries and in the capital. Apply before november 1. usaid offers very limited internship opportunities, announced in the spring. Selection is highly competitive with preference for previous relevant experience, such as Peace Corps. the treasury and mcc offer internships in DC.

C. private Sector

u Consulting Industry

t background Consulting firms provide expertise to international development projects coordinated by larger entities such as the world Bank, iadb, usaid, gtz, dfid, etc. in concert with their partners, they assist ministries of developing countries in creating integrated development policies. firms provide expertise in all aspects of economic, social, and political develop-ment. Depending on its size, an indi-vidual firm’s consulting services may be focused on one or two practice areas or may be very broad. Over 4,000 firms are registered with the world Bank and more than 1,000 with usaid.

t desired skills Consulting firms require very strong analytical and writing skills. Development firms value content expertise, in areas such as engineering, economics, trade, public health, electoral politics, information technol-ogy, and energy. international experi-ence in developing countries, fluency in languages, and previous private sector

experience, where relevant, are impor-tant assets in a candidate.

t tips for securing a job the award of contracts is public information available on the websites of donor organizations. Subscribe to newsletters such as those of the world Bank. See also the newsletter of Devex. most firms maintain a roster of candidates, in anticipation of future contracts. Adding your profile is an important first step to develop a network within a firm. t timeline for hiring Hiring is based on new and anticipated contracts, therefore most firms will be hiring on a rolling schedule and may be seeking candidates who can start immediately. larger firms and major strategy consult-ing firms, with branches providconsult-ing services to government and private sector in developing countries, may hire on a longer timeline.

See hks Consulting fair program for firms visiting campus annually in the fall.

t salary level As consulting firms are contractors to government, starting salaries are aligned with the public sector, ranging from the mid-$50,000 to mid-$90,000 and above, the range reflecting both level of experience desired and the firm’s business model. t internships Summer internship opportunities with development consult-ing firms are limited, as for many firms the use of interns may not fit the business model. Previous relevant experience is strongly preferred.

v Financial Services Sector—

emerging markets

t background within the financial services sector, graduates with a development profile find their hks skills may be a good fit with work in emerging markets investment. Knowledge of finance, politics, and economics and strong research and analytical skills are valued in risk management. expertise in political risk analysis, political deci-sions, conditions and events and their influence on government stability,

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Contractors seek

staff who are agile,

responsive and

results-driven.

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InternatIonal Development

currency conversion, and prospects for nationalization and appropriation are desirable. Strong skills that can be applied across many markets are often preferred to in-depth expertise in one. Previous experience in finance or consulting and/or an mba plus an hks degree is the most competitive profile. t timeline for hiring the prime season for hiring is in the early fall to start the following summer. firms do not recruit on-campus at public policy schools, but welcome online applica-tions from qualified students. if you apply off-cycle, there is always opportu-nity, but anticipate extensive networking in order to get your profile considered. Have a Plan B!

 Social enterprise

Social enterprises use business meth-ods to address a societal problems that government is unwilling, unable or unsuited to solve alone. Social enter-prise is a creative, rapidly evolving and innovative space. in recent classes, several graduates have joined or founded social enterprises or work in organizations that invest in and build the capacity of social enterprises. hks social entrepreneurs have been recog-nized and supported by social impact investors.

while imagination, ambition, and financial management skills and an understanding of conditions on the ground are vital, so also is the capacity to manage a team and to delegate. the annual Social enterprise Conference at hbs in the spring semester is the largest related event on campus, but opportuni-ties to explore social entrepreneurship are available throughout the year. Both cid and the Harvard innovation lab are great resources. See oca Guide to Social

Enterprise Careers for more details.

C. nonprofit Sector

t background Organizations in this sector provide services that range from development and support of programs in developing countries whose reach

extends to local partners and grass roots delivery, addressing needs across all sectors, to grant-making foundations, directing grants in line with organiza-tion’s mission to advocacy organizations, pressing for change in policy at institu-tional, national and international levels. master’s level professionals will usually start in a position supporting projects and programs at the headquarters level, with increasing travel and responsibility for coordination with the field offices as they rise in the organization. ngos in donor countries are increasingly working with indigenous partners and through local staff. for example, Catholic relief Services has 250 staff at headquarters, 300 expatriate staff and 4000 local employees around the globe. Overall indigenous ngos overseas are

expand-ing at 200–300 percent annually. t desired skills Alumni recommend developing knowledge in a content area while at hks, for instance education or health. focused knowledge will help you get a foot in the door, but will not necessarily constrain your career choices in the long run. with increasing empha-sis on program evaluation in this sector, skills in quantitative and qualitative analysis are in demand.

language skills are important, including french, Spanish, and Portuguese; also Creole, Swahili, Bahasa, and proven facility in picking up languages. t tips for securing a job there are over 2,000 registered ngos in the international development sector in the u.S. the annual hiring turnover is 14 percent, but 75 percent of positions are not advertised. therefore, building and

sustaining a professional network is key to learning about opportunities.

Alumni advise volunteering or interning part-time while you conduct a job search. it builds credibility, fosters networks, and can set you up as an inside candidate.

Ability to manage projects, develop programs, work with donors, develop and manage a budget, work in cross-cultural settings, plus technical know-how and adaptability are all assets. make sure your strengths are defined in your resume.

if you are determined to go to the field on graduation, you are more likely to be hired if you research and move to the country in question and conduct a search on-site. expatriate staff will be more confident in your capacities and better able to make the hiring case to HQ if you are known to them.

t salary the larger ngos in the united States have a salary structure that is aligned overall with the public sector. hks graduates with 2–5 years previous work experience earn median salaries in the $50–$70,000 range. GuideStar.com provides information on income, expenses and senior level salaries at nonprofits, which can be useful in evaluating an offer.

t internships few ngos have estab-lished internship programs at the graduate level, but many are receptive to inquiries from qualified students. Although internships are usually unpaid, competition for positions is strong. Students with a development back-ground, for instance Peace Corps, find it easier to get a summer internship than hks students without previous develop-ment experience. if you are new to the field, plan a more extensive search and target smaller, less well-known organiza-tions, who may be more receptive than ngos with a well known name who are able to pick and choose among the most experienced applicants. Overall, ngos are very averse to placing interns in conflict zones or volatile political environments.

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When you interview

be prepared to talk

about additionality,

sustainability,

effectiveness, and

scalability.

HKS

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InternatIonal Development

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wHO HAS HireD GrADS

master in public policy (mpp)

t Africare t brac, uganda

t Catholic relief Services t Global environment fund t innovations for Poverty Action t inter-American Development Bank

t international food Policy research institute t national Democratic insitute

t oecd

t rainforest Action network t unicef, Geneva

t usaid

t uS Department of State t world Bank

t world economic forum

mid-Career master in public

administration (mc/mpa)

t Conservation international

t Department for international Development/uK (dfid) t mcKinsey & Co, Hanoi

t ministry of Development, turkey t Synergos institute

t undp

t u.S. millenium Challenge (mcc) t world Bank

master in public administration/

International Development (mpa/id)

t Abdul latif Jameel Poverty Action lab (j-pal), mit t Censeo Consulting

t Clinton Global initiative

t Dalberg Global Development Advisors t Devintel

t Government of Costa rica, ministry of foreign trade t international finance Corporation

t innovations for Poverty Action t instiglio

t mcKinsey & Co, Australia, india, mexico, Singapore t millenium Challenge Account

t Polymath, Colombia t the world Bank

master in public administration (mpa2)

t China international Capital Corporation t Conservation international

t international finance Corporation t mcKinsey & Co, Hanoi

t ministry of Development, turkey t Synergos institute

t the world Bank

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Sample of representative

employers 2009–2013.

For complete data including

salary, see hks Class of 2012

page

InternatIonal Development

HKS reSoUrCeS

oca Career resources

t DeveX.com: free membership (see back

cover for details)

t hks Guide to a World Bank Job and

Internship Search

t hks Guide to Careers and Internships in

the UN System

t oca Corporate Social responsibility resource Guide

t oca Social enterprise resource Guide

All of the above are available in hard copy at oca and at oca on KNet.

at oca on Knet:

t Summer funding Sources: comprehen-sive information on Harvard funds for summer internships, includes applica-tion forms and current or most recent deadlines

t Summer internship Survey and Database: archived reports from students describing their summer internship experience, includes description of projects, contact information for supervisor/organizations, estimate of living costs, and evaluation of overall experience

t Summer internships—international (by year): record of internship selections by region

t Summer internships—united States (by year): record of internship selections including development-related internships in DC, ny, etc.

hks programs:

t cid friday lunch Seminar Series t oca regional networking, washington,

DC (January)

t international Development fair (february)

International Jobs/Internship Boards

t Bond for international Development:

www.bond.org.uk

t Corporate responsibility Coalition, alliance of private voluntary organiza-tions, unions, and business, publishes newsletter: corporate-responsibility.org

t devjobs, devnetjobs: internet services with international job announcements in various development fields: www. devjobs.org; www.devnetjobs.org; www.globalfocus.org.nz

t Directory of Development: www.devdir.org

t Drum Beat: up-to-date listings of multiple international development jobs:

www.comminit.com/drum_beat.html

t eurobrussels.com links to various eu organizations and job sites:

www.eurobrussels.com

t european voice weekly paper concern-ing eu; job listconcern-ing posted in the classified section:

www.europeanvoice.com

t foreign Policy Association (fpa) national, nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovern-mental, educational organization: www.fpa.org/jobs_ contact2423/jobs_contact.htm

t Global Corps jobs with usaid oti and usaid ofda: www.globalcorps.com

t Global Development network’s (gdn) online community linking local development research and policy:

www.gdnet.org

t Global recruitment Specialists provides customized, comprehensive, interna-tional human resource services to organizations that have operations in less developed countries: www. globalrecruitment.net

t Harvard innovation lab: www.hbs.edu/ videos/welcome-to-the-harvard -innovation-lab

t Harvard Social enterprise Conference:

www.hbs.edu/socialenterprise

t idealist.org, links to jobs and internships around the world: www.idealist.org

t interAction, a coalition of u.S. humanitar-ian organizations: www.interaction.org

t international Career employment weekly, positions, including full-time and internships, some available without subscription:

www.internationaljobs.org

t international Development links, resources in variety of areas, proposal writing, grants research, and writing:

www.proposalwriter.com/international. html

t international institute for Sustainable Development (iisd): www.iisd.org

t international institute for environment and Development: www.iied.org

t international Job vacancies:

www.intljobs.org

t Oneworld, jobs in human rights, environment, and sustainable develop-ment: us.oneworld.net

t Overseas Jobs, relief web humanitarian job openings worldwide: www.over-seasjobs.com

t Oxford Hr: www.oxfordhr.co.uk/index .php?pg=40

t reliefweb: www.reliefweb.int

t SD Gateway, worldwide jobs in sustain-able development: www.sdgateway .net/jobs

t Sustainable Development

Communications network (sdcn):

www.sdcn.org

t un careers: www.UNCareers.org

t women in international Security, nonpartisan networking and educational organization: wiis.georgetown.edu

t world Bank careers: www.worldbank.org

t world Business Council for Sustainable Development (wbcsd): www.wbcsd.org

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www.hks.harvard.edu/career HKS

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

InternatIonal Development

t “Joining professional associations of

like-minded and like-skilled people is a great

networking venue. It is also where like-

minded and like-skilled hiring managers

will be looking for like-skilled people.”

— Patrick Shield, Global Recruitment Specialists

the Development executives Group (

Devex.com)

oca offers free Devex individual Professional membership for hks students and alumni. Devex is a portal for the development community that includes daily development news, job postings, and events calendar.

for more information and to sign up for membership: t see Memberships at Useful Links on oca’s Knet pages

aSSoCIatIon

reSoUrCeS

t yearbook of international Organizations Online an association source: www.uia.org/yearbook

t asae (American Society of Association executives) & the Center serve approxi-mately 10,000 associations that represent more than 287 million people and organizations worldwide. you can search for associa-tions by country and sector:

www.asaecenter.org/ directories/association-search.cfm

t Society for international Development, professional association with affiliates in five continents, student membership offered:

www.sidint.org

79 John f. Kennedy Street Cambridge, massachusetts 02138 office of career advancement

Thank you to the alumni who have provided input.