Work Towards a Career in International Development Work

Article and Photos by Caryn Sweeny

印度班加罗尔的Balwadi（幼儿园）的儿童为照片带来照片。许多非政府组织通过健康计划或作为旨在帮助国家改善其教育系统的计划的一部分与儿童合作。

作为出国留学的学生和后来的顾问，我遇到了他们的国际职业理想与他们出发的国家一样多样的学生。然而，大多数人落入了两个营地：想要的杰特斯特人，他们将在企业界从事迷人的职业；理想主义者计划在朴实的贫困中生活，以帮助消除疾病，文盲和绝望。

Fortunately, one doesn’t have to be Angelina Jolie or a Peace Corps volunteer in order to work and make a living internationally. There are scores of nonprofit, international, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the country (and world) seeking employees that are educated, culturally competent, and able to work collaboratively and as equals with locals on everything from HIV/AIDS prevention to water management education. The organizations vary from small community-based offices to organizations with locations and staff on six continents. Because these organizations are funded through government agencies, religious organizations, philanthropic organizations, and corporate social responsibility departments, they can offer competitive salaries and generous benefits. They may not pay as well as the corporate sector, but you’ll be able to pay off your student loans and eat more than ramen noodles while making a difference and see the world.

根据许多组织中的同事和朋友的提示，以下是闯入国际非政府组织职业的事和成功的事。

Do develop one or two regional foci as early as undergraduate studies.在法语西非或中亚开发专业知识将使您对在这些领域工作的组织有利可图。

Do study the rest of the world, too.There are lots of other places on the globe and sometimes, an organization just wants evidence of your ability to understand current issues in a global context.

Do volunteer or intern for local internationally focused organizations.世界事务委员会，难民团体，文化社会和激进组织都是启动您网络的不错选择。您可能是在职能之前为法国大使授予美国大使的名字标签的人，他可能很高兴听到您最近在格勒诺布尔的研究，并将您介绍给您的妻子，他的妻子一个正在招聘的组织。

Do study abroad.出国留学的选择是无穷无尽的。从英格兰到厄瓜多尔的每个地点，两个星期，六个月，一年，学习语言或雕塑或交易的艺术。在哪里甚至不如您在那里所做的那么重要。克服新文化中生活和学习的挑战将向潜在雇主表明您具有良好的适应和适应能力。

Do pursue higher degrees.Masters and doctoral degrees aren’t essential for working internationally. But they do help build your knowledge base in a particular region or issue, and they give you access to some of the most accomplished and talented folks through seminars, campus events, and conferences. Not to mention the benefits you’ll reap from studying and socializing with international students and scholars. A little small talk and soon enough you’ll be at a fellow student’s apartment learning how to make pirogues or roll sushi while deepening your awareness of globalization or Japanese culture.

Don’t discount any experience.您是哥伦比亚邻居的孩子的保姆吗？您每个星期五都在您最喜欢的埃塞俄比亚餐厅度过吗？您是否在墨西哥跳过了春假混乱的一天来探索一些内陆废墟？让所有人进行对话，并反思您所看到的，听到和感觉到的内容。成为文化存在是迈向任何类型国际职业的第一步。

Don’t be a complacent traveler.在出发之前，研究不同的方法，使其低于一个国家的表面。当然，在南非，参加乡镇之旅 - 但随后还可以私下询问您的指南，是否有可能访问医院去拜访和阅读儿童，或者去学校回答有关您的问题祖国一会儿。同样，这些经历以及您在面试中如何中继它们可能会对面试人员产生最大的影响，并为您带来良好旅行但寿命不佳的人的镜头。

不要假设只有经验丰富的年龄较大的员工会被发送国际任务。年龄较大，经验丰富的员工通常会疲倦，尤其是如果他们有孩子和家庭。更不用说，作为中级工作人员，您可以更便宜得多。在组织的头五年中，我被送往七个国家 /地区上班。

不要忘记，您仍然必须支付会费。付费是工作世界中的一个共同主题，但这并不意味着没有办法更快地支付它们。志愿者很早，经常进行咕unt工作。如果您的组织接待外国贵宾或高级国际工人，则自愿留下来引导客人去场地或组合材料。最后，尽可能多地了解要工作的区域。寻找在这些领域工作的人，并谈论时事和问题。当他们需要一些帮助时，他们会想到您。

不要忘记语言技能。Foreign language skills can be a critical tool in working with other cultures rather than just in other cultures. But if you are a researcher, or a manager, or a provider of technical assistance, the language skills may be secondary. You’ll likely have a locallybased colleague who can help you with translation. However, you’re not off the hook: learning some basics of the local language will not only show your respect for the people you’ll work with; it can also be a wonderful icebreaker as you struggle with each other’s languages!

For many, making a living in the NGO world is the happy medium between working for a multinational corporation and working in voluntary poverty (both of which are fine and noble callings on their own, if that’s your preference). There are drawbacks, from being at the whims of donors and governments, to long overtime hours, to non-profit salaries, to red tape, but at the heart of many of these organizations is a belief in participatory and collaborative development. Those who work with NGOs know that people around the world are capable of solving their own problems if they are provided with the means, tools, and expertise to do so. By working in the NGO world, you become one more asset in this fight.

印度在班加罗尔的一个孩子在老师看时会练习阅读。

Caryn Sweeney是位于华盛顿特区的非政府组织教育发展学院的研究人员，她在印度，中国和巴西学习初等教育计划。她与AED的合作还将她带到了斯里兰卡，南非，并在密西西比三角洲周围的国内进行了不同的贫困和教育计划。在获得AED之前，Sweeney女士曾在波士顿大学的国际计划部门工作，并在牛津大学进行了出国学习计划。