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I did a Masters in English Literature over a year ago and now am wanting a career change into environmental and development studies. Ideally, I would like to work in a small NGO doing research on sustainable development for poverty-reduction and planning and carrying out small projects in rural areas world-wide. I'm not sure which direction to take now, whether to focus on getting an MSc in environmental management or searching for jobs in NGOs. I have experience working as an assistant editor in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for a year now. Ann Mold, a careers coach who specialises in working with people who want a job in international development, answers: It’s fantastic that you are beginning to get some ideas as to what you really want from your career. In your question though, you do not make it clear what environmental and development studies means for you. What sort of job do you really want? And what skills do you want to be using on a day to day basis? It’s worth remembering that NGOs, like all organisations, need specific skills. They employ people who can prove that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to do the job. Be honest with yourself and ask if you tick at least 70% of the person specification criteria of the jobs you want. If you can, then it is simply a matter of looking for the jobs and networking. Your Masters will have given you some great skills and understandings, but are they the same ones that a small NGO might need? In my opinion (and this in only an opinion) experience can often be as important as getting a higher degree. So here are some ideas. You obviously have proven transferable skills as an assistant editor at the ILO. So you have a word skill set and a background in the ILO. See if there’s a way you can start getting experience and knowledge of sustainable development for poverty reduction and planning through the work you’re already doing. Or could you could keep this skill set and move to another organisation or change roles in the one you’re already part of? Volunteering may be a way of proving that you have the skills, experience and knowledge needed. Guidestar UK and BOND list NGO’s and charities in detail. What organisations would interest you? VSO is always worth a look. Look at jobs pages and bulletins. Check out the Guardian Unlimited and the World Service Enquiry. Look at the jobs that really fire you up. Then work out what the elements are in any job that really attracts you and what the criteria are. This then gives you more clarity about what precisely you want to do and the hurdles you’ll need to jump to get where you want to go. Finally, remember that development work can be competitive, but people do get the jobs they want. Part of how they do it is by being able to prove that they have the relevant skills and experience. I hope this helps and good luck! Colin Poulton, research fellow at the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy at the University of London, answers: I’d advise spending some time studying and thinking for a year because, coming from a background in English Lit, it might be better to get a grounding in your new career choice. Not only would this give you more of a chance of getting a job with an NGO after you’ve gradated, I think it will make you more effective in the role and you’ll be more confident in your skill base. If you do manage to get a job at an NGO, you could find yourself out of your depth and it could be a steep learning curve. On an environmental studies or development course you’d learn about principles of development. Not all courses will be academic, some will be more practical, like environmental impact assessment modules. You’ll learn specific skills and about examples of best practice which you can take with you in your job. And, relevantly, you can learn how smaller scale development interventions fit into the bigger picture. You’ll need to show universities that you’re willing to and capable of learning well. We run distance learning courses here and the University of East Anglia and Imperial College London both have good reputations.
International Labour Organisation Ann Mold BOND Guidestar UK Guardian Unlimited Centre for Development, Environment and Policy at the University of London University of East Anglia Imperial College London
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