International aid/development worker : Career development

There is no one set career pathway for international aid/development workers. You need to carve your own career and make a careful assessment of your own skills and abilities. You have to be prepared to review and change your career plans as development priorities shift.

The public sector may offer graduates more structured career development. Development specialists in the Department for International Development (DFID)  work for up to five years in the UK and abroad before achieving adviser status.

A vertical career path within one non-governmental organisation (NGO) is unlikely. Moving between agencies to gain experience is common, often with a mix of UK and overseas posts. Competition is intense for domestic and international posts. Working overseas may be difficult without higher or specialised qualifications, for example in health promotion, micro-finance or logistics.

Another path through this sector may involve starting at a lower level entry position, such as programme administrator or assistant, progressing to coordinator, then manager. Promotions can happen quickly once you are employed, especially in the field and in smaller organisations. Flexibility and a willingness to be geographically mobile are important. Posts such as country/regional programme manager generally require at least five years' experience. Recruitment at this level is increasingly global, with a noticeable move towards appointing well-qualified nationals with the appropriate cultural background.

There is a growing trend for organisation to decentralise and base themselves in or close to the developing countries in which they are involved.

Consultancy may be an option after you have gained considerable experience, although there may be increased competition for consultancies in certain countries.

For those with appropriate experience, short-term humanitarian relief and emergency aid assignments may form part of long-term career development within, for example, engineering or healthcare. Personnel are sourced from registers of screened specialists like RedR  and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) , who may be seconded at short notice from their usual employment.