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How to MANUALLY find jobs based on your experiences!

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by Impactpool

Impactpool continuously tries to clarify and share information with our members the most useful and valuable information that would help them during their job search journeys. In this article, we make short explanations about the different occupational groups we have grouped the jobs on our site, to make it easier for you to find your desired occupational group but also know the different paths you might be suitable for. Here is a list of the 10 most recruited profiles in the development sector.

 

We include links to take you directly to the jobs in the various occupational group. 

1. Administrative Support

  

Administration has many different job titles and responsibilities. Administrative workers are those who provide support to a company. This support might include general office management, answering phones, speaking with clients, assisting an employer, clerical work (including maintaining records and entering data), or a variety of other tasks. 

 

At Impactpool, Administrative support jobs are jobs that usually do not require tertiary education levels and can range from Programme Assistants, Finance and Budget Assistants, Project assistants, Drivers, Logistics Assistant, HR Assistant, Support staff and many more. 

 

These are the skills that recruiters want to see in your application:

  • Organization skills to keep the whole office and team organized
  • Time management - effectively and efficiently for better allocation of your time to different departments 
  • Up to date technological skills necessary for data management and entry such as Microsoft Office softwares. 
  • Resourcefullness
  • Impressive verbal and written communication 

 

                                                       Find Admin Jobs Here

    

2. Logistics and Supply Chain

 

Logistics and Supply Chain Management are vital parts of every organisation making up almost 25% of the staff. While these two terms do have some similarities they are, in fact, different concepts with different meanings. Logistics focuses on activities such as inventory, procurement, distrubution and maintenance that make sure customers recieve the desired products at the right time and place whereas Supply Chain Management focuses on the competitive advantage, finances and marketing such as prices and quality. 

  

When the International Organizations talk about Supply Chain and Service Delivery they refer to the following:

  • Supply chain management
  • Acquisition
  • Procurement
  • Invetory and Supply Distribution
  • Warehousing
  • Fleet Management
  • Passenger and cargo transportation
  • Contract management

 

These are the skills that recruiters want to see in your application:

  • Being licensed is an advantage - The SCOR-P, PRINCE2 and Programme Management Certificates are considered an advantage.
  • Proof of resilience -  Field office experience (working in a crisis country)
  • Proof of mobility
  • Multiple language skills increase your chances
  • Experience serving at the same level you apply for or only one level below

Read in depth explanations of the above golden tips and what they mean.

    

Find practical tips on how to land a logistics job in the development sector and how to plan a development career in logistics - Read our Talent acquisition expert’s advices. 

       

Some inspiration on how can logistics help people and improve their lives  and Impactpool Career Podcast | Episode 11: How to achieve zero hunger?

 

                                  Find Logistics and Supply Chain Jobs

                         

3. Civil Society and Local Government 

 

UNDP defines civil society as a third sector existing alongside and interacting with the state and private industry". International Organizations are increasingly working with Civil Society and Local Governments to ensure sustainable positive impact as they know their communities best and the most aware of the context. During emergency crisis, it is the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that are left behind in the affected communities to continue assisting the vulnerable. Read more about this in the article about the roles of INGOs during Emergency Response. 

Over the last decade there has been a considerable increase both in the number of CSOs and in the scope of their activities. They are playing an increasingly influential role in setting and implementing development agendas globally. There work includes:

  • Communication with Communities
  • Local Integration
  • Access to Information
  • Small Grants Programme
  • Community Health Management Information System
  • Community/ Capacity Building

Often times the qualifications needed to work in Civil Society and Local Governments are not as demanding as other occupational groups. Additionally, due to most of these programmes being funded, they are limited to the nationals of the country the job is being advertised for. Some common positions are:

  • Programme Officers 
  • Community-Based Protection Officers
  • Field Officers 

                         Find Civil Society and Local Government Jobs

 

4. Banking and Finance

 

Banking and Finance in the development sector is vital as most projects are funded by donors which are development banks, governments or large institutions that needs to be managed efficiently to meet the goals of each project. These can be micro loans, cash-based interventions and investment banking.

 

Some common positions include:

  • Finance Coordinator/ Analyst
  • Credit Analysts
  • Risk Management
  • Funds Management
  • Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Specialist
  • Senior Budget and Finance Officer
  • Grants Officer

 

Highly desirable and considered an asset:

  • Knowledge of rules and regulations with regards to grant making, procurement and financial procedures is an asset.

  • Ability to handle multi-dimensional portfolio in challenging and complex environments is a strong asset.

  • Experience in dealing with large financial systems with high annual budgets 

  • Good knowledge of financial management and ERP systems.

  • Experience in multi-donor and multi-agency grants and projects.

  • Experience in financial aspects of programming activities.

Development banks are the leads in financing of private projects which deserve to be promoted on general economic grounds. Their main task is usually to provide long-term funds to help promote the socio-economic advance of a country through their banking services. Watch this Impactpool webinar, building a career in Development Banks to learn about the opportunities available in development banks and read this article on how to change career from Commercial Banking to Mission-Driven Organizations should you have some interest in transitioning. 

For our junior audiance, here is a list of once-a-year recruitments for Young Professionals with a Economics or Finance background that aspire to work in the impact sector. 

                                 Find Economics, Banking and Finance Jobs

 

 

5. Women Empowerment and Gender Equality

 

According to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, the first formal and legal document from the Security Council that required parties in a conflict to prevent violations of women's rights, to support women's participation in peace negotiations and in post-conflict reconstruction, and to protect women and girls from wartime sexual violence, it has become quite apparent that most UN organizations and member states have adopted this framework. This includes Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gender Promotion Initiative, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

One of the world's leading organizations for this mandate is UN Women, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - a global champion for women and girls. 

 

What type of profiles are UN Women hiring?

Management:

  • Regional Centre Directors
  • Country Representatives
  • Deputy Country Representatives
  • Operations Managers  
  • Cluster Leaders
  • Resource Mobilization

Specialist in priority areas:

  • Violence Against Women
  • Peace and Security
  • Leadership and Participation
  • Economic Empowerment
  • National Planning and Budgeting
  • Intergovernmental/Interagency  processes and coordination

Operations:

  • Communication
  • Finance/Budget
  • Procurement
  • Human Resources
  • ICT
  • Facilities & Administration

                        Find Jobs in Women Empowerment and Gender Equality

 

6. Communications and Public Information

 

Communications is one of our most popular career searches at Impactpool. It is also one of the most transferable skills and possessed by almost everyone to a certain degree. 

Some common titles for communications profiles that we have posted on Impactpool include:

  • Communications officer
  • Communications Specialist
  • Public Information/Relations Officers
  • Radio/TV Communications Officer
  • Public/Partnership Outreach Officer
  • Social Media Officer
  • Graphic designers/Illustrations and Photographers

 

  Some common functional competencies are:

  • Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
  • Good knowledge of web-based knowledge management systems
  • Strong understanding and skills in production, graphic design and photography standards
  • Good knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach
  • Good knowledge of local country media landscape
  • Excellent communication, presentation, networking and advocacy skills
  • Ability to be strategic and analytical
  • Knowledge of gender and human rights issues 
  • Ability to take decisions and manage political/cultural sensitivities
  • Proficient IT skills.

Read our article on the tips on how to land a Communications job in the Development sector to learn what organizations to focus on when looking for opportunities and what the recruiter looking for when screening your Communications job application?

Sample interview questions for Communication Officers (Mid level) at International Organizations

Sample interview questions for Communication Officers (Senior level) at International Organizations

                               Communications and Public Information Jobs

7. Child Rights and Health Protection

 

Child Protection refers to the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides for the protection of children in and out of the home. Having a healthcare background would be a great advantage to work in child protection. 

Key areas of work include:

  • Child Protection in Emergencies
  • Children's Rights
  • Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
  • Ending Child Marriage
  • Early Childhood Education and Development Coordinator
  • Recovery & Resilience-Education in Emergencies
  • Immunization.

Some common positions include: 

A junior-level a Child Protection Analyst has between 1-4 years experience. A mid-level Child Protection Officer has between 5 and 7 years of professional experience. Senior level starts at 10 years experience. Below is a list of different titles and how these titles are sorted into a seniority level. 

  • Child Protection associate (Junior level)
  • Child Protection Anayst (Junior level)
  • Child Protection Assistant (Mid-level)
  • Child Protection Specialist (Mid-level)
  • Trainers (Mid-levels)
  • Child Protection Officer (Mid-level)
  • Human Rights Officer (Mid-Level)
  • Child Rights Officer (Mid-level)
  • Child Protection Adviser (Senior)
  • Sexual Violence Experts (Senior)

 

Across the whole sector a few profiles are harder to find. In the area of Child Protection, profiles in Capacity Building/Training on Child Protection, Juvenile Justice, DDR Children and Child Rights (CRC) are areas under constant need of staffing.

International Organizations that are specialized in Child Protection  

                                   Child Rights and Health Protection Jobs

 

8. Project and Programme Management  

Programme and Project Managers are one of the most sought after and recruited profiles in this sector. Project management is one of those generalist/transferable skills that can be applied almost anywhere and in anything in which results are produced. Learn more about Project Management in the Impact Sector 

 

United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS would be the ideal organization to work for as their entire mandate revolves around projects and programmes. 

 

Read the short interview with Genevieve – Housing Project Manager, UNOPS Nepal as she shares her story about working for UNOPS in infrastructure her career journey and what a typical day in life at UNOPS looks like. 

 

Sample interview questions for Environment Project manager (Senior level) at International Organizations

 

                         Project and Programme Management Jobs

 

 

Find the meaning to the most common jargons used in this sector:

Humanitarian Terminologies: glossary of common humanitarian words & phrases!