Category: Career Advice

Stop Wasting Time: Apply for Your Dream Job

Earlier this week, I was career coaching an aspiring ICT4D practitioner who was applying to all manner of job opportunities. While their dream job was in one area, say human rights, they were also applying for similar roles in economic development and health.

Their idea, which is a common one, is that they should hedge their bets and still apply to areas outside their core interest, just in case.

However, this strategy usually backfires. As they found out, employers can tell when you are enthused and focused on their core mission, or not. The applicant was being asked in interviews if they would really be excited by economic development. They tried to put on a good face, but both the applicant and the employer knew better.

So if that’s the reality – your passion must show through in this hyper-competitive job market – stop wasting your time with roles outside of your dream job sector. Apply for your dream jobs first, second, and always.

Thanks,
Wayan

Job Search Questions & Answers Part 3

Recently I asked you to tell me about your job search dilemmas and wow! I received a wave of responses. Here is the next installment. Ask me a question to see it responded to here.

Their Question:

I would love to know your opinion of the Devex CV writing service.  I was thinking about utilizing them to polish things up but it is quite expensive and they don’t provide any samples of their work.  Do you know if people are generally happy with their service?  Also, do they do it in a way that every hiring manager can identify as a Devex style, or anything obvious like that?

My Response:

I can understand the temptation to focus on creating a beautiful CV. We are told too many times that one must have a perfect resume to get a job. However, that advice doesn’t work in the international development field in general, and definitely not in ICT4D.

Any of the job ads you see below will get dozens, if not hundreds, of high-quality CVs. Yet those that get interviews typically have one thing in common – a personal referral from someone who knows the hiring team.

Knowing that, I personally, I wouldn’t pay $1 for a CV writing service.This post is sponsored by our partners Wigs

Yes, have your CV reviewed by a friend or two, so that you catch any major errors, and be sure to tailor it to the international development field, but don’t spend too much time on your resume. Instead, informational interview your ass off. Its those personal connections that will get you an interview, and from there a job.

Want more depth to your career questions? Grab a career coaching session.

Thanks,
Wayan

Job Search Questions & Answers Part 2

Recently I asked you to tell me about your job search dilemmas and wow! I received a wave of responses. Here is the next installment. Ask me question to see it responded to here.

Their Question:

All the advice I see is to focus my job search on one cause or role. However, I see so many interesting jobs – I want to apply to them all. I also don’t want to limit myself to one type of job. What if no one is hiring for it? How can I make my CV flexible enough to apply to multiple opportunities?

My Response:

The cold reality is that you have to pick a role and bet on it. I know what sounds both scary and limiting , but its the best way to actually break into ICT4D.As stated in this article, you can browse your selection of available deals on smartphones and top brands and explore the cell phone service plans that best suit your needs.

For every job opening, an organization will get 100-300 inquiries, most of which will be generic. People who seem interested in the field in general, but not that excited about the specific organization and its mission. They will also get 3-5 people who are really engaged – they know the issues, the people involved, and obviously care about having impact.

Who do you think will get the interview? The job?

So while I does feel like you are cutting off options when you focus on one specific role within one specific cause, you are actually taking a big step forward towards an ICT4D job. People hire on passion. Show yours.

Want more depth to your career questions? Grab a career coaching session.

Thanks,
Wayan

Making the Switch from IT to ICT4D

Last newsletter I asked you to tell me about your job search dilemmas and wow! I received a wave of responses. I’ll be publishing a few over the next few newsletters. Ask your question to see it responded to here.

Their Question:

I want to find a job that matters and I don’t know where to start. I’m worried I’ll have to leave a cushy, well paying, IT job and be poor in order to make a difference in people’s lives, but I’m worried I’m not adding enough value today, in a direct fashion, to other people, to the environment, to the world.

My Response:

I know the feeling of being lost in a current career and wanting a new one. It took me years to discover ICT4D and then a few more to get my dream job in the field. Throughout that process, I found that there is only one way to discover what calls to you: ask people who are doing it what they think, do, and like about their jobs.

Informational interviews – where you ask about their work/career and then reflect afterward if what they talked about seemed worthy for you. This is the best route, regardless of what field you want to go into. Yet, I am always surprised about how few people do them.

If ICT4D is your calling, you will not be making Silicon Valley money in the NGO world. You can look at any organizations’ IRS Form 990 (see GuideStar.org for them) and see the highest paid staff over $100K. Usually its a short list.

At my company, and we are one of the larger ones, senior staff are around $200K, the CEO clocks in at $250K, and we’re a $650 million/year org. So yes, typically IT engineers take a pay cut when they move into ICT4D, but we’re not in this for the money.

I sleep really well at night with my role. I know I am making a difference – I can see it. Not daily, but I believe in what we are doing and have seen the results in the field. That feeling of doing good drives me more than buckets of cash.

Want more depth to your career questions? Grab a career coaching session.

Thanks,
Wayan

DO NOT SLACK OVER THE HOLIDAYS

With Christmas and the New Year holidays approaching, many people will decide to put their job search process on hold. This would be a mistake.

  • First, there is less competition as others are taking the holidays off.
  • Next, with the start of the new year, we’ll see a jump in open positions as budgets are approved for Jan-Dec fiscal year projects and organizations.
  • Finally, the holidays are a great time to informational interview with family, and family friends.

So don’t stop your informational interviewing now. In fact, double down during the holidays. Make sure you are perfectly positioned now for the job opportunities that will come forth in January.

Thanks,
Wayan & Asia