Category: Career Advice

ICT4D Job Departure

“Wow! You Look Like a Job-Hopper”

That’s a comment I received recently by someone looking at my LinkedIn profile. They were recruiting for an ICT4D practitioner role at a major research institute, and they were not impressed by my many jobs.

Its true that I’ve changed employers every 2-3 years, usually because the organization or my role changed and it was time to move on. I’ve never really left on bad terms, and I am actually good friends with many of my ex-colleagues – this industry is too small not to be!

What’s the right tenure length?

Different fields have different expectations of tenure. In government and academia (where tenure used to literally mean 10 years), moving more than once a decade is rash, while in the technology field, moving companies less than every few years makes you suspect.

International development is somewhere in between. With project work, moving organizations every 2-3 years is normal, yet it’s also good to have longer stretches of 4-5 years just to show you can also survive project transitions. Hence my goal to stay at FHI 360 for at least 5 years. Plus, its a great place to work!

Best are solid explanations

Overall, while it does matter that you can show the right tenure length for your field, its best to have honest, yet flattering reasons why you moved from one role to the next. If you need q diplomatic answer to a job change, you can say, “the expectations of the role shifted, and I wanted new opportunities for growth.”

Whatever you do, don’t lie – that will come back to haunt you – but you don’t have to be brutally honest either. Also, never, ever talk bad about a past employer to a potential new one. They know one day you’ll be an ex-employee too.

Good luck!
Wayan

OMG! Dream Digital Development Jobs

Rarely do I see so many dream digital development jobs comes up at once, but two teams in the Center for Digital Development at the USAID Global Development Lab are looking for candidates. I do hope you check these out, apply for the ones you like, and forward on the rest to your friends.

FHI360 is hiring for three roles in Washington, DC to support USAID. If you apply, be sure to list me as your referral so I can put in a good word for you:

USAID is hiring for five other positions in DC and around the world through other contracting firms:

Here is more information and resumes will be accepted through Friday, August 8th at 5pm, but qualified candidates are encouraged to apply early. Candidates may apply for multiple positions, but should apply separately for each.

Good luck!
Wayan

How Did You Get Your Current Job?

Did you blindly apply to a job ad, get an interview, then get hired? Or did you know someone at the organization who put in a good word for you? Better yet, did you already know the team before the job ad went live?

I’m willing to bet that you got your current job through your connections. You knew someone who knew someone.

That’s why I’m always surprised when people focus their job search efforts on crafting the perfect CV or cover letter, but don’t think to network with their friends and meet potential employers long before a job ad is even written.

Yes, it is easier to work on your cover letter than to meet strangers and small talk when you just want the pain of job searching to be over. Trust me, I get it. Looking for a job is hard, stressful, and if you don’t currently have a job, its downright maddening.

So don’t spend an extra second living in job search angst. Get off the CV and get out there and meet people. The faster you do, the quicker you’ll have a job and can relax in the warm embrace of your new coworkers.

Good luck!
Wayan

New ICT4D Job

Work in Liberia with FHI 360

Wow! I really wish I could have this job: Senior Technical Advisor for FHI 360 in Accra, Ghana, working on two cool Feed the Future agriculture sector issues.

  • Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) supports the scaling up of agricultural investments to improve the competitiveness of the maize, rice, and soybean value chains.
  • Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) aims to rebuild targeted marine fish stocks that have seen major declines in landings over the last decade

The lucky winner of this job will help bring Digital Financial Services, DFS, to both programs and did I mention they get to be based in Accra, Ghana. Does this excited you? Then apply now!

And yes, I do know the hiring team.

Thanks,
Wayan

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