Tag: Cover Letters

ict4d job qualifications skills

A Recruiter’s Inside Tips for Breaking Into an ICT4D Career

I am an award-winning ICT4D practitioner. I’ve coached countless professionals on how to transition into digital development. I’ve seen what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to standing out in this competitive field. Here is hard-earned cover letter and resume wisdom that will help you on your journey to digital development sucess.

Tell Your Story with Purpose

Your CV lists your accomplishments, but your cover letter? That’s where the magic happens. It’s your opportunity to weave a compelling narrative about how your unique background, perspectives, and experiences is exactly what the organization needs – even if they don’t know it yet. Stay authentic as you connect your past experiences and the future role with this company.

Embrace Your Non-Traditional Background

Here’s something that might surprise you: you don’t need to meet every single requirement in a job description to be the perfect candidate. Take it from someone who started as an accountant and now works in ICT4D – sometimes the most innovative solutions come from unexpected places.

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The key is articulating how your skills transfer. Maybe your experience managing a local community project taught you more about user-centered design than a traditional tech role would have. Own that story.

Master the Art of Presentation

Let’s be real – recruiters often wade through hundreds of applications for a single position. Making your application easy to digest isn’t just courteous – it’s strategic. Keep these guidelines in mind:

  • Stick to two pages maximum. If you haven’t captured interest by then, adding more pages won’t help.
  • Use clear, consistent formatting throughout your resume. You may want to test what your CV looks like as just text too, since many online submission forms will auto-generate a version of your CV from a text version of your Word or PDF document.
  • Highlight key achievements and skills using numbers to quantify your accomplishments.
  • Structure your content logically so someone can skim your CV and understand your career trajectory

Mind the Details

Job hunting can be exhausting, but attention to detail matters. I’ve seen brilliant candidates stumble because they didn’t proofread their applications. True story: I regularly receive cover letters addressed to the wrong organization or mention the wrong job. These small oversights can make a big difference.

Stay the Course

Perhaps the most important advice I can offer is this: be patient and persistent. The hiring process in international development organizations can move at a glacial pace. It’s not uncommon for recruitment cycles to stretch over several months.

Remember, this isn’t a reflection of your worth or capabilities. Keep applying, keep refining your approach, and keep believing in your potential. The right opportunity isn’t just about timing – it’s about being prepared when that timing arrives.

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