Basically the title. Anyone here had any luck with being “endorsed”?

Hello everyone,

I applied to a job at OECD which I was highly qualified for, except for 1 component. I’m not great at French.

The job required French, and English was highly desirable. I wrote on my job application my French level was very low, basically 1/6 at a beginner level.

I applied anyway . . . Because hell, what is there to loose?

To my surprise I got to the first stage of the interview, which was a 1 way video interview + time sensitive written exam. I nailed that, but didn’t expect to go any further because I know my French is low.

Surprisingly I got to the 2nd stage of the interview, which was a panel of 5 people . I told them I wasn’t great at French, and they said French is a requirement for this job. We did the interview anyway, I did a great job, except again I’m not great at French, which threw them off a bit.

Anyway I felt as if I’m not going to get the job because of French, but hey what the hell right?

What is everyone’s thoughts on this?

OECD had recently opened up a vacancy for “Policy Analysts” (plural). Has anyone applied and heard back? All I have is silence for now. Not even an aptitude test invite. Just want to see if they’re moving on with other candidates or not.

I have never lived in DC but got invited to become a member of this committee. I'm far from being a big shot (C-level executive, central bank board, etc) and most members are, so I found it a odd to get invited. It seems the organization's goal is mainly to influence US politics to favor the BW institutions (not a fun mission lately), while in parallel generating some policy insights.

DC people, do you know anything about this committee, and what's in it for someone to become a member (USD 1000 a year, not cheap)?

Genuine question, those who are working in the UN system, are you happy ? By the work you do, the work Life balance, the travel etc Do you find it worth it at the end of the day ? Would you have rather done something else ?

Those who want to work for the UN, in this climate, are you happy Even tho you are not in the system yet ?

I am kinda terrified both by the job opportunities market, but also if I would like my job if I one day get there….

(I am public health médical résident by the way)

I’m a U.S.-based project manager with about 10 years of experience in enterprise project management, creative operations, workflow design, and vendor management.

I’ve recently become interested in long-term reconstruction work, and more broadly international disaster recovery and rebuilding. I’m not looking to volunteer for a week—I mean building a career over the next 5–10 years.

For those already working in international development or reconstruction:
- Is this a realistic transition?
- Would a PMP materially help?
- What experience should I pursue first?
- Are engineering firms, NGOs, or development contractors the best entry point?
- If you were starting over with my background, what would you do?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I'm approaching my 7th month of unemployment after being let go from an INGO last year.

I was living off my savings but reaching a point where I want to have some income coming in instead of eating up my savings.

I admit that after having developed quite a good career, my ego has stopped me from being open minded about what part time and temporary opportunity I would want.

Curious to hear for those in-between jobs, what are you doing to get money while continuing to look for the right role?

Hi! I’m currently studying Communications and I’d love to work part-time while I study in an organization related to refugees, migrants, humanitarian aid, climate change or environmental disasters.

I have experience in social media, content creation, video editing and digital communication. I speak Spanish, English and French.

I’ve found it surprisingly difficult to find open entry-level positions that are paid, remote or part-time.

Does anyone know good job boards, NGOs or organizations that hire junior international candidates or remote contractors?

Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I’m a 19-year-old student here in Australia, and after doing some serious research and soulsearching, I’ve decided to commit to a Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Arts dual degree at UQ.

my goal is to eventually work in the international aid/humanitarian sector, but I wanted to ensure I had a solid plan b (or a strong foundational launchpad) in the Australian public sector/government economics field. My planned majors are Economics and Public Policy, Spanish, and Peace and Conflict Studies.

I’ve spent a lot of time mapping out my degree to ensure I’m building a hybrid skillset pairing the hard analytical/quantitative focus of Economics with the socio political context of the Arts majors.

to those currently working in economics, international development, or the public sector:

• does this feel like a balanced strategy? I’ve been told that having the "hard" economics skills makes you much more employable in the aid sector (especially for MEAL/evaluation roles) than a pure Arts degree, but I’d love to hearr your take on that.
• what was the real world like in your first few years? Whether you went the NGO route, private consulting, or government/Treasury, what was the most surprising thing about the actual work compared to what you studied?
• any advice for an undergrad? If you could go back to your 19 yr old self, what would you focus on during uni to make your resume stand out? (Internships, language certifications.)

I’m genuinely excited about this path. Would appreciate any insights or reality checks you have

https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext

Hey folks,

Can anyone recommend short courses (I don’t mind if they’re paid) to gain qualifications in quantitative skills necessary for working in intdev that employers would look favorably upon? A focus on health or development economics would be great.

I’m a recent International Relations/Social Policy Bachelor’s graduate starting a Master’s in Health and International Development.

From what I’ve read in this sub, it seems like gaining strong quantitative skills is the most effective way to get employed during these hard times. I’ve dabbled in a few quantitative analysis methods in my degree such as basic statistics and a decent amount of self-study in epidemiology but I’m worried that none of that is reflected in my CV.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! I recently completed my bachelor’s degree, and I’m now having a hard time choosing a path for my future studies. For context, I was admitted to a top law school in the Philippines, but I was also accepted into Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) for an MA in International Development.

The problem is that I didn’t receive a scholarship from either school, so I would have to pay the full tuition myself. Both programs are expensive, but the MA takes only two years to complete, while a law degree in the Philippines typically takes four years.

My heart is set on Paris, and I would love to gain international exposure and eventually work in the development sector. However, I’m wondering whether pursuing the degree is worth it right now, especially since I would have to finance it myself.

I know that the MA could allow me to pivot into different fields and could also serve as a stepping stone toward a PhD. Still, I have doubts about the long-term stability of the development sector and whether the investment would be worthwhile. Any advice or opinion is welcome! 🤍

Hi all, I have worked as a data scientist in tech for the past 8 years but I have a masters in International and Development Economics and I’m now trying to get back into the development space. Currently, I’m working on a self made project to brush up on my MEL skills and also to have something to show prospective employers but I was so glad to see this forum exists!

Does anyone have any tips for me on how to get into development? Thankfully a lot of my data science knowledge and experience are transferable but since I’m essentially switching into a new industry it still feels a little daunting ngl.

My new job focuses on MDBs. Colleagues are very helpful, but i feel I could benefit from a more systemic understanding of how they operate. How does their business model work, how do the different board dynamics change how the institution operates, shareholder structure and its implications, etc. Same for private capital mobilization.

Can anyone recommend a good book or publication that can help me understand the basics in a comprehensive way?