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JennyL · Newbie Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

I live in England, and am a 26 year old female. This is the first thing i have written on this so bear with me! My problem is that I am very well qualified accademically and have started a career in P.A work but this is not where i want to be and never has been.I have found myself drifting that way ever since I realised that to get into my chosen field I need a lot of practical experience or, basically have to be 10 years older then I am!

I left university with a M.A in International Development and a B.A in European Culture and Politics. I was bought up abroad and have travelled extensively however i find myself doing an office job and have to contantly remind myself that whilst it isn't what I want to be doing i should use it to build my skills and as it is an educational institute, do as many courses as possible.

My real goal is to work with in the charity sector for an organisation working in International development. My other interest could also be with the Foreign Office working through the Department on International Development, for which i intend to apply for the Fast Stream.

Please can someone give me some advice or support as i fear that i will never escape my current work and that I shall always be on a low wage. i think I feel sorry for myself as i studied for 4 years and now i'm bored and fairly poor too. I know I'm not being very positive and very sorry for myself but i'm impatient and restless. Does anyone else feel like this, if so please write.

lexa10881 · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:34 am Post subject:

Yes, I feel like this too. I went to school and got a bachelor's but the problem I face here is that to start off in the area of my degree I actually have to take a significant benefits and pay cut to stay in my home state or move far away from my family. So, it's either leave the people I love or stay here in a low wage job and ignore the fact that I went to college. The solution that I have found is that more schooling, as frustrating as this is to me, will help push me to where I need to be. I don't know when I will be able to begin that, and I don't know if you are in a similar position or desire to do such, but it is an option that may get you where you want to go. Good luck.

http://www.cvtips.com/The%20Job%20Market.html

Pauloz · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:02 am Post subject:

JennyL

No wonder you're bored! PA? Can be one step on the wrong side of slavery or drudgery. Just remember it can also pay for your escape.

The kind of work you want to do will need some direct contact with the organizations doing it.

That's a definite positive step, because they can tell you in detail what they want, and what you need for that career.

In terms of keeping a career option going, the Foreign Office may ironically be a direct line to your charity/international development goals. The charities have to work with governments all over the world. They need someone who speaks the political and diplomatic language.

You may have noticed that relationships between these charities and the governments where they work is on a knife edge, at least some of the time.

That way you could do both.

Both courses include a range of very portable skills and qualifications, so you wouldn't lose either way.

lexa10881 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:49 am Post subject:

Pauloz has some good ideas here. Maybe you can network with some of your cuurent contacts to get out of your job situation? Can't hurt to try.

I think I might give this a try myself, ready for something different. Thanks for the sound advice, Pauloz!

http://www.cvtips.com/job_networking.html

Ruthm · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Jenny,

My dream was also to work for an international development charity. I advise you do the following
1) Get some experience in the charity sector, there are lots of temporary and contract jobs you could do. www.charityjob.co.uk. Once you have experience in a charity, even one with an unrelated mission, you will be in a better position to move into international development
2) Look at becoming a trustee for a small international organisation. NCVO run a list for charities looking for trustees. Small charities are really in need of good trustees.
3) Look at volunteering. With UN volunteers you can volunteer online for international development
4) Get the agencies who recruit for international charities aware of you and your dream. Google charity agencies - there are hundreds! Execucare, Badenock and Clark, Charity People etc etc

Don't get dishearted and keep going. I once felt that I would never get a job with 10 years experience. It is possible!

Good Luck

Ruth

lexa10881 · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:32 am Post subject:

There are several interviews here on the site with people from nonprofit organizations. I do not know if these interviews will give you any useful insight into the world of jobs/nonprofit organizations but it might help? This is a link to Idealist.org's interview, one of several:

http://www.cvtips.com/idealist_job_volunteering_search.html

lep04ivp · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2008 Posts: 6 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi,
I have been in a similar situation for years now. I am just curious, have you found a job in development? It could be nice to know if you achieve your goal?

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