₦airaland Forum

It is true that a lot more professionals are interested in working at international non-governmental organizations. Everyone has their own reason why they want jobs at an INGO, however, from what our clientele told us, we know that many people are attracted to such jobs because of the benefits that come with it – like the chance to work with people from different cultures, access to multilateral organizations and amazing learning experiences.

We put this article together for the benefit of all those who are interested in working with an INGO, so that they can start preparing themselves for a great career.

Getting a job in an INGO is more competitive than usual, this is true, but, it is possible to achieve, if only one is willing to do the following;

Be socially and culturally open-minded: As a prospective INGO worker, you need to adopt an open mind towards cultures and social behaviors that are different from yours. This is a necessity because you will be working with people from different countries, and communities, with various social norms. Sometimes these people can be your work colleagues or they can be people that are on the receiving end of the work carried out by the INGO.

Be sure about the area of interest: As you already know, if you want to work in an INGO, you need to become knowledgeable on the different areas of interest all INGOs are centered on. These areas of interest include – Health, General Human Rights, LGBTQ Rights, Gender-based Violence, Public Health, Environmental Rights, Women, Children, etc. It will be wise to only prepare to work at an INGO that is focused on the areas you are interested in. Imagine a professional who has interest in preserving the environment, landing a job at an INGO that is focused on health, s/he might not find the fulfillment they need on the job.

Ensure you have adequate experience – There are so many INGOs out there, but there is one thing they all have in common. They love to hire those who have some experience in working with an NGO in the past. If you plan on getting a job at an INGO, now is the time to offer your services as a volunteer to an NGO in your place of residence. Even if you do not get paid, or you get paid a stipend, see it as an investment in your future as an INGO staff. It is never a waste of time.

Be interested in traveling – Yes, your work in an INGO will most likely turn you into a person who lives out of a suitcase. You should prepare your mind for this and just have fun with it. One way to prepare yourself is to do a little research on your chosen INGO and their work itinerary. You can also conduct an informational interview with any of their staff on LinkedIn – ask relevant questions on what to expect as a work staff of the INGO. You can be more specific with the role you have in mind, like Monitoring and Evaluation.

Just like traveling, be open to learning new languages – This is a great skill to have in the development sector, and if you understand and can work with a second and even a third language, you have the chance of working in a country that is different from your current country of residence. Bi-lingual professionals are highly valued in the development sector, because they can communicate with different people without necessarily leaning on interpreters to communicate for them.

Other needed factors include; commitment, decision making skills, and flexibility.

Source - https://lingoafrica.com/ingo-professionals-need-these-specific-value-adding-skills/

Lingo Africa.

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