In my line of work with TEAR Fund one of the things I get questioned on quite a bit is how to get a job in an organisation like this. People wanting to make a difference often look to the development sector in the search for humanitarian jobs. Hopefully this post will point you in the direction of some first steps if that’s you.

When seeking out humanitarian jobs there are two basic ends of the spectrum to consider. One is the side that’s on the ground offering direct benefit in the communities targeted by aid and development, and the other is in the supply end where resources are raised and sent from. When looking at humanitarian jobs those two ends require different skill sets and demonstrate the breadth of entry points – of course the reality is way more complex than that, but thinking about it like this to start with is helpful.

If one desires to work directly on the ground with communities that can benefit from direct relationship through offered assistance then required training and experience can range from medical expertise, to teaching, to building, through to IT and even things like project management. These can assist in quick response needs such as immediate disaster response, through to longer projects.

If one desires to work in the area of raising and sending resources, then marketing and PR expertise is highly valued as is ‘customer relations’ to nurture relationships with donors, fundraising, and to better equip a donor audience to be more than just donors of money. Educational and advocacy skills can be of great value to deepen the awareness of the public in countries traditionally understood to be donor nations to overcome poor stereotypes of those in the communities we work alongside and to promote the strength of a united global voice.

Personally, because we deal with a largely Christian sector, my theological training and intense interest in themes of global justice and how these tie into our faith and spiritual awareness has real value for deepening the engagement of those we partner with. It helps that I have a background in being able to communicate publicly through a number of different mediums. Theology isn’t something many people would first consider when thinking about requirements for humanitarian jobs, but it demonstrates the breadth of entry points into this area.

Humanitarian Jobs Online

If you’re looking around for humanitarian jobs there are a number of different websites you can keep an eye on to see when things are available globally and to get more info. Here are a few:

As an aside, check out my own comments from time to time on issues relating to the humanitarian sector. You can also sign up to stay up to date with my blog.

The above list isn’t exhaustive and if you’re checking out humanitarian jobs it can feel like a tough sector to break into, but know that the skills needed are broad. Keep at it, if you’re looking at it because you want to make a difference rather than simply looking for a lucrative career choice then you’ll get there. Don’t forget that along the way you can always volunteer, raise awareness and lend your voice and who you are to any cause you feel strongly about. You don’t need to be in the industry to make a difference.