Write the world – international development and journalism

Do you aspire to be a published journalist?
Are you interested in issues facing the developing world?
Do you want to write about such issues that are often neglected in the media?
Then enter the Guardian International Development Journalism Competition 2013.

How to enter
The competition has two strands.  One is for professional journalists and the other for amateurs including students.  The competition asks you to write a 650-1000 word article about any aspect of global poverty that you think needs more media attention.  Write your article and submit it by Sunday 12 May 2013.  For more information please see the competition website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

What you can win
At first, entries will be shortlisted to 40 and then the 16 best entries (eight amateur and eight professional) will be published online on the Guardian website.  Later the 16 finalists will be flown to Africa orAsia to research a new project.  This research will be published in two special Guardian newspaper supplements after the two winners are announced at a special award ceremony.

How this can help your career
A good record of relevant work experience is essential to getting a career in both journalism and international development.  As a writer, you will need to provide a portfolio of your written work and a portfolio which includes published work will be very highly regarded.  As a development worker, you will need to show your enthusiasm and knowledge of how the sector works and often this involves partnerships with bodies like the media.

Being a part of the research team in a new setting would allow you to enhance  useful skills for the workplace like communication, organisation and flexibility to name a few.

Even if you miss out on the final 16 it is a great way to practise your writing skills for either industry or making an entry shows a keen interest in news and current affairs.  Plus there are also media opportunities on campus you can get involved in.

Find out more about careers as a Newspaper journalist or International development worker and visit Careers in WG3 (Queens’ Building) for more advice.

Getting into International Development

What does NGO mean to you?

a)     Not Going Out?
b)     No Graduate Opportunities?
c)     Non Government Organisation?

If you answered c) you’re probably interested in working in International Development and are just one of many students scrambling to find a toehold in the foothills of this increasingly crowded area.  Currently international development bears a strong resemblance to Brighton beach in August – hot, popular and hugely oversubscribed.  How do you push ahead of the massed hordes who are jostling for elbow room?

Step 1: do your research.  Dig beneath the surface.  What does the sector consist of?  Who are the movers and shakers?  What job possibilities exist? http://www.gradsintocareers.co.uk/development/Page615.asp and http://www.prospects.ac.uk/charities_voluntary_sector.htm will put you on track..

Step 2: have an angle.  Define what you want to do.  Aid worker? Fundraiser?  Desk officer? Disaster co-ordinator? Or one of the many other possibilities?

Step 3: embrace experience.  This is non negotiable and, alas, may be unpaid.  But it often leads to salaried work and is essential for your CV and your credibility.

Step 4: think strategically.  Most wanna-bes aim at high profile NGOs. The canny QMUL student may well do the same, but will also investigate smaller organisations – less apt to have waiting lists or swarms of applicants.

Step 5: consider a Master’s.  It’s not mandatory and can be costly.  But it might be useful, depending on what specialism you want to follow.   BEWARE: without relevant experience, a Master’s may not get you as far as you hope.

Step 6: go global. At the very least, think about acquiring another language, but ideally have some background in travelling, studying, working or living abroad.

Gill Sharp
Careers Consultant
QM Careers

Careers in International Development: A chance to meet the experts!

This November 2Way Development is hosting their International Development Careers Conference, sponsored by the Guardian.,

Taking place in London on Wednesday 30th November from 6pm-9pm, this event is the chance for you to get extra help to navigate your way into employment in International Development.

Some of the interesting topics include relief & rehabilitation, working in education, campaigning and international agencies as well as a chance to pick up some handy recruitment tips and CV building advice.

The event will feature an evening conference and a separate 3 hour online Q&A with speakers. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to meet the experts face to face.

For more information and registration go to:
www.2waydevelopmentconference.eventbrite.com also don’t miss out on the exclusive 20% discount off the ticket price – bringing this down to only £10. Discount code: STUDENT

Exploring Careers in International Development

There are many ways to get into your desired career but some sectors seem trickier than others.  Students often find it hard to navigate the different routes into careers in international development.

The annual International Development Careers Event Evening hosts speakers from the industry discussing how to break into the sector and what it is like when you get there.

International Development Careers Event
Tuesday 26 July 2011 6pm-9pm
London School of Economics

This event could be a networking opportunity, come to Careers find out more about this, read more about how to get into international development careers and keep an eye on The Careers Group University of London blog Getting into International Development.

Policy Week – Organised by New Turn

Are you interested in working in an NGO, in development, foreign policy or government?

New Turn Policy Week is a fourteen-part workshop at Queen Mary, focussing on how to produce research-based policy papers. External speakers from academia, government and NGOs lead hour-long sessions in different aspects of policy. The first hour of the evening is on specific skills, like how to research your policy or how to make your recommendations relevant to MPs. This is followed by two hour-long lectures on key policy debates, such as banking reform or the effectiveness of aid, led by an expert in the field. Each lecture will end with a Q&A.

By the end of the week you will have a broad understanding of the key policy issues, from Higher Education to the circumstances in which states decide to go to war. The training you receive in the specifics of formulating policy would normally cost £500 or more, and the contact with the speakers is invaluable.

If you want to get into an NGO, development, foreign policy or government position, Policy Week will be a great chance for you to develop your understanding of the intricacies of policy, and also give you the chance to hear from speakers from Department for International Development, DEMOS, Next Century Foundation and Oxford Policy Management.

Policy Week is hosted by New Turn, an events and debating society at Queen Mary. The series is £5 for New Turn members and £15 for non-members. Queen Mary students can join New Turn online.

For more information, go to our Facebook page.

Oscar Williamson
President – New Turn

International Development Autumn Careers Conference

Are you looking for a career in International Development?

Maybe you’re wondering how to get the skills and experience you need?

Would you like to meet some of the UK’s leading International Development organisations, face to face?

The International Development Autumn Careers Conference takes place on Thursday October 7th 2010 from 5.30-9.00 pm London.  For further information and to book (cost is £25) see http://positivechangeautumn.eventbrite.com/