Resume writing tips to transition from private sector to International development

Impactpool
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

Are you searching for strategies to transit from the private sector into the development sector? To all our members, Impactpool’s Director Talent Acquisition describes the differences between a resume for the private sector and for the development sector and lists some common mistakes.

We have written about transferable skills in earlier articles about private to public career transition. In this article I focus on giving concrete tips when applying for a development career job.

What are the differences when preparing an application for the development sector?

  • The Development sector requires longer CVs
    When applying for jobs in the private sector it is most common to use a short CV, 1–2 pages. However, the CV in the development sector is a longer document, it is not uncommon that it is 4–5 pages. The foundation of both applications are the same, you should include qualification, experience and education in your CV. However, in the development sector you must not forget to emphasize certifications, licenses, regional experience and languages relevant for the job.
  • Different terminology in the development sector
    Another difference between private sector and development sector is the language used to describe tasks. In the development sector we talk about Project and Programme management, Capacity building, Monitoring and Evaluation, Resource mobilization etc and these are specific terms commonly used in this sector. But they are not necessary different tasks to what you do in private sector today, the main difference is what the tasks are called.

Read more about how to write a resume to transit from the private sector into the development sector

Originally published at impactpool.org

Photo: iStock

Impactpool

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Impactpool is the career platform for people and organizations who want to contribute to a sustainable world. Your career, our mission!

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