International Development

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for.

Here are some specific and core skills that are particularly unique or essential to international development work.  Many of these will be developed with experience in the field of work, however, there are ways in which you can strengthen your skills set for this work as outlined in the accordions below:  

• Adaptability - maintaining effectiveness while working in rapidly changing, uncertain, and resource-constrained environments.
• Being inclusive of gender - integrating gender equality and social inclusion across all programming.
• Capacity building - strengthening local institutions and individuals for sustainable, independent development.
• Conflict and context analysis – using critical thinking to understanding political, social, and economic factors driving instability or fragility.
• Crisis Management - coordinating organisational response to emergencies, natural disasters, and unexpected operational challenges.
• Emergency and crisis response - rapidly coordinating life-saving assistance in humanitarian emergencies.
• Ethical practice and accountability – application of integrity and responsibility.
• Human Rights-Based Approach - embedding human rights principles and accountability in development work.
• Multi-stakeholder Engagement – working alongside and coordinating diverse stakeholders for example, including governments, private sector, international organisations, and civil society groups.
• Relationship development -developing authentic, sustainable relationships with communities, stakeholders and engaging them in participating to design and deliver solutions.
• Goal setting - designing programs with clear goals and measurable outcomes.
• Supply Chain Management - coordinating procurement, transportation, and distribution of goods across complex international operational contexts.
• WASH Programming - developing water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to improve public health.

 In order to develop these skills, remember Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.   

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in volunteering, University of Exeter Employability Schemes, and part-time work.

Volunteering 

• Exeter Students’ Guild - Volunteering and The SU – Volunteering & Fundraising – you can find opportunities to volunteer through the Guild in Exeter and the SU in Penryn.
• Get Volunteering – a website where you can search for local volunteering opportunities in various areas, e.g., emergency response, health and social care, fitness & sport.
• Reach Volunteering – a skills-based volunteering charity.
• Visit your local Volunteering Centre.
• Do It – a database of ways to help and get involved with thousands of UK charities.
• Vinspired shows volunteering opportunities for up to 14 – 30 year olds.
• Volunteering Matters – volunteer to help a local community, reducing isolation, improving mental and physical health, developing essential skills and supporting change.
• NCVO – Ways to get involved in volunteering, but also details about campaigns, events and networking.
• UN Volunteers – volunteer with the United Nations online or in-person.  

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

• Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements.
• Exeter Award :The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university.
• The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience.
• Green Consultants: provides you with additional skills and experience required to work in the highly competitive environmental and sustainability sector.  

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, and because many organisations in this sector are small, it can be useful to research local organisations who may not advertise widely, develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. Before doing so, you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. When approaching organisations for work experience in the Development Work sector, be specific about which area you would like to support (i.e. international aid, community development) so that you can tailor and target your approach appropriately. Prospects has a helpful guide on how to write a speculative application.  

Finding part time work  

Due to the nature of Development Work, much part-time work in this area may be unpaid. For more roles that are in this sector, please see the ‘volunteering’ section. However, part-time work in a variety of roles will still give you skills to succeed in Development Work.  

• General job sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn will advertise part-time work. Be sure to use key words in your search to bring up the most appropriate roles.
• Handshake is our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students. You may want to search for SCP (Student Campus Partnership) or SBP (Student Business Partnership) roles – to find out more, please click on the links.
• Employers looking for part-time and casual staff attend events such as careers fairs on campus.
• Attend the ‘Finding a Part-Time Job’ advice session which explores the benefits of gaining part-time work, where you can find these opportunities and top tips for your applications. This session will be listed on Handshake events.
• Listen to this episode of the Career Zone podcast for more advice about finding a part-time job.  

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.   

• Relief Web – recruitment platform for global development professionals
• Devex – recruitment platform for global development professionals. 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page.

Graduate schemes, jobs and internships 

The following websites, organisations and jobs boards may be of interest in targeting opportunities:  

• Collection on Handshake for internships.
• Amnesty International – focuses on protecting human rights and offers internships in various fields and countries.
• CharityJob – this platform advertises voluntary and paid roles across the UK, both in-person and remote.
• Human Rights Watch – find international internships advertised working in an organisation that investigates and reports on human rights abuses around the world.
• International Rescue Committee – find internships in various roles across the globe in an organisation that responds to humanitarian crisis.
• Liberty Human Rights – become a Liberty Volunteer, working either in administrative support or advice and information.
• Rate My Placement.
• Reliefweb – this is a humanitarian information service and here you can find internships in various global organisations.
• Save the Children - explore international opportunities, working on international development, international relations and more. Be sure to use ‘intern’ as a key word in your search.
• TARGETjobs.
• The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – apply for their 1 – 6 month internships (renewable up to 12 months) and work in an organisation that seeks to improve the economic and social wellbeing of people worldwide.
• United Nations – an intergovernmental organisation, working to maintain international peace and security.
• Wellcome- a global charitable foundation offering an 8-week paid summer internship for undergraduates. Development work includes initiatives focussed on climate & health, infectious disease, mental health and discovery research.  

Placements  

Finding a placement is possible in Charities and NGOs. You need to be aware that when searching for placements, you may find that many are unpaid, due to the nature of the organisations. If you are interested in an unpaid role, you may find searching for ‘volunteer’ opportunities will bring up more results. 

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad. 

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal. 

For help with making speculative applications you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

• Prospects International Development Courses - Comprehensive guidance on international development qualifications including short courses that provide tutor support and lead to Level 2 qualifications, plus information on working with major NGOs like Save the Children and Barnardo's.
• Prospects Postgraduate Course Search - Search for relevant Master’s degrees including International Development, Development Studies, Global Studies, International Relations, and Humanitarian Action offered by UK universities.
• Development Studies Association (DSA) - The UK's leading academic association for development studies, offering conferences, workshops, and networking opportunities for development practitioners and researchers.
• Find a Masters is helpful for exploring Development opportunities around the world.
• If you would prefer to stay at the University of Exeter you can search our Taught Masters courses. 

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.  

• Institute of Development Professionals - Specialist professional body focusing on capacity building and professional development for international development practitioners.
• Bond - UK Network for International Development - The UK's largest network uniting organisations working in international development and humanitarian sectors, ranging from small specialist charities to large international NGOs. Provides training, policy updates, networking events, and professional development opportunities for development practitioners.
• Association of Project Management (APM) - The chartered body for project professionals, offering qualifications and CPD highly relevant to development work given the project-based nature of international development programmes.
• Chartered Institute of Management (CIM) - Offers professional qualifications in marketing and communications that are highly relevant to international development organisations, particularly for advocacy, fundraising, and public engagement roles.  

Advice 

If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.