This is information for those want to move to development sector after long or short stint in corporate sector Developmental sector too needs professionals especially good program managers and excellent technocrats. My suggestion for those who want to take up development route in thier career map would be the following 1. Ask yourself whether you want to be a specialist or a generalist 2. If you want to be a specialist such as agricultural specialist, Civil engineer, etc., you need to do some web search and find the latest development in these fields and need to specialise in areas which are in the wanted list of international NGOs (Example - in Agriculture are dry land development, Organic farming, Watershed management, Insitution building etc., Example in Civil Engineering are Irrigation infrastructures, Drinking water and sanitation, Shelter construction according to country context etc., 3. If you want to be a generalist, then you need to qualify yourself with additional qualifications such as diploma in international studies or diploma in development management etc., These cources are offered by distance education by London University's London School of Economics Here is the link: http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/prospective_students/undergraduate/lse/d... 4. Visit any one or some of these web sites and select the positions for which your qualifications matches more than 60 perecent. www.unjobs.org www.devex.com www.reliefweb.int www.idealist.org www.devnetjobs.org www.developmentaid.org 5. Apply for the job with a covering letter indicating how you are the close fit for the job. 6. Attach you CV which should not be more than two pages. CV should be in text format without tables or charts. Because some applications are to be submitted on line for which you need text format CV 7. When you attach the CV with your application letter, highlight your skills and experience that is applicable for the job. 8. Please note only 2 percent of your application will cross the priliminary screening process to reach the stage of setting up of initial interview. 9. Once you get a interview call, search the internet about the organisation and get the information. Also prepare yourself with possible questions such as 1. Why did you apply for this position 2. You don't have country experience for this position how will you handle 3. What do you think would be the difficulties that you may face in this job 4. How does your qualifications match with the requirements of this job 5. Can you tell us about yourself 6. Do you have any question for the interview panel 7. What are you strengths and areas in which you should take additional attention (Weaknesses)? 8. Can you give us a few examples where you used your professional skills to solve the field problem 9. How your past work experience related to this assignment? 10. If you are assigned to a place which is insecure and you cannot venture out of your place how will you handle the assignment? So prepare well for these usual questions and also for the technical questions of your field of expertise 10. Usually these interviews are conducted over phone. So you should be brief in your explanations and clear in you conversations 11.The second interview would be more of HR issue types combined with technical matters related to the job 12. When final interview is over, with in 4- 5 days you will get a reply whether you are selected or not 13.Other than you professional skills and experience the following overweigh the preference of the International NGOs - Country experience - Knowledge of Language of the country - Specific experience in the field of activity 14. It is a global job market. So beware the preference for the NGO's country of origin. It is natural that if it is US they prefer US citizens, If Europe European citizen 15. Also note that there are some faith based organisations (Such as Goal, World Vision International, Samarian Purse, Islamic Relief, Mission East, CARDIAD, Shelter for Life International, Christian AID, Tearfund, UMCOR, Zoa Refuge Care, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Lutheran World Relief etc.,) , even though they don't announce publicly, they always prefer to hire only persons of their own religion 16. The final phase of selection that decides the appointment order is the reference check. Usually most international organisations insist on refering to two previous employers. Usually they discourage friends list given as referees by the candidates. In some cases the organisation's interviewer would seek permission to speak to the referee before the second intervew. On obtaining te permission would talk to the refereee and cross check the information given by the candidate. So please keep a list of 3 referees which includes two previous employers. Keep the referee informed about yourself by being in touch with them by emails. Before submitting your list of referees to the potential employer, contact your referee and inform him/her. Some refees may need your assistance in preparing the referee check form sent by the organisation. In this case the referee check is just formality in HR procedure. Finally a word of caution, more development jobs are available only in disturbed areas or war torn area where they take Indians. So be prepared for a tough stint with security problems. If you don't have a brave heart and creative mind, them do not look for development jobs. This is not your cup of tea if you are not prepared to live in isolation with less social life possibility. Tough mind and willingness to work under pressure are the essential conditions for this type of jobs Wish you good luck With Warm Regards Chidambaram. CT