Struggles in placements for young humanities graduates: 'Overwhelming competition with up to 300 job applicants'

Struggles in placements for young humanities graduates: 'Overwhelming competition with up to 300 job applicants'

Humanitarian Aspirations Meet Diverse Careers

When Lou Penisson talks about her career aspirations in humanitarian work, she often encounters the same curiosity: "Is that a job?", she chuckles. With a double degree in history and political science, this 21-year-old woman is now pursuing her "Development and Humanitarian Action" master's at Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University. She aims to work for a major humanitarian organization, "to lend a helping hand to those in need globally", she explains.

Since high school, she's harbored a desire to find a career aligned with her values and convictions. Her journey began in a "solidarity club" assisting the less fortunate. However, she soon realized that finding the first internship and job isn't a walk in the park, especially during a period when there's a dearth of opportunities due to the freeze on American humanitarian aid by President Donald Trump, echoed by many NGOs, including French ones.

This setback doesn't deter Lou's calling, who envisions herself staying in the sector for life, preferably "on the ground and internationally". Since joining her course in September 2024, she's discovered the wide spectrum of roles available, transcending traditional health and education services. Humanitarian workers could be program managers, mission officers, logistics managers, evaluators, advocates, consultants, and more.

Exploring Diverse Career Paths in Humanitarian Work

1. Program Manager in Humanitarian Organizations
2. Oversee humanitarian projects, from disaster relief to education and health initiatives.
3. Requires project management, cultural competence, and a robust understanding of global challenges impacting disadvantaged populations.
4. Policy Analyst in International Development
5. Analyze and craft policies supporting sustainable development and humanitarian aid.
6. Demands strong analytical thinking, policy development skills, and knowledge of international development frameworks.
7. Humanitarian Engineer
8. Apply engineering solutions to enrich the lives of underserved communities, developing infrastructure, technology, or services to tackle humanitarian hurdles.
9. Requires engineering know-how combined with social sciences and humanitarian needs comprehension.
10. Advocacy Specialist for Human Rights
11. Investigate human rights violations, educate communities, and promote accountability at the international level.
12. Needs strong analytical abilities, cultural competence, and advocacy experience.
13. International Civil Servant
14. Work for global institutions to further diplomacy, health access, or peacekeeping efforts.
15. Mandates diplomacy, cultural understanding, and a keen grasp of global governance.
16. Researcher in Humanitarian Studies
17. Conduct research on humanitarian challenges and develop evidence-based solutions.
18. Calls for strong research skills, analytical thinking, and knowledge of humanitarian issues.
19. NGO Management
20. Lead or manage NGOs involved in humanitarian work, focusing on strategy, fundraising, and program implementation.
21. Requires leadership, management, and fundraising skills, in tandem with a deep understanding of humanitarian needs.
22. International Development Consultant
23. Provide consultancy services to governments, NGOs, or private sector companies on development strategies and humanitarian interventions.
24. Demands strong analytical skills, development theory expertise, and project management experience.

Key Skills for Success in Humanitarian Work

• Cultural Competence: Understanding and respecting the complexities of various cultural contexts.
• Project Management: Effectively managing projects in challenging environments.
• Analytical Thinking: Assessing intricate humanitarian situations with strong analytical skills.
• Networking: Building relationships within the humanitarian sector.
• Language Skills: Multilingual proficiency can be beneficial in international roles.

These career paths leverage the skills and knowledge acquired from a master's in Development and Humanitarian Action, enabling graduates to contribute meaningfully across various sectors [1][2][5].

1. Lou Penisson, with her background in history and political science, is aiming to be a program manager in humanitarian organizations, overseeing projects that span from disaster relief to education and health initiatives. This role requires project management skills, cultural competence, and a deep understanding of global challenges impacting disadvantaged populations.
2. Alongside her career aspirations, Lou is also interested in pursuing education and self-development, specifically in the field of humanitarian studies. As a researcher in this area, she could conduct research on humanitarian challenges and develop evidence-based solutions, calling for strong research skills, analytical thinking, and knowledge of humanitarian issues.
3. With her focus on global impact, Lou might also consider a career as an advocacy specialist for human rights, investigating human rights violations, educating communities, and promoting accountability at the international level. This role needs strong analytical abilities, cultural competence, and advocacy experience.
4. In her quest for career development, Lou is also considering job-search opportunities within the private sector, specifically as an international development consultant. This role demands strong analytical skills, development theory expertise, and project management experience, enabling her to provide consultancy services to companies on development strategies and humanitarian interventions. Additionally, skills training in areas like finance, family-dynamics, lifestyle, and career development could further enhance her chances of success in the humanitarian sector.

Read also: