After the Rotary Peace Fellowship: The Job Search

After the Rotary Peace Fellowship: the Job SearchAfter the Rotary Peace Fellowship: the Job SearchPresented by Dr. Craig ZelizerHosted by Rotary Peace Centers7 May 2014

Meet our panelist

Dr. Craig Zelizer, Associate Director of the Conflict Resolution Program at Georgetown University; co-founder and senior partner in the Alliance for Conflict Transformation; founder of Peace and Collaborative Development Network.

How to Make a Living and Change the World

Dr. Craig [email protected]://internationalpeaceandconflict.org7 May 2014

© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission is Granted for Educational Use

True or False

1. The average job opening today receives over 50 applications2. It is possible to make a living and affect social change. 3. Having a graduate degree is a key qualification to help

advance one’s career.4. Expat salaries are usually higher than what locals get paid.5. Many people in today’s generation will have more than one

career.6. It is possible to create your own job.7. Social Change work always has a positive impact on societies. 8. The average civil war costs 10 billion dollars9. The global cost of violence is almost 1 trillion dollars.10. Corporate Social Responsibility can contribute to peace.


Universities’ Top 5 KSAs– Theories of Causes, Sources

& Dynamics of Conflict & Research Skills

– Theories of Conflict Analysis & Resolution

– Country/Region Specific KSAs, Multicultural Skills

– Political Sector - Human Rights, Democracy and Governance

– Field Experience - Internships (domestic)


TOP KSAs

Employers’ Top 5 KSAs– Field Experience - Work

Abroad, Internships Abroad

– Program Management - Planning & Design, Monitoring & Evaluation, Budgeting, Writing Skills

– Multicultural Skills

– Sector-specific, practical, technical expertise

– Cross-Cutting Issues – Civil Society, Gender, Security

(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflicthttp://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

• Work experience is the most valuable asset. Students need ‘real world’ practical experience.

• Academic Expertise is important, but employers stress value of general project management skills and cross-cultural competencies.

• Many conflict related positions involve cross-sectoral work in which conflict skills are integrated into other sectors.


Summary of Findings

(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict. http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

Recommendations for Students

• Develop a Cross-Sectoral Expertise

• Get Practical Experience

• Network, Network, Network

• Find a Mentor

• Learn or Brush up on Another Language


(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict. http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)


Recommendations for Students

• Stay Informed on Trends in the Field

• Develop a Needed Expertise

• Be Realistic of Benefits and Challenges of Working in the Field

• Be Creative

• Blog, Tweet, Blog, Tweet

• Learn New Media Skills(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict. http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

• Peacebuilding• Humanitarian

Relief• Social

Entrepreneurship• Corporate Social

Responsibility• Social Media• Communications


Key Social Change Areas

• Community Organizing

• Politics• Social Work• Education• Business• What are other

Areas?

Total Spending on Conflict, Peace and Security


Types of Resumes

• Chronological: List education/experience in reverse chronological order (most recent to past).

• Functional: Group experience by particular skills areas and then list work history.

• Combination: Some people combine these.


Resume and Cover Letter Tips

• Use Statement of Qualifications

• Qualifications Summary: At the top of your resume put a short qualifications statement that highlights your experience relevant to the position. Make sure this is relatively short (no more than a paragraph or two), focus on relevant experience, put in buzzwords relevant to the employer, etc.

– Example: Conflict Resolution Practitioner with over five years experience conducting mediation, training and facilitation in the US and Latin America. Trained over 500 people in basic mediation techniques in over 10 countries. Specialization includes: youth and conflict, community-based processes. VA certified mediator and fluent in English and Spanish.



– Quantify Language: Whenever possible (and when it is to your benefit) be concrete in what your responsibilties were abd what you accomplished in your previous positions.

– Example: Worked at the XYZ Conflict Resolution Organization, managed budget and conducted training.

– Reframe to: Worked at the XYZ Conflict Resolution Organization, organized and managed a $400,000 project. Successfully wrote grant proposals totalling over $50,000 from X source. Conducted over 20 trainings in basic conflict resolution techniques with high school students and teachers, reaching over 500 people


– Tailor: Ensure you tailor your cover letter (and possibly resume) to the skills/knowledge employers identify and the mission of the org. Tell a compelling story of why your experience qualifies you to work for this amazing org

– In the cover letter highlight a few key things that show your skills (don’t cover your entire career history)



I got an interview Now What?

• Prepare, Prepare, Prepare• Ask friends/network for thoughts• Research and understand the org’s needs• Decide if the org meets your ethics• Demonstrate your skills• Practice• Prepare Questions• Understand the Process• Follow up


Tips for Salary

• Research (networks, glassdoor.com, friends)

• Ask around what is a salary• Don’t undersell yourself• Be prepared to negotiate


Summary of Salary Ranges (based on 2005 ACT report)

Type of Job

Level Entry Mid-Level Advanced

Nonprofit $24,000-$32,000

$35,000-$50,000

$55,000-up

Business ?? ?? ??

Consulting/For-Profit

$30,000-$40,000

$45,000-$70,000

$70,000-$110,000

Government $30,000-$40,000

$40,000-$65,000

$65,000-$110,000

Education $35,000 $45,000 $60,000-+

Self-Employed

?? ?? ??


Resources for Social Change Careers

• http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org• www.idealist.org• www.developmentex.com• www.reliefweb.int• www.interaction.org• www.indeed.org• http://ashoka.org• www.fpa.org/jobs• http://jobs.omidyar.com• www.chronicle.com• http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship


Extra Reading

• Zelizer, C. 2013 (ed). Integrated Peacebuilding. Innovative Approaches to Transforming Conflict http://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Peacebuilding-Innovative-Approaches-Transforming/dp/081334509X

• Zelizer, C. & Johnston, L. (2005). Skills, Networks and Knowledge: Developing a Career in International Peace and Conflict Resolution http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/profiles/blogs/alliance-for-conflict#.UhJBqLz74Tg

• Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict

http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict

• Galinsky, L. & Nuxoll, K (2011). Work on Purpose http://www.echoinggreen.org/work-on-purpose


Possible Scholarship Options

• Rotary Foundation Peace Scholars – www.rotary.org• International Institute for Education www.iie.org• Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships, www.pdsoros.org• Echoing Green – Fellowships for Social Entrepreneurs –

http://www.echoinggreen.org• International Studies Association Fellowship List -

http://www.isanet.org/blog/fellowships/• ProFellow – http://profellow.com• PCDN Scholarship list –

http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org


Thank you!

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