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Good jobs for introverts? So over consulting.
Hi All, My sister has done Computer Science engineering Bachelor degree and has 5 years of work experience in India. She is applying for MBA at https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/programs/mba/full-time-mba/ and https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/full-time-mba/academics/majors-minors/marketing.html. Her overall goal is to get into Software Product management. Any suggestions if any of these MBA’s can open path in the desired space or if she is better of doing an MS in Comp engg. to further develop deeper Technology skills. Thanks
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Additional Posts in International Development
Thanks for starting this!!
I am a development sector professional (Masters in social work) with 6 years experience in health, education, livelihood promotion , empowerment of women and adolescents, child protection areas with International NGOs and CSR.
I am looking for opportunities in banglore in CSR , consulting firms, INGOs , other funding agencies. I have hands on experience in project management, team management, operations , M&E. Help me with referrals n leads.
Email :
rajalrana1992@gmail.com
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Here’s some advice - fwiw - from someone who’s worked in the industry close to 10 years:
(1) be absolutely certain that you’re primarily driven by the mission and NOT the other factors - eg - easy exit from commercial consulting; profile vanity; virtue signaling; some clever profile differentiation that would somehow lead to an eventual payoff (aka I couldn’t hack it monetarily in the “mainstream” so let me play this game... you get the drift). The WHY matters and should be deeply personal.
(2) have a marathon/ endurance mindset. Things move at a glacial pace and often times desk based individuals hardly experience the “on ground impact” of their work. So if you’re naturally a strategy consulting style sprinter (problem >> hypothesis >> solution >> stakeholder influencing >> sign off >> repeat again for 8-16 weeks) you will either have to adapt your mindset radically. Or you will become a toxic liability for the institution, for yourself and your family. Also, there will be times (very very seldom), when you will be expected to shift gears and actually perform in a slick and sharp private sector style. If only we were robots with an on/ off switch (in other words - easier said than done when you’re jaded by the system).
(3) be at peace with the bureaucracy and nonsense that happens around ID. It is backbreakingly (if that’s even a word 🙂) administrative and you should be willing to dive in the deep ends of paperwork.
(4) be willing to accept a significant pay cut and slower comp growth compared to commercial consulting.
(5) be willing to travel to exotic (sounding) but challenging places on a budget. Fast forward in time and re read this sentence - this time with a spouse and a kid in the frame.
(6) with bureaucracy comes politics. By no means unique to this industry, but be very mindful of you tolerance for political BS on top of the slow pace, admin and bureaucracy etc.
I know I paint a very depressing picture (soz for that) but once you’ve processed the above and still feel inspired to join the industry then you’re really cut out for it and should jump right in.
Sounds philosophical, but the people I’ve seen thrive and highly respected (I’m sure there will be numerous exceptions but I’m sharing a pattern I’ve observed...) are the ones who really devote themselves to the purpose of it all without much expectation for personal reward (meaning it doesn’t eat them away when they don’t get the promotion or raise they “deserve”).
Thank you.
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Incredibly insightful, thanks for sharing your perspective!
The tech industry seems really cool abroad - heading to get my MBA this fall to get more structured international experiences and to meet more international classmates
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Oh, maybe a small misunderstanding here.
I meant international development as in the industry 😅
Examples:
#Multilaterals/Development Banks: World Bank, IFC, IADB, ADB, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, FAO, WHO
#Bilaterals: USAID, UK Aid, GIZ, DFAT
#NGOs: Oxfam, Save the Children, World Vision, Mercy Corps, Acumen, Ashoka, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
#Consulting: Dalberg, Accenture Development Partnerships, Chemonics, DAI, IMC, Adam Smith International
I actually just fell into this space after school because i speak multiple languages. I studied engineering, so naturally ive been inclined to energy and other hard infrastructure projects
Not sure if this exactly fits but I’m looking to work in study abroad/international exchange type work. Not sure where to start though