Online Career Resources and Advice
Columbia SIPA's Career Fact Sheets is a great source of information for career paths in international development. SIPA's Career Resources is one of the most comprehensive websites for future practitioners. Materials for jobs, internships, and post-graduation plans are available and highly recommended. If you are interested in resources specific for careers in international development, check their Career Sheet. If you are interested in resources for careers in development consulting, check their Consulting Sheet.
Making Global Impact: Guide to International Jobs in Government is another great guide for international jobs in government. You can access the book for free in the link here.
To the Graduate Who Wants to Work in International Affairs: an interesting piece with advice for any senior student seeking for a career in IDEV
US Human Rights Network is a great resource for learning more about all the member organizations across the country that focus on different aspects of human rights.
InterAction has more than 180 US-based member organizations that work in development. You can look at its directory to find more information about these organizations.
Organizations and think tanks
The Center for Global Development is an independent policy and research organization that produces research on topics such as aid effectiveness, debt relief, climate change, education, economic growth, and global health policy. Materials include research briefs, podcasts, and short films.
The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher. Online resources include issue briefs, CFR member blogs, and analysis by CFR experts on breaking news with U.S. foreign policy implications.
ELDIS is a free information sharing website, funded by various European donor agencies, that provides materials including resource guides on major policy and research issues.
Humanitarian News and Analysis, from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is an online news source covering the frontlines of global humanitarian work.
The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has research teams focusing on governance, knowledge, technology and society, power and social change, vulnerability, and poverty reduction. IDS Knowledge Services provides links to resources covering a broad spectrum of social and economic development topics.
The International Crisis Group provides non-partisan analysis and advice to governments, and intergovernmental bodies like the United Nations, European Union and World Bank, on the prevention and resolution of deadly conflict. Browse by key issues or regions of the world.
THOMAS through the Library of Congress makes federal legislative information freely available to the public, including bills, resolutions, public laws, and activity in Congress.
The USAID Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) provides access to recent publications, success stories, and links to CMM projects around the world.
Getting Involved on Campus
Alternative Breaks programs are substance-free, community service-learning trips during the university's winter, spring and summer breaks. AB participants travel locally, nationally and internationally in teams to different cities, engage in active service, and have the opportunity to gain new perspectives on social issues while meeting community needs, and learning about and building upon community assets.
Bilingual Backpacks, founded by University of Maryland students after a meaningful Alternative Break trip to Cuenca, Ecaudor, has made it its mission to enrich the education of the children attending the Arturo Quesada Elementary School in Cuenca by providing the school with Spanish/English children's books and school supplies.
The Capital One Leadership Internship Program (CLIP) blends academic rigor (classroom learning), concrete experience (internship), and active experimentation (international immersion and global showcase) over two academic semesters.
University of Maryland Education Abroad provides information on the multitude of ways UMD students can study abroad from short-term faculty led trips over winter or summer break, to a full academic year abroad.
The Maryland chapter of Engineers Without Borders partners with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students. Projects have included work in Burkina Faso, Peru, Brazil, Thailand and Ecuador.
The Maryland chapter of Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with the Sandtown Habitat for Humanity to raise funds and renovate abandoned rowhouses in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore. The Maryland chapter also raises homelessness awareness through events like HabiJam, their annual spring benefit concert.
Terp Changemakers is a team of students from across the UM campus working to build a thriving social entrepreneurial community. The Terp Changemakers organize events including the annual Social Enterprise Symposium, which introduces the Maryland community to market-based approaches to development around the world.
Terp Exchange facilitates intercultural interactions through group events as well as through the assignment of UMD "buddies" to interested international exchange students to assist with acclimation to the United States and provide students with the opportunity to make lasting connections (contact: umdterpexchange [at] gmail.com).
