When I first wrote this list of job-hunting resources four (!) years ago, I prefaced it by saying that having a positive impact is not exclusively a career choice. Regardless of our jobs, we always have the opportunity to reject the capitalist and neoliberal mentality that glorifies overwork, hustle culture, and sees others as competition.
Well, not to be repetitive but after another four years of working in the NGO sector, I stand by this. There are jobs out there, but don’t believe that you have to wait for a job offer before you can play a meaningful part in the climate and social justice movements.
Since the European Commission, the US and many European countries slashed their funding for NGOs as well as their aid budgets, the job market is hard right now for people seeking work in exactly this sector.
It’s not impossible. There are opportunities and you should not disqualify yourself before you’ve tried. But after years of education teaching us that all that matters is our CV and that what we wear to the job interview might make or break our chances, it might be difficult to unlearn the belief that struggling in this sector is a personal failing.
It’s tiring, it’s frustrating to upload your CV 20 times and then be asked to fill out the entire contents of it manually on the next page, and you’re not falling behind if you need a break sometimes.
I am sure, if you are skilled, you are networking, and you are staying up-to-date on the sector, that you are already pretty good.
Full-time unpaid work experience is not necessary for an impact job. Getting paid is not something you have to earn with experience to ‘prove’ you’re worth it. It is a basic necessity and if an organisation doesn’t respect that, don’t stay.
If we accept exploitative and underpaid working conditions for the sake of a Really Great Opportunity, we reinforce those conditions. Advocate for better working practices within your organisation, be aware of signs of burnout in yourself or others, and learn explicit boundaries (this can be difficult when you’re new and wanting to fit in, but it pays off).
Your job doesn’t always come from a job website. Quite often organisations keep your CV on file for future opportunities, or recruit through word-of-mouth. Or you begin pursuing a passion (like me with this newsletter) and recruiters find you.
You don’t have to have a dream job. Most of us don’t dream of work.
Collaboration is more effective than competition. Don’t hoard job opportunities or contacts out of fear you’ll lose them, and network with other job-hunters, interns and students the same as you would the people in senior positions. One of these people may be interviewing you one day, and they will remember you.
The world doesn’t care about your timeline. Your first paid job might not perfectly align with your graduation or the end of your internship. These things take time. It is not ‘failing’ to take temporary work while you continue to look.
‘Hustling’ is not impressive or necessary. We need you. Don’t burn out. Slow down.
Interviews are a conversation not a test. If you are not in a desperate financial situation, take the time to also evaluate whether the workplace actually fits you, or if you’re accepting it because you’re afraid of not finding anything else.
Inside the fight to end female genital mutilation in Colombia.
French court orders TotalEnergies to account for indirect emissions of end users.
Inside the doomsday ‘cult’ spreading climate disinformation to global leaders.
‘It’s like a furnace’: French struggle with heat-trap homes as climate inequality grows.
If you’d like to support The Green Fix, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive extra essays on climate justice in everyday life. You can also tip us a virtual coffee.
An updated list since our last edition in 2022. We are not affiliated with any of these organisations. Use your best judgement on what tools apply in your situation.
International / Remote
ReliefWeb (humanitarian & development)
Belgium: 11.be
Germany: NGO Jobs
Netherlands: OneWorld
Netherlands/remote: The Hague Humanity Hub
France: Coordination Sud
Mainly US-focused with occasional remote positions:
EU Bubble
UK
People posting job roundups on LinkedIn:
Amanda Armstong (Canada, global)
Evá Papadakis (comms for impact)
Juliette Sanchez-Lambert (human rights, LGBTI, social impact)
Nick Martin (remote jobs)
Laura Hughston (global)
Ludovica Anedda (gender jobs)
Louise M. Rodrigues Alves (social impact)
Mandy van Deven (social impact)
Mara Tissera Luna (children’s rights)
LinkedIn Groups
People who share tips & experiences about working in impact sectors
Valentin Dupouey (EU)
Sevim Aktas (EU institutions)
Olivia Lori (EU for people with disabilities)
Eleshea Williams (NGO social media)
List of Lists
Articles / Guides:
Career positioning guide for climate & social impact professionals, by Ioana Matei
Work on Climate has a roundup of starter packs for job-seekers in different climate fields.
Green New Careers quiz: What’s your role in the Green New Deal future?
Make an impact in your current work:
Database of sector-specific climate coalitions (and a whole bunch of other stuff. This document is gold).
Places to learn new skills online
Social Movement Technologies (sliding scale)
CreativeMornings (for creative industry, includes lots of free online career workshops)
Global Campus of Human Rights (online and in-person)
What would you add to this list for jobseekers?
LEARN SOMETHING
Read: Never ask job candidates to do unpaid assignments as part of your hiring process, by Vu Le.
Working for an NGO based in Belgium? Know your rights.
DO SOMETHING
London: The Marxism Festival is kicking off this week!
The Sibillini Europa Summer School is open for applications until the 3rd July.
The Climate Story Fund is accepting applications until the 6th July.
You can follow us on Instagram, Bluesky and LinkedIn. Connect with Cass on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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