<p>I don’t know if this is the best place to ask this, but it seems appropriate enough.</p>
<p>What kind of non-profit organizations accept recent liberal arts grads who are willing to work in developing countries whose culture and language they know? And I don’t mean the types where you already need to be very accomplished to secure a position.</p>
<p>I feel like being perfectly bilingual and adventurous might make me a good candidate. This question is very general, but so are my plans at the moment…</p>
<p>Have you checked idealist.org or the Foreign Policy Association Job Board? Both are good sources of information on what jobs are available in the non-profit/think tank/IR field and where they are. </p>
<p>Since it doesn’t sound like you have very much experience, I would focus on finding a job, any job, with a nonprofit that does the work you’re interested in (education, agriculture, micro-loans, developing women’s opportunities, democracy and governance, it’s important to try to identify an area that appeals to you), and then build up a set of skills that will make you profitable to other non-profits that are maybe in the country you eventually want to work with. </p>
<p>Non profits arent’ hurting for candidates, believe me, even ones that are bilingual, so if you’re not very experienced, think about ways to garner the experience that is going to make you marketable. Are you able to do an internship with an organization or do you need to get a paid job right away? Have you considered the Peace Corps (if they have a program in this country), because as a bi-lingual person familiar with a particular culture I’m sure they’d be happy to have you.</p>
<p>Being bi-lingual and adventurous does help, if by adventurous you mean willing to accept low pay (or no pay) and basic living arrangements. It also helps to get yourself overseas and apply once you’re there.</p>
<p>NGO jobs are evolutionary and incestuous. Once you’re in, you’re in and can move up the ladder of responsibility and sideways to other NGOs. The trick is to start somewhere which hopefully you did during your college years in internships or summer volunteer opportunities.</p>
<p>Peace Corps is an excellent career builder but is very selective. You might also look into Americorps or Teach for America. </p>
<p>You should focus on the country or countries where your language skills apply and within that your specific area(s) of interest. USAID and the various UN agencies drawn on a wide circle of NGOs and contractors as partners in specific projects. See which ones are active in “your” country and fire away. </p>
<p>I would suggest you look at Nathan Associates and Louis Berger for starters.</p>
<p>At the university where I work, they recruit graduates to go to China to teach English. Many students find it a great job to do before they have other commitments and it’s a great way to see the world.</p>