Emerging Career Options
in Development Sector

By Kamilla Rottenberg

Introduction to Social Development

What is social development (as understood in contemporary time)? Social development is understood as a continuous process under the influence of external factors, which leads to a qualitatively new state. Social development has absorbed all the totality of economic, social, political and spiritual processes. This is a consequence of the interaction of a large set of social processes, based on the purposeful activity of people.

Historical background of social development

The term "social development" became popular in the early 20th century thanks to the famous British sociologist Leonard Hobhouse. According to Hobhouse, social progress is not related to the brutal struggle for existence, but to the development of reason and morality that contribute to the development of the human social skills. Later, the term became known as "community development." In the 50s of the 20th century, the term was officially fixed as "social development."

Current scenario

The United Nations is responsible for promoting social development throughout the world. The United Nations has identified the need to plan social development programs that meet the social needs of people, which today is the legal right of any person.

Learning opportunities and practice

Previously, work in the social sphere was associated exclusively with charity, but with the development of social entrepreneurship, increased investment impact, which guarantees social workers profit. Therefore, and the number of people who want to work in the field of social development is becoming more and more.

Available options for people planning a career in the social sector

But for people who plan their careers in the social development sector, the practice of education is an integral part, since knowledge of health, sociology, economics, ecology, understanding of political processes, etc. may be needed to solve social problems. And the more extensive this knowledge, the more opportunities in the context of a career.

Challenges in the social development sector

Despite improvements in the social sector and the development of various social programs, there are still a number of problems in this area, among which are:

• high unemployment rate
• social inequality
• low health standards
• climate change
• the stable political situation in the world

Job in Development Sector: Walking with you

Difference between Bio Data, Resume, and CV:

• Bio Data or Biographical Data is a document containing brief information about the main stages of life (date of birth, marital status, place of residence, etc.) and professional activities of the candidate, interests, and hobbies
• Resume originated from French and means summary. Traditionally it is short document and consist of 1-2 pages. Usually, it contains condensed information about your education, professional skills, qualifications and is written in the third person.
• CV or Curriculum Vitae comes from Latin and means "course of life." CV is slightly larger in volume than the summary and contains detailed information about all of your achievements.

How to prepare a CV

To write a good resume, you will need to focus on the main facts of your professional biography. It should be composed of the following items:

1. Contact information (name, surname, phone number, email, nationality, city, country of residence)
2. Purpose (this is an optional component, but if you write
3. Education (list all educational institutions that you have ever visited, university, college, courses, in reverse chronological order)
4. Experience (using the word "experience" instead of "work experience," you have the opportunity to describe all work experience, including internships and volunteering, the list should also be in reverse chronological order)
5. Skills (describe the skills of owning languages, computer programs, driving, etc., try to be brief and use phrases instead of sentences)
6. Interests (try to describe the interests that relate to the position you are applying for, do not use abstract phrases, examples should emphasize your dignity and skills)
7. References (this item is also not necessary, but at the request of an HR-manager, write information of your previous employers, colleagues and other people who can confirm the information you have provided)

Types of CVs and purpose of different types

There exist 5 main types of CV:

1. Functional CV
   Functional CV is one of the most common because in many situations it allows the job candidate to show himself in the most favorable light.
2. Alternative CV
   The alternative CV differs, for example, from the targeted and functional ones, which in each case is performed in different ways. The main feature of this document is its originality; it reflects the individual personal inclinations of a person and his or her ability to stand out of the pack.
3. Chronological CV
   Chronological CV in many respects similar to traditional, but it has its own specific features. In this document, the previous place of seeker’s work listed in the reverse order plays the main role.
4. Targeted CV
   Target CV is good for most jobs. Since it is individual in each case, it is always possible to pay attention to certain important moments and to show oneself from the best side.
5. Mini resume
   The mini-resume contains short information about your career. It usually contains information about personal data (name, date of birth, residence), the desired position, desired level of salary, education, work experience, key skills and contact information (phone, mail). The scope of this summary usually ranges from a few lines to 1 page.

How to prepare a covering letter

The covering letter is a small text, the volume of the letter should not exceed half the page, which the applicant sends with the resume by email. As a rule, the letter is not sent by a separate attached file, but like the body of an e-mail.

There is no standard sample of the cover letter, but the main thing is that you answer three main questions in the text: who are you, why you need the company and why you need this company.

A telephone interview has several features, and in order to successfully pass it, it is necessary to be acquainted with them:

1. Interlocutors do not see each other
   The focus on the voice is in the telephone interview. Therefore, it is important to be sure, to follow intonation and dictation.
2. Suddenness
   Call recruiter can catch you at any time. So you need to be always ready for calls from potential employers so that the phone interview takes you unawares.
3. The situation
   If you get a call, but the time for the interview is inappropriate, it's better to tell the other person about the impossibility to continue the conversation. Then ask the employer when you can call back.
4. Ask questions
   During the conversation, you have the right to find out more information about the open position, job responsibilities, the specifics of the company, etc. Do not hesitate to ask questions of the recruiter, show that the conversation is interesting to you.

I hope with this advice you will find a job of your dream. The next step is improving your communication skills, professional and self-development. Good luck!

Kamilla Rottenberg is well-experienced writer and blogger. She enjoys sharing professional advice in her posts at AssignmentsKing.com blog. Also Kamills knows a lot about staff development, job searching and human resources management.