So you want to intern/work in Ethiopia?

STOP telling yourself it is impossible to get an internship or a job in Ethiopia. You will never know until you try. And at the end of the day just like everything in life, all it takes is your persistence and patience... a LOOOT of it.

My office during my summer '09 internship

Here are five simple tips to help you secure that job or internship back home. 

1. Know What You Want to Do

  As much as it makes sense in your head, missing your family back home or needing a paid vacation is not a valid reason to look for an internship or a job in Ethiopia. The job/internship vacancies back home require as much; sometimes even more experience and/or adequate knowledge in the required field as any other country. Along with the required skill, be sure to have a goal to accomplish. Trust me, it is soooo hard to be disciplined once you land back home. Fighting a temptation to spend time with your family or to sneak out and head to Sabana lodge instead of sitting in the office would be the hardest battle of your life unless you have a clearly defined mission. 

Always remember Companies/Organizations are spending a lot of money to accommodate you and the last thing you want to do is leave a bad taste in their mouth and block what could have been a great opportunity for the younger generation to come after you. 

2. Google is Your Best Friend

Our generation is so lucky as all the information we need is literally at our finger tips. If you are a student, you hardly find schools out there who carry a study abroad or internship program in Africa, let alone Ethiopia. So your school's career center or International studies office might not be your best bet while in search of internships in Ethiopia. I say google... gooogle... google... till your fingers fall off. Don't get discouraged if your search doesn't return with what you are looking for. I remember when I was googling for 'Chemical Engineering internships in Ethiopia', absolutely nothing came up... then I tried in Africa hoping I would have a better chance. Again, Nothing. I then tried internships in Ethiopia...Nada! I was almost at the verge of giving up when I came across a blog diary by a girl named Sarah about her internship experience in Ethiopia. The NGO she worked for distributed clean fuel for refugees... Jackpot! The moral of the story is do NOT expect to come across an internship or job ad listed specifically for your field. Pay attention to your search results. It might be somewhere hidden say... in a blog post. 

In addition to google, visit http://www.ezega.com/Jobs/index.aspx and UNjobs.org for jobs and internship listings. 

3. Do Not Expect to Get a Quick Response 

If you have ever visited the websites of most of the NGOs or companies with offices in Ethiopia , they don't have a link to an  internship or career opportunities. But you know what they have? Contact Us! You don't need more than that anyways. Try emailing them stating your interest and asking if they have internships or job openings available. If the email address is in Ethiopia, do not expect to get a response soon. With a constant power outage and limited access to internet (and of course pure negligence from the person in charge of responding to you too), you probably don't hear back from them. Send a follow up/reminder  email/emails until someone replies back. Never give up on your first try!

 Meanwhile, contact the office abroad if they are international companies. That is actually your best bet to secure your job or internship. I had to call the project director here in US three times before he called me back at 10pm in the evening. Don't get discouraged if you don't hear back. Stay positive. 

4. Resume... Resume... Resume

I can't stress enough on the importance of a well written resume. Your resume says all about your skills before you get a chance to meet or talk with your potential employer. Make sure you stay on top of it. Update and have it reviewed continuously. Your resume must highlight the skills that pertain to the particular job or internship you are applying to. Stop by your local career service offices or school's career center and have them examine it for you. In addition to your resume, employers rely on your recommendation letters or references. Be sure whoever you list as a reference or will be writing you the recommendation letter is able to discuss your skills effectively. 

5. Interview and Follow-up E-mails

Most likely the interview is going to be over the phone (or sometimes in person).  Research on what to and not to do when interviewing for jobs prior to doing your interview. If you have the access, attend mock interview sessions.You should be able to express yourself eloquently and let them understand about your ambitions. Stating that this is not just an internship or a job but a chance to give back will add an emotional value to it. Keep it 100% professional. 

Do Not forget to send a thank you email after your interview. Wait a couple of weeks and send a follow up email if you don't hear back from them. 

Well, hope this helps. More tips on the subject coming soon. Ever worked or interned in Ethiopia? How did you get the opportunity? Share your experience!