This document summarizes a presentation by Dr. Craig Zelizer on making a living while pursuing social change work. Some key points include: gaining practical field experience is very important for employers; developing cross-sectoral and technical skills in addition to conflict resolution expertise improves job prospects; networking, developing mentors, and gaining international experience are highly recommended; and social change careers exist across many sectors including nonprofit, private, government, education, and more. Recommendations are provided for resumes, interviews, researching salaries, and identifying resources for social change career opportunities.

1. After the Rotary Peace Fellowship: the Job Search
Presented by Dr. Craig Zelizer
Hosted by Rotary Peace Centers
7 May 2014

2. Meet our panelist
Dr. Craig Zelizer, Associate
Director of the Conflict
Resolution Program at
Georgetown University; co-
founder and senior partner in the
Alliance for Conflict
Transformation; founder of Peace
and Collaborative Development
Network.

3. How to Make a Living and Change the World
Dr. Craig Zelizer
czelizer@internationalpeaceandconflict.org
http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org
7 May 2014
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

4. True or False
1. The average job opening today receives over 50 applications
2. It is possible to make a living and affect social change.
3. Having a graduate degree is a key qualification to help advance one’s
career.
4. Expat salaries are usually higher than what locals get paid.
5. Many people in today’s generation will have more than one career.
6. It is possible to create your own job.
7. Social Change work always has a positive impact on societies.
8. The average civil war costs 10 billion dollars
9. The global cost of violence is almost 1 trillion dollars.
10. Corporate Social Responsibility can contribute to peace.
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

5. Universities’ Top 5 KSAs
– Theories of Causes, Sources
& Dynamics of Conflict &
Research Skills
– Theories of Conflict Analysis
& Resolution
– Country/Region Specific
KSAs, Multicultural Skills
– Political Sector - Human
Rights, Democracy and
Governance
– Field Experience -
Internships (domestic)
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use
TOP KSAs
Employers’ Top 5 KSAs
– Field Experience - Work
Abroad, Internships Abroad
– Program Management - Planning
& Design, Monitoring &
Evaluation, Budgeting, Writing
Skills
– Multicultural Skills
– Sector-
specific, practical, technical
expertise
– Cross-Cutting Issues – Civil
Society, Gender, Security
(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate
Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict
http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-
practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

6. • Work experience is the most valuable asset. Students
need ‘real world’ practical experience.
• Academic Expertise is important, but employers
stress value of general project management skills and
cross-cultural competencies.
• Many conflict related positions involve cross-sectoral
work in which conflict skills are integrated into other
sectors.
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use
Summary of Findings
(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and
Conflict. http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

7. Recommendations for Students
• Develop a Cross-Sectoral Expertise
• Get Practical Experience
• Network, Network, Network
• Find a Mentor
• Learn or Brush up on Another Language
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use
(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and
Conflict. http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

8. © 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use
Recommendations for Students
• Stay Informed on Trends in the Field
• Develop a Needed Expertise
• Be Realistic of Benefits and Challenges of Working in the
Field
• Be Creative
• Blog, Tweet, Blog, Tweet
• Learn New Media Skills
(Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and
Conflict. http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict)

9. • Peacebuilding
• Humanitarian Relief
• Social
Entrepreneurship
• Corporate Social
Responsibility
• Social Media
• Communications
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use
Key Social Change Areas
• Community
Organizing
• Politics
• Social Work
• Education
• Business
• What are other Areas?

10. Total Spending on Conflict, Peace and Security
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

11. Types of Resumes
• Chronological: List education/experience in
reverse chronological order (most recent to
past).
• Functional: Group experience by particular
skills areas and then list work history.
• Combination: Some people combine these.
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

12. Resume and Cover Letter Tips
• Use Statement of Qualifications
• Qualifications Summary: At the top of your resume put a short
qualifications statement that highlights your experience relevant to
the position. Make sure this is relatively short (no more than a
paragraph or two), focus on relevant experience, put in buzzwords
relevant to the employer, etc.
– Example: Conflict Resolution Practitioner with over five years
experience conducting mediation, training and facilitation in the US
and Latin America. Trained over 500 people in basic mediation
techniques in over 10 countries. Specialization includes: youth and
conflict, community-based processes. VA certified mediator and
fluent in English and Spanish.
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

13. Resume and Cover Letter Tips
– Quantify Language: Whenever possible (and when
it is to your benefit) be concrete in what your
responsibilties were abd what you accomplished in
your previous positions.
– Example: Worked at the XYZ Conflict Resolution
Organization, managed budget and conducted training.
– Reframe to: Worked at the XYZ Conflict Resolution
Organization, organized and managed a $400,000 project.
Successfully wrote grant proposals totalling over $50,000 from
X source. Conducted over 20 trainings in basic conflict
resolution techniques with high school students and
teachers, reaching over 500 people
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

14. – Tailor: Ensure you tailor your cover letter (and
possibly resume) to the skills/knowledge employers
identify and the mission of the org. Tell a compelling
story of why your experience qualifies you to work for
this amazing org
– In the cover letter highlight a few key things that show
your skills (don’t cover your entire career history)
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use
Resume and Cover Letter Tips

15. I got an interview Now What?
• Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
• Ask friends/network for thoughts
• Research and understand the org’s needs
• Decide if the org meets your ethics
• Demonstrate your skills
• Practice
• Prepare Questions
• Understand the Process
• Follow up
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

16. Tips for Salary
• Research (networks, glassdoor.com, friends)
• Ask around what is a salary
• Don’t undersell yourself
• Be prepared to negotiate
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

17. Summary of Salary Ranges (based on 2005 ACT report)
Type
of Job
Level Entry Mid-Level Advanced
Nonprofit $24,000-
$32,000
$35,000-
$50,000
$55,000-up
Business ?? ?? ??
Consulting/Fo
r-Profit
$30,000-
$40,000
$45,000-
$70,000
$70,000-
$110,000
Government $30,000-
$40,000
$40,000-
$65,000
$65,000-
$110,000
Education $35,000 $45,000 $60,000-+
Self-
Employed
?? ?? ??
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

18. Resources for Social Change Careers
• http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org
• www.idealist.org
• www.developmentex.com
• www.reliefweb.int
• www.interaction.org
• www.indeed.org
• http://ashoka.org
• www.fpa.org/jobs
• http://jobs.omidyar.com
• www.chronicle.com
• http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

19. Extra Reading
• Zelizer, C. 2013 (ed). Integrated Peacebuilding. Innovative
Approaches to Transforming Conflict
http://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Peacebuilding-Innovative-
Approaches-Transforming/dp/081334509X
• Zelizer, C. & Johnston, L. (2005). Skills, Networks and Knowledge:
Developing a Career in International Peace and Conflict Resolution
http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/profiles/blogs/allian
ce-for-conflict#.UhJBqLz74Tg
• Carstarphen, N., Zelizer, C., Harris, R. & Smith, D. (2010). Graduate
Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and
Conflict
http://www.usip.org/publications/graduate-education-and-
professional-practice-in-international-peace-and-conflict
• Galinsky, L. & Nuxoll, K (2011). Work on Purpose
http://www.echoinggreen.org/work-on-purpose
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

20. Possible Scholarship Options
• Rotary Foundation Peace Scholars – www.rotary.org
• International Institute for Education www.iie.org
• Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships, www.pdsoros.org
• Echoing Green – Fellowships for Social Entrepreneurs –
http://www.echoinggreen.org
• International Studies Association Fellowship List -
http://www.isanet.org/blog/fellowships/
• ProFellow – http://profellow.com
• PCDN Scholarship list – http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org
© 2014 PCDN & Craig Zelizer, Permission
is Granted for Educational Use

21. Thank you!
Register for upcoming webinars and
access recordings of past webinars at
www.rotary.org/webinars