If you are exploring a career in the peacebuilding and conflict resolution areas, below are some readings and resources to explore. If you are interested in one-on-one assistance, contact me regarding career coaching.
- If you are looking for work in the peace and conflict, conflict resolution, conflict management, or peacebuilding fields join the Peace and Collaborative Development Network. Available Resource Guides are particularly helpful for career development, particularly for those with graduate degrees.
- For political, activist and government jobs, subscribe to Daybook.
- Subscribe to Smartbrief. It’s a good way to stay up to date on career development issues. You can receive specific newsletters on various fields.
- My book, Peace Jobs: A Student’s Guide to Starting a Career Working for Peace , is designed for younger audiences, particularly late high school and early college. But, it can also be useful for older audiences. In Appendix C, I have listed various internet sites that can be useful in looking for work in the peacebuilding and conflict-related
fields. You can purchase the book here. - For college students, my article published in 2011 Starting a Career Working for Peace is helpful.
- An article that is a good overview for those looking to work in the field, particularly, mediation, is Looking Into Conflict Resolution’s Crystal Ball: How Will People Build Futures in the Our Field?, Spring 2015, Dispute Resolution Magazine
- Careers In Psychology.org has a page devoted to considering conflict-related careers: Conflict Resolution Careers.
- The summer 2015 edition of ACResolution looks at the future of the conflict resolution field. Several articles focus on career issues.
- The December 2018 edition of ACResolution is on careers. A good resource for newbies and more senior folks.
- Take Richard Leider’s Napkin Test
- This list published by USIP of international organizations should be a starting point for young professionals looking for work.
- If you are DC based, consider signing up for Linktank – you will daily or weekly get a listing of networking events and career education sessions in specific policy and international areas.
- Here is a good interview prep checklist from the Washington Post, 11/16/17: WP 11:26:17 Your Interview-Prep Checklist
- This guide to organizations that are “beyond” or “without” borders developed by PCDN is a useful source of groups working for social and peacebuilding change.
- Looking for an NGO job? Check out this list of the major NGOs and their jobs sites.
- Are you a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer? Take a look at this guide to looking for work.
- Looking for a federal job? Read this: 10 Tips for Finding a Job on USAJobs.
- Check out the ADR as First Career video blog
- The Kroc School at the University of San Diego recently developed a useful skymap.
- And finally, check out my career video series on YouTube.
I have also created a page of articles I have written on career development. Check it out!
Below are some additional readings and resources that relate to specific sub-disciplines:
Mediation (particularly, domestic applications)
- Join Mediate.com
- So, You Want to be a Mediator on Mediate.com
- Who Wants to be a Mediator?, Spring 2010, Dispute Resolution Magazine
Peacebuilding and international conflict work
- Graduate Education and Professional Practice in International Peace and Conflict, August 2010, U.S. Institute of Peace. This piece is a critique of graduate education as to relates to the failure to provide opportunities in international peace and conflict
- Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) has a career guide on its website that looks at specific sectors
- The guide Making Global Impact: Guide to International Jobs in Government is helpful in conflict U.S. government jobs including in the State Department, Peace Corps, and USAID
- Foreign Affairs Magazine Career Center
Updated 1/16/2020
David J. Smith Consulting, LLC 