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Resources: Pre-deploymentJump to resources for: Managers | Field Staff In many ways, the period before you deploy to the field is also part of your mission. Managers and staff need to prepare adequately for the challenges of field work. The resources in this section will help you ready yourself or your staff members for a safe and healthy deployment. Resources for managersPost an assignmentIf you're a manager or recruiter at an international humanitarian agency who's looking to attract motivated candidates, post your assignment on Idealist. More than 80,000 nonprofits around the world have already listed themselves on Idealist, and the site receives hundreds of thousands of eager visitors every month. Idealist also has many other useful features for your organization and staff. Learn more here. Recruitment and screeningFar from simply filling the job, humanitarian organizations need to have effective strategies for assessing the skills, personalities, and resiliency levels of potential hires. At the same time, recruiters need to paint an honest portrait of the assignment's demands and dangers. Preparing staff for the fieldOrganizational attention to the psychosocial needs of staff is crucial throughout an assignment. Such support should begin during the pre-deployment phase, whether through the screening of candidates for resiliency, the dissemination of detailed information about the assignment country and its culture, or other practices. Resources for field staffSearch for an assignmentIf you're looking for a job or volunteer position in a humanitarian agency, Idealist has many pointers and is a great place to find an international assignment. This section also has links to other sources listing employment opportunities with humanitarian organizations. You can set up a free personal profile to receive email alerts about opportunities matching your interests and to meet other Idealist users. Learn more here. Is the job right for you?In any job search, finding a good employment match can take time and effort. But given the nature of international humanitarian work, there are concerns above and beyond the normal job satisfaction criteria that you should keep in mind as you search for a position. Preparing yourself for the fieldInternational humanitarian work is very enriching, but with the rewards come challenges. During pre-deployment, you need to undertake a variety of preparations, from getting visas and immunizations to learning about the culture of the place where you'll serve and contemplating how you'll deal with the inherent stress of your assignment. Preparing friends and familyIt's important to let your family and friends know something about your assignment and why you are going, but be prepared for a wide variety of responses. And while this can be one of the most difficult steps in the pre-deployment phase, ultimately, well-informed members of your inner circle can be a great source of support once you're in the field. |