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Relearning Joy Through Travel: How a Job Posting Reminded Me Why I Fell in Love With Exploring the World
The other week, a friend shared a job posting with me from an upscale luxury travel company. My first reaction surprised me: This actually looks fun. I don’t think I’ve felt that spark since applying for my very first job at USAID—back when the idea of traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, and helping shape…
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Networking in a Changing Job Market: Why Who You Know Still Shapes Your Career
Networking has always been part of how careers move forward, but stepping into the professional world again—outside the government—has made me realize just how brutally true it is: it’s often who you know, not just what you know, that opens doors. The days when DEIA initiatives kept hiring conversations somewhat balanced feel like they’re on…
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Relearning Confidence — Imposter Syndrome Outside of Government
For most of my career at USAID, I lived by one quiet motto: fake it till you make it. And for a long time, it worked. Not because I was pretending to be qualified, but because I trusted myself to learn fast, adapt quickly, and build the right relationships to fill in any gaps. I…
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The Emotional Math of Job Searching at Five Months Unemployed
Finding a job in this economy feels like its own full-time work—except it doesn’t come with a paycheck, benefits, or any clear sense of progress. After nearly five months of unemployment, I’m realizing how emotionally draining a prolonged job search can be. Even after narrowing my focus to social impact jobs, mission-driven organizations, and public…
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From Searching Alone to Finding My Fit: On letting go, leaning in, and redefining what alignment means
I’ve always been independent—someone who tries to figure things out on my own and only reaches out for help as a last resort. But this year has knocked that approach sideways. Since January, the international development field has essentially disappeared, and I’ve been left wondering: where do my skills even fit in the private sector?…
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From the Field to the Café: Job Applications Over Free Lattes
Monday afternoons used to feel heavy, but lately they’ve turned into something I actually look forward to. During baseball season, the Capital One Café gives everyone a free coffee on Mondays—and if you’ve got a Capital One card, it’s half price the rest of the time. That little perk has become the highlight of my…
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Bureaucrat to Baby Steps 