3 answers
Kayleigh
Student
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
2
Questions
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What separates someone who is ‘good’ in this field from someone who is truly exceptional?
I'm currently a High School senior, who graduates in less than a month and I’m particularly interested in international and global affairs as well as environmental studies. At this point, I don’t have formal experience in either field, but I’ve developed a strong interest through schoolwork and my growing curiosity about global issues like climate change, sustainability, and how countries work together to solve environmental challenges.
As I start thinking more seriously about my future, I’m trying to understand what these fields actually look like in practice and what it takes to succeed in them long-term.
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3 answers
Harold Kocken
Consultant
5
Answers
Wilmington, North Carolina
Updated
Harold’s Answer
Congratulations on graduating high school, Kayleigh! This is an exciting time full of new possibilities. Choosing your path can be challenging, but remember, finding a job that energizes you can lead to success. Even if you're good at something, it might not be right if it drains you. While we all do things we don't enjoy sometimes, focusing on what truly excites you is important. Consider if you love research more than policy development, or if working with people from different countries excites you, even if it’s sometimes challenging. Think about both the type of work you enjoy and the field you're interested in to find the best fit for you.
Martha D. Kramer
Corporate Training and Communications
82
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Martha D.’s Answer
Hi, Kayleigh, and congratulations on reaching this exciting juncture in your life. Both areas -- international affairs and environmental policy -- are important to our future and offer varied opportunities. These fulfilling roles are primarily in the non-profit sector and government, but can also be found in the private sector. Please see the two links below for further detail.
I would put key factors for long-term success in three categories - policy knowledge, creativity, and people knowledge. By policy knowledge, I mean understanding the issues thoroughly, including the politics and science involved to increase both your credibility and the productivity of your discussions. Creativity is important to see potential solutions to scientific and/or policy problems that others don't see. By people knowledge, I mean having tact and negotiation skills so you could get along with many types of people and understand their perspectives, which will make negotiations go better.
I hope this helps and wish you good luck!
George Washington University - https://elliott.gwu.edu/international-affairs-jobs-education-requirements
Environmental Science - https://www.environmentalscience.org/careers/environmental-policy-and-planning#
I would put key factors for long-term success in three categories - policy knowledge, creativity, and people knowledge. By policy knowledge, I mean understanding the issues thoroughly, including the politics and science involved to increase both your credibility and the productivity of your discussions. Creativity is important to see potential solutions to scientific and/or policy problems that others don't see. By people knowledge, I mean having tact and negotiation skills so you could get along with many types of people and understand their perspectives, which will make negotiations go better.
I hope this helps and wish you good luck!
Martha D. recommends the following next steps:
Hector Ortiz
Technology Strategy Business Consultant
7
Answers
Plano, Texas
Updated
Hector’s Answer
Hi Kayleigh,
It's completely normal not to have "formal experience" yet. Here are some helpful resources to explore:
- UN Job Profiles (UN Careers): These provide clear descriptions of typical responsibilities and skills in policy, program, research, and communications roles.
- IPCC "Summary for Policymakers" (AR6): This is a great example of how research is turned into policy language.
- ReliefWeb Jobs: Check out current NGO and international organization postings to see what day-to-day tasks and requirements involve.
Consider these real-world roles you might explore:
- Policy work: This involves tracking laws, writing briefs, and supporting team decisions.
- Program/project work: You could coordinate climate or sustainability initiatives and measure their results.
- Research/analysis: This role involves reading, gathering data, and turning it into insights.
- Advocacy/communications: You'll translate global issues into stories people can understand.
Don't worry about not having experience right now. I encourage you to find a non-profit that interests you and apply for an internship. Organizations value proactive junior professionals who are eager to learn and collaborate.
Best,
Hector Ortiz
It's completely normal not to have "formal experience" yet. Here are some helpful resources to explore:
- UN Job Profiles (UN Careers): These provide clear descriptions of typical responsibilities and skills in policy, program, research, and communications roles.
- IPCC "Summary for Policymakers" (AR6): This is a great example of how research is turned into policy language.
- ReliefWeb Jobs: Check out current NGO and international organization postings to see what day-to-day tasks and requirements involve.
Consider these real-world roles you might explore:
- Policy work: This involves tracking laws, writing briefs, and supporting team decisions.
- Program/project work: You could coordinate climate or sustainability initiatives and measure their results.
- Research/analysis: This role involves reading, gathering data, and turning it into insights.
- Advocacy/communications: You'll translate global issues into stories people can understand.
Don't worry about not having experience right now. I encourage you to find a non-profit that interests you and apply for an internship. Organizations value proactive junior professionals who are eager to learn and collaborate.
Best,
Hector Ortiz