As the international development profession faces mass layoffs and the gutting of the sector, professionals within the field need to adapt their skills and expertise to new opportunities and career paths. Nearly every single member of the U.S. international development community has already been - or will soon be - forced to seek new employment opportunities. These talented, dedicated professionals require a comprehensive array of resources to find new jobs in new fields. 

In response, Pivot with Purpose, an initiative of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, has been created by – and for – international development professionals to offer resources to guide them through career transition. 

Georgetown collaborated with the AidTA Project to design Pivot with Purpose, which will offer  a Seminar Series running from June - September 2025 on best practices for job searching and pivoting to a new career. Soon, the program will be expanded to offer career advising sessions with industry experts and reciprocity rings, and a knowledge and resource center to connect participants with jobs, tools, and support.

An array of additional resources for your career transition journey are available on the OneAid Community Career page.  You can find information on specific topics at the following links:

Career coaching to guide people through a difficult transition:

• Grounded Idealist - free coaching services for feds

• NCDA Pro Bono Career Service Providers - National Career Development Association (NCDA)  List of Credentialed Coaches providing Pro-bono Support 

Peer support groups to provide space for processing and sharing strategies for the pivot:

• USAID Alumni Association - Fosters collegial networks of former USAID employees 

• American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) - Union and professional association that advocates for and supports active and retired Foreign Service members.

Financial planning to ensure that staff are equipped to manage their personal and professional futures:

• Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund - Information on loans, educational assistance, and more. 

• Investor.gov - Free financial calculators and planning tools.