NGOabroad
International Careers & Volunteering

Ann McLaughlin MSW brings 25 years counseling experience to help you:
--identify your strengths & talents to build your foundation
  i.e. dig down to your roots &  what excites you to inform the emerging career or enterprise plan.
--clarify your goals & contribution... to establish your launching pad
--discuss if/how your ideal fits reality:
  what the needs are in other countries &  "how the game is played" in international work
--identify how your skills fit internationally or at home
--plot the steps & strategies to reach your goals

Practicalities
--Done by phone or Skype with people all over the world.
--Fee is $50/hr usually paid through Paypal buttons on Apply page.
   This is less than half than what you would pay in the community. Our services are intentionally more frugal & affordable.
--Most Consults are about entering or advancing in international work
   but can also be about starting humanitarian enterprises; organizational consultations or domestic careers.
   We can not help with emotional problems. That is best done with local help.
--If you  want a Consult, state it clearly with your Questionnaire & resume & then we can set up a time.
--A Consult on your Cover Letter & Resume can be the final step to "getting your foot in the door."

Ann: Your extraordinary guidance allowed me to stretch and reach for what I wanted rather than settling for mediocrity.
After two shorts weeks of active job searching I have an interview for a choice position. Thank you!
                                                                                                                                                            H. Geib,
                                                                                                                                                            Atlanta


Physical Therapy/Occupational Rehabilitation Center& Wheelchair Manufacturing Shop

When Dutch came to me he said, "I am 60. I have done wheelchair projects in Rwanda, Afghanistan & Vietnam. I want to devote the rest of my life to wheelchair projects. I love Ghana but I am stuck in putting an enduring project together. Can I schedule a Consult & get resources?" Dutch emailed 2 months later about progress & how NGOabroad helped: "After two trips to Ghana I had still not gotten my contacts and organizations to mesh and work together.  I had hit a wall and needed some new direction.  After consulting with Ann  I was able to think in a new direction and make contacts that made things happen.  Today I expect to have a Physical Therapy/Occupational Rehabilitation Center and Wheelchair Manufacturing Shop in operation before the end of the year.                                                                                                  Dutch Meyer                                                                                                  Seattle, USA "I dream for his mobility &  for the respect, dignity & chance at self sufficiency that mobility brings into his life. I dream all of this because I believe that dream is possible."

NGOabroad's mission?    To help citizens & grassroots organizations do amazing things.
 

From Social-Worker-in-the-Trenches to Realizing Her Dream "Wow, Ann you really help spark my lighter.  Before I had my consultation with you my career dreams were like a Zippo without a flint. Now you help me reignite my personal goals and aspirations.  I am so ready to get my ball rolling and my flame a burning.  Thank you so much for your insight and genuine listening ear.   You have a true gift thank for sharing it with me."                                                                    Cecelia Rich                                                                     Richmond, USA

Considering Career Paths
"Using an impressive store of knowledge, Ann was able to provide an in-depth assessment of my strongest attributes and toughest personality challenges in a short amount of time.  Her suggestions were so original and yet so right-on, that I was surprised I'd never thought of them myself.  After we engaged in the Career Consultation, I was thinking outside the box I'd been in; I feel much more confident about my abilities to navigate the possibilities before me. Thank you Ann!"

                                                                                                                                                Amanda Yoder
                                                                                                                                            Philadelphia, USA
 

Entering International Development  "If you are looking for new perspectives in your job search, Ann is the one to talk with.  She a natural at transforming an overwhelming situation into a manageable one."                                                                                    Danielle Prince                                                                                    Seattle, USA    "Ann definitely knows her stuff. She took the time to understand my needs and my passion. She lays out what will work and what won't. The one hour dialogue with her was worth every dollar I spent. I now feel I have a concrete career path to pursue and I do not feel so limited in my options anymore. I can't believe it! things are so much clearer now. I know exactly what to do to get to the next level. This Consult is definitely a must if you're job searching or changing careers".                                                                                        Esther Ndegwa                                                                                        Nairobi, Kenya

Executive Director. Fundraising. Grant Writing
“I am overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of materials you have sent me and your ability to help someone take leaps of faith and to embark on a new direction. We all say the same thing in our testimonial: that you have a gift for understanding what each of us is searching for." 

My first contact with Ann was very positive. I felt that she heard who I was and what I wanted and didn’t tell me to be realistic or to change myself to fit what was available. My first few listings arrived with copious notes in red with Ann’s suggestions and comments about each job, the inside skinny, the culture and how best to present myself. Since the first listing she sent had a deadline just a few days away, Ann also provided a line-by-line critique of my resume and cover letter. I have no illusions about working abroad. It’s very competitive. But with Ann, I have a fighting chance."

                                                                                                                                     Helen Gundlach
                                                                                                                                     Portland, OR, USA

Empowerment of Women "I have been searching endlessly for a website that provides honest (tough-love) advice for people who want to gain work and volunteer experience abroad that matches their personal interests, skills & values.  The fact that my Career Consult was with a real person who had carefully read my questionnaire answers and resume left me feeling excited to carry on a conversation about my future professional pursuits with someone who has clearly "been there" and understands the ways international humanitarian employment operates.  I am wary of one-size-fits-all volunteer programs, and my consultation with Ann served as a  powerful reinforcement of how vital it is to thoughtfully construct a personal game-plan."                                                                                                                                                               Sarah Gold                                                                                   Stuttgart, Germany

c. Diane Loviglio

I Have a Dream: The Rectification of Justice In our intake, I asked Brashawna what she wanted to do. " I want to work on the rectification of justice in Spanish speaking countries and then come home and work on it in Atlanta."  Overcoming adversity, Brashawna went on to Law School. "I must say, I've never encountered anyone so determined to help me achieve my life long goals. My relationship with Ann lasted for a little over a year. At first I was unsure of what exactly I was hoping to achieve in getting involved. Ann made sure I was ready and willing before starting the process. She was very resourceful in providing programs and countries that suited my interests. She provided me with a wealth of information. I never knew so many opportunities existed that were so perfect for me. Now I am able to pursue my dreams."                                                                                      Brashawna Funderburg                                                                                      Atlanta, USA

Attorney

                                                                                                                                                   Z.R.
                                                                                                                                          New York City, USA 

 

Writer
"NGOabroad is a fantastic service for anyone wanting to work internationally, be it paid or volunteer work. Before I came across the website my ideas were pretty vague. I wanted to be of service to people somewhere in the world but I didn't really know the best way to go about it. I was also operating on a lot of assumptions about the places I did and didn't want to go, about what kinds of opportunities were open to me. I was very impressed by Ann, her honest optimism  (no sugarcoating but no dire warnings) and her curiosity about me and my goals are as well as her obvious dedication. We discussed at length my interests and skills, where and what areas I was interested in pursuing and what my options were- and all this before she drew up my list (129 pages worth of opportunities). Her service enabled me (and required me) to identify clearly what I wanted; she also offered me some suggestions I hadn't considered before. Her insight into and knowledge of the world and non-profit organizations is invaluable. I now have a much clearer idea of what opportunities are out there for me (more in number and variety than I had thought), and just as important, I have a real understanding of where I can best contribute my skills and energies towards truly helping others in this world.  I consider the service a bargain. I feel vastly more prepared and informed - and very grateful."
                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                            Simone Pfeiffer
                                                                                                                                           Montreal, Canada