Moon Gurung is the Human Resource Analyst, Head of HR Unit at the United Nations Development Programme in Nepal. Having been involved in Human Resource in the development sector over a decade, in this interview with the Post’s Alisha Sijapati, Gurung shares her experiences working in an international organisation and about the pushes and pulls of this much sought after sector. Excerpts:

What do you think are some of the reasons that young professionals are drawn to the development sector?

Many young professionals come with good education degrees from abroad and Nepal these days. One of the main purposes for their interest in the development sector is social causes. These young professionals bring  their various experiences, which is an advantage. In the development sector what happens is: you get to go into the field and work with and for the community—that, perhaps, isn’t as accessible in other careers. Also, people join this sector because they are offered competitive pay packages and staff wellbeing incentives, and the working environment is also extremely fulfilling.

How challenging or fulfilling is it when compared to other sectors like business/corporate sectors?

As you know, UN is a not-for-profit organisation. Whereas, in business/corporate sector things are different—you are automatically geared towards profit. In the development sector, however, it takes time to see things develop—sometimes it may take years. So, employees working at the UN believe that whatever they are doing is a contribution to help someone—to bring the change in the life of the people. And that is our fulfilment.

That being said, the work is not short of challenging moments. We have to work in difficult and remote areas and make it our home and office for days or even months. This is very tough.

What are the prime qualities you look for in a candidate (other than qualifications) applying to your organisation?

In an average we get over 500 applicants for most of our job posting we list and out of that we only choose 10 -15 for the further recruitment process. You are well aware that the sector is highly competitive. Obviously, the basic education requirement is mandatory but other than that what attracts us to the candidates are their learning agility and their experience in this sector. For instance, we would definitely prefer applicants who have worked outside Kathmandu in different districts and have varied experience in different offices. Besides that, the attitude of the person is crucial, as it is more than likely that the candidate will be working with different groups of people and on different things. You might be a very smart person who can do your work alone, but in the development sector being able to communicate and work with a diverse group of people is absolutely essential.

As you said, communication is crucial in all fields of work, more so in the development sector. What advice do you have for others on effective communication in an organisation?

Communication indeed is very important in any organisation whether it is in the development or the private sector. Organisations that have open and transparent communication are organisations that are more organised and effective.

The other key is simplicity in communication. All communication should be simple and clear, this saves not just a lot of time but also any chances of miscommunication. It is also necessary to cross check from time to time if the message has been understood in the same manner across all levels.

What advice do you have for those who are planning on starting careers in the development sector?

Firstly, you need to choose your subjects well while you are studying to become a development professional. It is also well advised that you develop the learning agility and continue learning throughout your career. In this sector, it helps if you are well travelled, have basic knowledge of the social issues but more importantly, you need to be passionate about contributing to the society and the world at large. If you work diligently, with that passion at heart, the development sector is full of opportunities and possibilities.