From Melinda Marcus, intern with Handshake 2.0:

Whenever I tell anyone that I am at college getting an undergraduate business degree, the question that always follows is "So, what do you want to do with that?"

What a loaded question! An almost better question would be, what don't I want to do with my degree?

As a 20-year-old student, I have quite a few life goals and desires. When I was first asked this year about what I want to do with my life, I had to sit down and really think about it!

Some things I love most are: people, service, and organization. With that in mind, I set off on a quest to find my ideal job. In my previous post, NCTC's Answer is Passion, Mr. Cory Donovan encouraged me to find out what it takes to get that ideal job. 

An organization that I have always admired is World Vision. World Vision is a faith-based organization that  works with children and families all over the world in hopes of "tackling the causes and poverty and hunger." As I searched through the requirements for jobs and internships at World Vision, I noticed a few things I currently lack:
- A Master's Degree (or progression towards one) 
- Knowledge of a second language
- Experience living outside the country (U.S.)
- 8 years working experience in the field

Now that is a lot of experience!

Feeling a little overwhelmed by the above list of qualifications for World Vision, I also checked out the job postings for another organization I respect called International Justice Mission (IJM). IJM is also a faith-based organization whose goal is justice for "victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression."

In the posting I found my ideal Job: Regional Director of Operations in Latin America.This job sounds amazing.  It is based in the States, with time spent abroad.  The position entails organizing people and resources to best  benefit those who need it most.  

However, here is the list of qualifications for the job:
- A Bachelor's Degree (or higher)
- Second language preferred
- 3-5 years experience in the business field
- Time spent in the nation of interest and in the developing world
- Master's degree for the upper management positions

So after reading all this, I am a little disheartened.  I was not planning to earn an MBA, become fluent in a second language, or even spend 5 years in the business field.

The lesson learned here is experience. To get one of these jobs, I need experience in the field and in foreign countries.The next questions is then "Where do i start...?"

One place I have started is with a Virginia Tech Club called Nicaraguan Orphan Fund Club. Each spring break over 200 college kids from all over Virginia spend a week in Managua with Orphan-Network doing humanitarian aid work as well as being exposed to a third world culture. I am Vice President of Trip Planning of the Virginia Tech club.

You can follow the entire Defining the Local Social Entrepreneur series by Melinda Marcus.