You have certainly heard of Doctors Without Borders, which is an organization that provides health care in a humanitarian way in countries with complicated situations or refugees.
Composed of health professionals, including: surgeon, anesthesiologist, gynecologist, nurse, pediatrician, obstetric nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, among others. Doctors without Borders works in more than 60 countries such as Angola, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, among others.
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Working at Médecins Sans Frontières is a cause and the motivation is to help people in risky situations. There is remuneration for these professionals, but the salaries are not that attractive, and the passion for the humanitarian cause is what makes professionals follow this path that is in fact transformative.
In 2012 alone, more than 34 people worked on the organization's projects in 72 countries. If you are interested or have questions, it's good to talk or meet someone who has already participated to tell you about this experience. But if your desire pulsates to be part of this team, first reflect on how you react to risky situations and if you feel psychologically prepared to help. And of course, a good conversation to ask questions also helps.
How to apply?
You can work either in the field outside the country or in an office in España. Working at Doctors Without Borders is to build a career in the humanization of people, that is, working as a team.
The steps of a selection
In addition to curriculum analysis, there are training and preparation steps. Preparation is not only professional but also psychological. The candidate does not choose the country he will stay in, nor does he often know the reality that the region is in.
Dealing with situations of conflict, death, disease, hunger will often be common. And for that you need to be psychologically prepared to actually help many people in risky situations.
Check out some of the selection steps and if you have any questions, visit the Doctors Without Borders website:
- Resume analysis: it is done in English or French accompanied by a motivation letter in Portuguese;
- Pre-interview: If approved, a pre-interview will be carried out by telephone, where at the moment the candidate will also speak the chosen foreign language;
- Face-to-face activity: it is a one-day recruitment process where the candidate interested in being part of Doctors Without Borders has an informational meeting, individual interview and also a foreign language test that takes place in Rio de Janeiro;
- Waiting period: It all depends on the position you applied for. The average wait for candidates is nine months, but remembering that it can vary.
Remarks: travel and accommodation costs during the selection phase are borne by the candidate.
Another way to work on humanitarian aid projects and find out about all available vacancies, following the selections, is the Médecins Sans Frontières LinkedIn page. There, you will learn about the opportunities offered either in the field or in the Rio de Janeiro office. And you can also answer all your questions and information about how to work in this humanitarian network. Good luck!
• Text written by Angelica Weise from the Eu Sem Fronteiras Team
