.:Resource Guides:Human Rights-Questions to Ask Myself.
Human Rights
What Questions Do I Need to Ask Myself?
The ability to reflect and gather self-knowledge is useful no matter where we are in our life-long learning or search for meaningful work. Some helpful questions to ask yourself as you explore this field are:
1.
What am I interested in?
As we've seen, the world of human rights work is vast and varied. There are thousands of organizations working on countless issues in multiple ways and settings. It can be a little overwhelming! You need to determine which one/s are the most compelling to you
and offer the best (or better) fit given your skills and experience.
2.
How much of my life can I devote to trying to enter this field?
If you are without a related graduate degree and are attempting to break into this field using your volunteer time, you may need to stick with it for an extended time. Not being paid for 6-12 months can be challenging, especially if you need to make ends meet
working other jobs. The answer to these questions will be different for each individual. Knowing how long you can devote to this search before you enter the field can help you decide in advance what options you are willing to pursue.
3.
Do I care enough about the complexities of these issues to go back to graduate school?
Though the field is diverse, many advocates do get some form of graduate degree after they have been in it for a while. Lack of a specialty degree in this field can affect your expertise, pay and position. Gaining experience in the field can help you determine
which degree program makes sense for you. If you are not inclined to go to graduate school, search out those organizations or approaches that do not emphasize advanced study. As more creative and grassroots responses to human rights abuses form, reliance on
advanced degrees is receding.
4.
Are you willing to live or travel abroad?
Many international groups require living or traveling abroad. Yes, it sounds exciting, but can be a challenging life for several years. Folks who have done it talk about being disconnected from any one community. Just when they get settled back into their US
home --- they have to go overseas again. Fatigue is another common complaint. Advocates who travel for their jobs often lose sleep as they travel, are subject to jet-lag and use a great deal of energy switching between cultures and languages. Positions that
require heavy travel can make it hard to incorporate personal activities that lend balance to one's life such as exercising, taking a course, playing a musical instrument or being in a relationship.
