Scholarship / Chevening Scholarship Networking Question - I have grown as a professional [3]

answer for the Networking question from Chevening

Hello guys, I am a Chevening scholarship aspirant for this year and I would really appreciate if you could give some insight into my answer to the Netwroking question. Any help is welcome Thanks!

During my university days as a Masters student of Politics and International Relations, I attended many conferences as well as presented papers across India which gave me a chance to meet a range of scholars and professionals from the social science field. This was my learning towards network building. I understood that network building is an essential step towards building a solid base for professional career.

After completing my Masters' Degree in 2014, I grabbed the very first opportunity that came my way and took my baby steps in the professional career. I started off as a fundraiser with Greenpeace India. This was the first time I got the opportunity to communicate with people from all walks of life which helped me to strengthen my communication. And, the more you communicate, the more you connect. I believed in this motto thoroughly.

It's been around four years that I have been working in the development sector, and it has helped me to garner knowledge and experience and create a network pool of my own. Diversifying my network by growing professionally through changing my job, meeting new people from different fields and participating in conferences has helped me to increase the professional network. Over time, the professional networking site LinkedIn has also proved to be significant in helping me connect to a vast pool of professionals from across the globe.

As a Communications Officer at the Asha Community Health and Development Society, a New Delhi-based organisation, I have had the chance to work with professionals across the world and share knowledge-exchange with donors, supporters, academicians, scholars, authors, journalists and the likes. Furthermore, being able to speak fluently in English, Hindi and Bengali has also provided me the edge to reach out to potential young leaders from different communities.

Presently, I am working as Communications & Media Officer for Digital Empowerment Foundation, another New Delhi-based organisation working towards educating and informing the rural India through digital literacy. My current profile has helped me to closely work with a varied pool of professionals especially across South Asia. As a Chevening scholar, I would like to broaden my network as well as contribute majorly in strengthening the Chevening circle in India.

I would like to conclude by quoting LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, "your network is the people who want to help you and you want to help them, and that's really powerful".

Scholarship / Looking forward to a promising career in development sector - Chevening Career Plan Question [2]

immediate plans upon returning home and longer term career goals

Hello EssayForum community! I am a Chevening Scholarship aspirant for this year. I would really appreciate some valuable suggestions on the below answer. Thanks!

Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals.

The strategic partnership between India and the UK is one of the strongest partnerships around. India is the fastest growing economy in the world, projected to be the third largest economy by 2030 and a major global power. The DFID India reports that, India is an important economic partner for the UK, India invests more in the UK than the rest of the European Union combined wherein the UK is the largest G20 investor in India.

My immediate plan upon returning to the country is to get connected with the Chevening Alumni India. One month within returning, I hope to resume my job as the Project Officer (Communications & Media) at the Digital Empowerment Foundation in New Delhi where I will be able to incorporate the skills and knowledge as well as the practical experience that I have learnt in relation to the development sector.

The social or the development sector in India is no longer a sector which is looked upon as a place for people to do their bit to help marginalized communities. The development sector in the country today is offering immense opportunities for young minds and professional to build a meaningful career. Unlike other sectors, development sector requires a huge amount of manpower coupled with latest technology or innovation and of course funding. The sector also requires a large brigade of young leaders to tackle developmental challenges and issues prevailing in our society.

Since I already have around 4 years of experience, after my Masters' degree, I would initiate to take up more important role like heading a few projects that the present organisation is working on like a project with WhatsApp over curbing fake news, or collaborating with Nokia over creating smart villages and the likes.

In three years' time, I would like to head the communications team at the Red Cross International or Paul Hamlyn Foundation or apply for a position with the United Nations Development Programme or UN Women depending upon the availability of the vacancies at that time. But what I would like to say is that, I would like to be a part of an organisation that brings change in especially rural India at a policy level and I would for sure like to take up the lead role.

I want to grow professionally as well as personally and by the next six to seven years' time, I wish to hone my skills even further by pursuing my PhD in development studies.