Help - Former USAID contractor -- zero interviews in a year

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure that these skills are as transferable as some people are claiming. For example, being in charge of large teams or very large budgets really isn’t the same in public and private industry since in private industry there is real accountability and if your team isn’t performing or you are deemed to be wasting money then you’re gone. Maybe these days things are closer these days, since someone is looking at budgets and delivered value, but that certainly hasn’t been the case historically.

And I think it’s safe to say that the days of the US funding the entire world are over. We are literally going into debt each year to do it, which is insane. We simply cannot afford to do it. These orgs will never be what they were.

I would suggest retraining into other industries like medical as PPs have mentioned.

[Anonymous]

We are actually going into debt because of bombing Iran. USAID budget was less than 1% of the federal budget and in return it laid in dividends.

[Anonymous]

I’ve worked in private sector and USAID and anyone that’s saying there’s no accountability really has no clue. I dare say private sector waste was infinitely greater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would help OP instead of rubbing it in. Would be nice if DCUMers could come through for someone a lot like all of us. There but for God go I…and so forth.

I like the healthcare retraining idea for something practical. Could he do college consulting or SAT prep? Pays beaucoup bucks in this area. I paid something like $200 an hour before I realized the tutor didn’t know much more than what I could teach my DD. What about getting his teaching certification?

Isn’t OP DH like 55? Retraining for health care at that age and getting hired at almost 60? I’m not sure it’s a viable plan.

I know a lady who is working as RN in her high 80s.

Retraining would get him more money than just working at target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would help OP instead of rubbing it in. Would be nice if DCUMers could come through for someone a lot like all of us. There but for God go I…and so forth.

I like the healthcare retraining idea for something practical. Could he do college consulting or SAT prep? Pays beaucoup bucks in this area. I paid something like $200 an hour before I realized the tutor didn’t know much more than what I could teach my DD. What about getting his teaching certification?

Isn’t OP DH like 55? Retraining for health care at that age and getting hired at almost 60? I’m not sure it’s a viable plan.

I know a lady who is working as RN in her high 80s.

Retraining would get him more money than just working at target.

Wow, having to work until your 80s? Kind of casts shade on the nursing profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are actually going into debt because of bombing Iran. USAID budget was less than 1% of the federal budget and in return it laid in dividends.

++++

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are actually going into debt because of bombing Iran. USAID budget was less than 1% of the federal budget and in return it laid in dividends.

+++

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USAID was all one big scam and contractors/politicians have been using it to milk US taxpayers of billions of $s.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Over 1M have already died due to its illegal dismantling with an anticipated 14M by 2030, 4.5M of those children under 5.

I know it’s off topic, but with so many lives at stake, why do Dems manage to mess up so much they can’t beat Trump? And don’t seem to have learned much or have anyone ready for 2028.

Government can’t just keep shoveling money and benefits out to everyone while our own citizens go without healthcare, and allowing unfettered migration.

+1 I want to know this too. And add taxing income when life is already unaffordable as another issue. Trump sucks but Dems need to get their sh@t together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:USAID was all one big scam and contractors/politicians have been using it to milk US taxpayers of billions of $s.

Posted at 1:48am after hours of right wing cable brainwashing, no doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would help OP instead of rubbing it in. Would be nice if DCUMers could come through for someone a lot like all of us. There but for God go I…and so forth.

I like the healthcare retraining idea for something practical. Could he do college consulting or SAT prep? Pays beaucoup bucks in this area. I paid something like $200 an hour before I realized the tutor didn’t know much more than what I could teach my DD. What about getting his teaching certification?

Teaching certifications are no longer a fall back in this area. FCPS was essentially fully staffed this year and last before the window even opened for external hires. And external hires with experience are always preferred to inexperienced ones. This year they even extended the internal transfer window because of all the destaffs due to decreasing enrollment. We're entering the baby bust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish people would help OP instead of rubbing it in. Would be nice if DCUMers could come through for someone a lot like all of us. There but for God go I…and so forth.

I like the healthcare retraining idea for something practical. Could he do college consulting or SAT prep? Pays beaucoup bucks in this area. I paid something like $200 an hour before I realized the tutor didn’t know much more than what I could teach my DD. What about getting his teaching certification?

Teaching certifications are no longer a fall back in this area. FCPS was essentially fully staffed this year and last before the window even opened for external hires. And external hires with experience are always preferred to inexperienced ones. This year they even extended the internal transfer window because of all the destaffs due to decreasing enrollment. We're entering the baby bust.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/upshot/public-schools-enrollment-crisis.html

It's going to be brutal, teaching as a fallback is gone.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe that usaid did much measurable help I think they shot themselves in the foot by not tying the aid with clear kpis, targets and outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe that usaid did much measurable help I think they shot themselves in the foot by not tying the aid with clear kpis, targets and outcomes.

You literally don't know what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe that usaid did much measurable help I think they shot themselves in the foot by not tying the aid with clear kpis, targets and outcomes.

You literally don't know what you're talking about.

They know EXACTLY what they are talking about.
And the unemployed former USAID workers are painfully learning just how marketable they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe that usaid did much measurable help I think they shot themselves in the foot by not tying the aid with clear kpis, targets and outcomes.

We DID have kpis, targets, and outcomes. Measured and reported on in excruciating detail in real time dashboards plus quarterly and annual reports. My projects then also had baseline, midline, and endline research to measure change in health metrics.

I just don’t understand why people think USAID was out there throwing money around. There were contracts and deliverables and measurement of outcomes. We even had our contracts cancelled if we didn’t perform. And then (gasp) we fired the staff who were responsible for messing up.