Jumping into a career in aid work?

Interviewing earthquake survivors, Ecuador. (c) Evelyn S, Disaster Preparedness & Response

I’m often asked where to start by people making a move into humanitarian response. A few are straight out of school, but most are early- or mid-career professionals looking to make the change. Three things stand out which may be useful for those making a career move into humanitarian work, or for those getting a course of study out of the way so they can get into the hands-on aspects of humanitarian response.