Do you want to prevent environmental degradation, help the poorest areas of the world to mature solid economies or contribute to the development of progressive causes? The United Nations could offer you the job of your dreams. The UN is a global organization, and presents a wide variety of growth and career opportunities, comparable to those offered by large private companies. For most jobs, competition is fierce, but with solid preparation and a bit of luck, you could land your dream job at the UN.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to Apply
Step 1. Research career opportunities at the UN
Visit the United Nations website to get an idea of the various types of jobs available in this organization. Which departments are you most interested in? Do you already have the necessary qualifications to work in these areas? Do you dream of being hired to do a certain job, but still don't have the right skills? Do your research before applying for a job. Check out the following websites (they are all in English, but you will find vacancies in every corner of the globe) to find useful information:
- Official UN website (https://careers.un.org).
- UNjobfinder website (https://unjobfinder.org).
- UN Job Monster website (https://www.unjobmonster.com).
- UN Job List website (https://unjoblist.org).
Step 2. Decide which staff category you intend to pursue a career in
At the UN, careers are divided into categories of staff, each of which requires specific training and background, as well as some expertise in the sector in question. The categories are in turn branched into jobs of different levels, which provide for various types of professional experience. Taking into account your skills, interests and experiences, decide which categories and levels are right for you. Here are the options:
- Professional and higher categories (P and D).
- General services and related categories (G, TC, S, PIA, LT).
- Professional categories found at national level (NO).
- Field Services (FS).
- High-level appointments (SG, DSG, USG and ASG).
Step 3. Make sure you have the required training and experience
Each career type has specific requirements in terms of education and experience. Before applying for a job, you need to be sure you have all of these characteristics. Otherwise, your application will not be considered. Here are some common requirements for many positions at the UN:
- Mastery of English or French, the working languages of the organization. Knowing other languages well, especially Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish or Russian, is useful for most positions.
- At least a bachelor's degree. Some general, lower-level positions (mostly clerical or clerical jobs that fall into the general service category) require only a high school diploma and usually relevant work experience. However, most jobs at the UN include at least a bachelor's degree. For many specialized positions, advanced studies are needed in the relevant field.
- Work experience in a related field. Depending on the position you are applying for, you may need to have one to seven years of professional experience behind you.
Method 2 of 3: Apply for a Job
Step 1. Research the available jobs
Check out the UN job search site for current open positions at UN Secretariat organizations. You can use Unjobfinder to search for vacancies in all UN bodies. The sites are constantly updated, so, even if you can't immediately identify a position that meets your goals and your skills, check the various pages often.
Step 2. Sign up for a My UN account
Click on the Register as a User link, located at the top of the UN job search site. You will be asked to fill in the empty fields with name, e-mail and date of birth; in addition, you will need to create a username and password.
Step 3. Create your Personal History Profile (PHP)
Once you have registered, you will be prompted to create your PHP. This profile will be your private online resume, and includes general information about you, your education, and your work history. You will only have to fill it in once, but you can change it for different vacancies if you wish.
- You can complete PHP right away or come back later. It will take you 30 minutes to an hour to fill it out, and you can save a partially complete profile at any time, then reopen it and continue as needed.
- Make sure your PHP is accurate, detailed, precise and flawless. When applying for a job, PHP is the first (and, initially, the only) thing that the headhunter will see. If you fail to adequately represent your qualifications, or your profile is full of spelling or grammatical errors, your application will be rejected.
- You can keep updating your PHP at any time, but make sure it is in perfect condition when you are actually applying for a vacancy.
Step 4. Select the job you wish to apply for
Make sure you meet all the requirements; if not, do not apply, or try to have valid reasons why the headhunter should turn a blind eye to your shortcomings. The UN website clearly states that you can apply for as many vacancies as you want, but your credibility would suffer if you submit applications for jobs you are unable to fill.
Step 5. Apply for the vacancy you selected by following the online instructions
You will be prompted to submit the latest version of your PHP and any other information required by that particular job. If necessary, update your PHP before submitting your application.
Provide an email address so that we can confirm receipt of your application. If you do not receive any confirmation within 24 hours, please contact the manager for news
Step 6. Wait to receive an interview invitation
Only candidates selected for the interview will be contacted, and this can take some time. You can check the status of your application in the Application History section, in your My UN account. For many vacancies, it is mandatory to pass an exam in order to be considered. Follow the instructions for the specific job you applied for.
Method 3 of 3: Apply for the Young Professionals Program
Step 1. Make sure you are eligible
The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is designed for talented young men and women who have no professional background. Eligible applicants should take a written and oral exam to determine if they qualify for a place on the YPP Project Participant Job List. People on this list are selected for program jobs based on their availability. In order to be eligible for the YPP project, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be under the age of 32.
- Have at least a bachelor's degree in one of the professional fields offered.
- Master English or French.
- Be a citizen of a participating country.
Step 2. Sign up for a My UN account
At the top of the UN site dedicated to job search, click on Register as a User. You will be asked to fill in the fields with name, e-mail and date of birth; in addition, you will need to create a username and password.
Step 3. Create your Personal History Profile
Once you have registered, you will be prompted to create your Personal History Profile. This profile will be your private online resume, and includes general information about you, your education and your work history.
- You can complete PHP right away or come back later. It will take 30 minutes to an hour to complete, and you can save a partially complete profile whenever you want, and then reopen it later.
- Make sure you fill in the Country of Nationality field to indicate your nationality (Italy participates in the program).
Step 4. Apply for a job
As a YPP candidate, you must select a job marked YPP Examination. Choose a job in the professional field that interests you and for which you are qualified. Fill in the Main Course of Study and Field of Study fields correctly depending on your degree and job requirements. You can only send a application for examination.
- After completing the forms, click Apply Now to submit your application. You will need to answer a few selection questions and accept the terms and conditions to successfully submit your request. They will send you an e-mail to confirm receipt of the application.
- Your application will be evaluated, and they will invite you to take the exam. If you are not eligible, you will be notified.
Step 5. Take the written exam
If you are eligible, you will be invited to take the written exam. It lasts four and a half hours and consists of two parts: the General Paper, which is the same for all professional fields, and the Specialized Paper, which tests your knowledge in the specific area of expertise you have chosen. If you pass the test, you will be invited to take the oral exam.
Step 6. Take the oral exam
This is an interview conducted by the Specialized Board to determine if you have the skills and aptitudes necessary for jobs in the selected professional field. After the exam, you will be contacted by the Central Examinations Board, which will inform you whether or not you can participate in the YPP project.
Step 7. Receive support from the Central Examinations Board
If the interview goes well, the Central Examinations Board will support you for a position on the YPP project job list. When a job is added in the area of your interest, you will receive an offer.
- Receiving this support does not mean that you will automatically get a job. While the odds are quite high, receiving an offer depends on professional availability in your field.
- If the interview does not go well, you will be contacted by the Central Examinations Board, which will let you know that you have not received such support.
Advice
- Be especially cautious when preparing your application. Correct misspellings, information gaps, grammatically neglected parts, and so on. Remember that every little slip is a valid excuse to reject your application, and headhunters generally do not forgive because they are inundated with requests.
- You should definitely try to find more information by e-mail or by phone. Among other things, you should ask if a lower-level UN employee is seeking to permanently obtain the position you intend to apply for. This will allow you to get an idea of the situation you are facing. Similarly, don't be surprised if searching for information proves difficult.
- Women have an advantage. Article 8 of the Charter of the United Nations states that "The United Nations shall not place any restrictions on the admissibility of men and women in their principal and subsidiary bodies, in any capacity and in conditions of equality". However, in the UN Recruitment Regulations (ST / AI / 2006/3, section 9.3), there is a law that gives more rights to women for eligibility. If you are a woman placed on a reserve list created for people who have not been selected, but who have received support from the central commission, you will remain on the list for three years. As a result, your eligibility will remain unchanged over that time frame and you may be called for a job in the industry you have indicated. Instead, the men are removed from the waiting list after two years.
- Apply now. UN headhunters usually frown upon last-minute applications. Also, a lot of questions generally come in just before the deadline, so if yours is among the last, it is likely that it will be read less carefully. Applications submitted late are not considered at all.
- People who are hired by the UN often have acquaintances in the organization. Do you know anybody? Learn how to make contacts that might help you. Despite a superficial adherence to the principles, selection on merit is not always the key to obtaining a job at the United Nations. Also, you need to be aware of country quotas and biases related to certain nations. These are factors that can favor or decrease your chances of being hired.
Warnings
- Do not send additional information about your account unless requested to do so. This irritates the headhunters, who will see your move as an attempt to bypass the bureaucratic process. They may take advantage of this excuse to reject your application. If you are called in for an interview, it will be at that moment that you will have a chance to shine.
- Remember that working at the UN will not necessarily allow you to pursue the profession of your dreams, adventurous, glamorous and saving the world. Research and read books written by people who have worked in the organization. While the salary and benefits are great, many employees are quickly disillusioned by the overwhelming bureaucracy, lack of creativity, inability to take action and nepotistic favoritism. However, the situation will not improve until idealistic, purposeful and determined people contribute and make positive changes. In any case, you need to be aware of both the disadvantages and the advantages.
- After closing a job, be prepared for a long wait before hearing news. It is not unusual for up to eight months to pass before this happens.
- The UN does not accept incomplete or generic applications or CVs. Unless you are told to do otherwise, you must correctly use the online application system provided for vacancies.
- Do not superficially apply for jobs you are unable to do. In fact, interviewers have a good memory, and could take advantage of any excuse to drop candidates. Remember that a lot of people want to work at the UN. Past questions will remain in your professional file, so be judicious.
- If you are lucky enough to receive an interview invitation, remember that it will be a very rigorous process. If you are selected to continue with the selections, this could involve several encounters.
