Whether it's preventing environmental damage, helping a poor region develop an economy, or advancing progressive issues, working at the United Nations may be the job for you. The United Nations is an organization that has a wide range of occupations and provides opportunities for advancement and career diversity that are comparable to those of large private companies. Competition for most of the positions is fierce. But with proper preparation and a little luck, you can land your dream job at the UN.
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Method 1 of 3: Preparing to Submit Applications
Step 1. Find out about career options at the United Nations
Browse the United Nations website to see the different types of jobs available at the United Nations. What field interests you the most? Is there a field of work where your qualifications match your qualifications? Is there an area you would like to work in but you still need to qualify for? Learn before starting a job search. Look for information on the following sites:
- UN official website (https://careers.un.org)
- UNjobfinder website (https://unjobfinder.org)
- UN Job List website (https://unjoblist.org)
Step 2. Decide what category of staff you want to search for
Careers at the United Nations are divided into different categories of staff, each of which requires a specific educational background and area of expertise. The category is further subdivided into jobs at various levels that require a variety of work experience. Taking your skills, interests and work experience into account, decide which category and level is right for you. Here are the options:
- Professional category and above (P and D)
- General Service and related categories (G, TC, S, PIA, LT)
- National Professional Officers (NO)
- Field Service (FS)
- Senior Appointments (SG, DSG, USG and ASG)
Step 3. Make sure you have the required education and experience
Each career choice has specific educational and experience requirements. Before you send your application, make sure you meet all the prerequisites. Otherwise, your application will not be considered. Here are the general requirements for various positions at the United Nations:
- Fluency in English or French, the language used on a daily basis in the UN working environment. Fluency in other languages, especially Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, or Russian will be helpful for most positions.
- Bachelor's degree or higher. Some lower-level general positions (mostly administrative or secretariat jobs in the General Service category) require only a high school degree and usually, related work experience, but most UN positions require at least a bachelor's degree. Many specialist positions require an advanced degree in a specialized field.
- Work experience in a related field. Depending on the position you are applying for, you may need from 1 to 7 years of work experience.
Method 2 of 3: Applying for a Job
Step 1. Look for available job openings
Visit the United Nations job vacancies site to view the latest job vacancies in organizations at the United Nations Secretariat. You can use the UNjobfinder website to search for vacancies in all UN organizations. Jobs at the UN are constantly being updated, so if you can't find a position that matches your goals and qualifications, check back often.
Step 2. Sign up for a “My UN” account
Click on the “Register as a User” option at the top of the UN job site. You will be asked to fill in your name, email address, date of birth, and be asked to create a username and password.
Step 3. Create “Personal History Profile” (PHP)
After completing registration, you will be asked to create PHP. This profile will be your confidential online resume, and will include general information about yourself, your education and work history. You only need to fill in this data once, but you can edit it for different jobs, if you want.
- You can load PHP right away, or come back to fill it out later. PHP data will take 30 minutes to an hour to fill, and you can save a half-filled profile at any time and come back to complete it at a later time.
- Make sure your PHP is filled out thoroughly, in detail, accurately and with photos. When you apply for a position, PHP is the first (and initially, the only) thing a recruiter will see. If you do not demonstrate your qualifications well, or if your profile is filled with spelling and grammatical errors, your application will be missed.
- You can continue updating your PHP at any time, but make sure your PHP is perfect when you are actually applying for a job on the list.
Step 4. Select the job you want to apply for
Make sure you meet all the qualifications; if not, make sure there's something on your resume that will make recruiters ignore what you lack qualifications for, or don't apply at all. The UN website ensures that you can apply for as many vacancies as you want, but your credibility will suffer if you apply for positions that do not match your qualifications.
Step 5. Apply for the vacancy of your choice by following the online instructions
You will be asked to provide the most current version of your PHP, along with any information the specific vacancy requires. Update PHP if necessary before submitting your application.
Provide your email address so they can send you a notification of acceptance of your application. if you don't receive a notification within 24 hours, call them back to ask for confirmation
Step 6. Wait for the interview invitation
Only shortlisted candidates 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 of your “My UN” account. Many positions require you to pass an exam in order to really be considered. Follow the instructions for the specific job you'd like to apply for.
Method 3 of 3: Applying for the Young Professionals Program
Step 1. Make sure you qualify
The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is aimed at talented young women and men with little or no experience. Those who qualify can take written and oral exams to determine whether they qualify for placement on the job list for YPP participants. Those whose names are on the list are selected for YPP jobs, if available. To be able to join YPP, you must meet the following requirements:
- 32 years of age or younger
- Possess at least a first-level university degree corresponding to one of the job groups offered.
- Fluent in English or French
- Have the citizenship of a country participating in the YPP program
Step 2. Sign up for a “My UN” account
Click on the “Register as a User” option at the top of the UN job site. You will be asked to fill in your name, email address and date of birth, as well as create a username and password.
Step 3. Create a Personal History Profile
After registering, you will be asked to create a Personal History Profile. This profile will be your confidential online resume, and will include general information about yourself, your education, and your work history.
- You can finish PHP right away, or come back to finish it later. Filling out PHP will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and you can save a half-filled profile at any time and come back to fill it out at a later time.
- Make sure you fill in the "Country of Nationality" field with the countries included in the YPP program.
Step 4. Submit an application
As a YPP candidate, you must select a job labeled "YPP Examination." Choose a job within the occupational group that interests you and the requirements you can meet. Fill in the correct combination of “Main Course of Study” and “Field of Study” that matches the degree and requirements you can meet for the job. You can only send one application for an exam.
- After filling out the form, click "Apply Now" to submit your application. You will need to answer some screening questions and agree to the terms to be able to submit an application. You will receive an email confirming that your application has been accepted.
- Your application will be evaluated, and you will receive an invitation to take the exam or be notified if you do not qualify.
Step 5. Take the written exam
If you qualify, you will be invited to take a written exam. The exam will take 4 hours and consist of two parts: a General Paper, which is given to all occupational groups, and a Specialized Paper, which will test your knowledge of your particular area of expertise. If you pass the exam, you will receive an invitation to take the oral exam.
Step 6. Take an oral exam
This is a test administered by the Specialized Council to determine whether you have the skills and behavior appropriate for the job in the job group you are applying for. After taking the exam, you will be contacted by the Central Examinations Board who will tell you whether you can take the YPP or not.
Step 7. Receive approval from the Central Examinations Board
If you are successful in the interview, the Central Examinations Board will issue approval for a position on the YPP job list. When a job in a job pool becomes available, you'll get an offer.
- Getting approved doesn't mean you'll get the job. Although the chances are quite high, getting an offer depends on the availability of jobs in the job group you are applying for.
- If you do not succeed in the interview, you will be contacted by the Central Examinations Board to notify you that you did not get approval.
Tips
- Be careful in drafting your application. Check for spelling mistakes, lack of information, messy grammar, etc. Keep in mind that any flaw will be a reason to drop your application, and recruiters will get lots of applications.
- Really try to find out more information by email or phone. Things to ask include whether the position is a position that the lower-level PBB employee who holds the position would like to permanently obtain. This will give you an indication of your rivals. But do not be surprised if the information turns out to be difficult to obtain.
- Gender is to your advantage: Article 8 of the UN Charter explains that "the UN does not restrict the right of men and women to participate in any capacity, and on conditions of equality, in principal or subsidiary organs." However, the provisions of the UN recruitment policy (ST/AI/2006/3, Section 9.3) provide an eligibility advantage for women. If you are a woman who has been placed on the job list (a reserve list that was not selected but has been approved by the Central Review Body), you will remain on the list for as long as three years, thus eligibility for appointment will continue during that period. On the other hand, men will be removed from the list after two years.
- Apply early. UN recruiters tend to doubt applications that come in at the last minute. You should also be aware that many applications will come in at the last minute, so your application may be reviewed in a less thorough manner, if your application is one of them. Applications received past the deadline will not be considered at all.
- People who do find work at the United Nations often know the people within the organization. Who do you know? Find ways to get to know some people who might be able to help you. Apart from adherence to UN principles, selection according to eligibility is not always a factor in getting a job at the UN. In addition, be aware of country quotas and trends towards certain countries. These things can either support or hinder your chances of being accepted to work at the United Nations.
Warning
- Know that working at the UN is not always as challenging and glamorous as if you are “saving the world” as you might think. Find out and read books written by people who have worked at the United Nations. Despite the excellent salaries and benefits, many employees are frustrated by the rigid bureaucracy, lack of creativity, lack of initiative, and nepotism. At the same time, things won't get better unless idealistic, strong-minded and principled people step in and change it for the better. But know the advantages and disadvantages.
- Do not send more information about yourself unless asked to. Doing so will irritate recruiters, who may eventually think you want to deviate from the bureaucratic process and they may use that as an excuse to get rid of you. if you get a chance to go for an interview, it will be your chance to shine.
- Be prepared to wait to be contacted for a very long time after the deadline for the position expires. Eight months of waiting was not unusual.
- The UN does not accept applications or resumes as usual. Unless otherwise noted, you must use the online application system to submit applications for job vacancies.
- Don't apply haphazardly to jobs that you can't meet because the interviewer has a strong memory and may use that as an excuse to exclude people from a very large number of applicants. Previous applications will remain on your application file, so be wise.
- Be prepared to undergo a rigorous interview process if you are lucky enough to make it to that stage. The interview may consist of several stages if you are selected to continue the recruitment process.
