Online application
1. First, decide whether you want to be a specialist or a generalist at the UN. If you want to be a generalist, do you want to do some secretarial, peacekeeping and administrative work? If you want to be a specialist, do you want to specialize in a particular area of expertise (e.g., management, legal, environmental, medical, etc.) or engage in policy development?
2. Browse the UN website (see link below) to get a general idea of what the UN does. See which areas interest you the most, if there are areas you are qualified for, and if there are areas you would like to work in but are not currently qualified for.
3. Develop a plan. If you still need a qualification, then aim to be able to work at the UN and get that qualification. Perhaps the most important requirement for working in any UN position is the ability to communicate fluently in the official UN language, English or French. Proficiency in other languages, particularly Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian, can be helpful in specific UN positions. Educational attainment is also an important requirement. While some low-level "generalist" jobs (mostly clerical secretarial jobs in the public service category) usually require only a high school diploma and relevant work experience, most United Nations jobs require a bachelor's degree or higher. Many specialist-type jobs require a higher degree in their area of specialization.
4. Screen available jobs. Browse the United Nations job board for current openings. These vacancies are continuously updated, so if you don't find a position that suits your profile or development goals right now, make a point of checking online frequently for updates.
5. Register for a My UN account. At the top of the UN job board, click on the "Register as a user" option to complete your registration, which takes about a minute.
6. Create your CV. Once you've completed your user registration, you'll be prompted to create a "bio". It will be your confidential online resume that includes your summary information, educational background, work experience and more. You only need to create your CV once, but you can modify it for different job openings if necessary. You can create a CV in one go in a short period of time, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, or you can always save a "half-finished" CV and log in later to complete the creation.
7. Make sure your resume is comprehensive, detailed, accurate, and descriptive. When applying for a job, the first (and in the early stages, the only) thing a recruiter will look at is your CV. If it doesn't present your qualifications well, or if it contains spelling and grammatical errors, then sorry to say, your application will be shot down immediately. The website allows CVs to be updated at any time, but when you do decide to apply for a vacancy, make sure that the CV meets the above criteria.
8. Select the vacancy you wish to apply for (see external link below). Make sure you meet all the requirements for the job, otherwise, either have a great reason why the recruiter can ignore your missing qualifications, or don't apply for the position. The UN website clearly affirms that you can apply for as many vacancies as you want, but your credibility will be damaged if you apply for a job you are not qualified for.
9. Follow the website's online instructions to apply for your chosen vacancy. Submit an up-to-date version of your CV and any other personal information relevant to the vacancy
. If necessary, modify the CV before submitting.
10. Provide an e-mail address so that the recruiter can notify you of the receipt of your application. If you do not receive a notification within 24 hours, contact them again to confirm.
11. Wait. Recruiters will only contact candidates who are qualified to interview, and the process can take some time. Be patient! You can check the status of your application by looking at the "Application history" option in your My UN account. Many positions require applicants to pass an examination to determine whether they will be considered, so you should simply follow the guidelines for the vacancy for which you are applying.
2. Competitive Examination Applications
1. Visit the United Nations Recruitment Examination Process website (see link below), which is used to select entry-level professionals for specialized positions, and only citizens under 32 years of age from participating countries listed on the website may apply. In addition to this, you must have a Bachelor's degree or higher (outside the United States) or a three-year first degree from a relevant occupational group listed on the website.
2. Apply by the annual deadline. Note that the P-11 application form on the website is the only application form recognized by recruiters; do not attach a separate manuscript.
3. Prepare for the exam. After screening the applicants, the examiners notify the eligible applicants to appear for the examination as well as the interview. If notified, applicants will be given a series of recommended reading materials on the website as well as sample test questions. All you need to do is try to demonstrate your expertise in the field you are applying for and your familiarity with current events and world politics.
4. Take the test. The recruitment examination will be held on a regular basis at United Nations offices around the world. The examination will consist of a general test that will test the candidate's ability to summarize information and write, as well as specialized examinations that will test professional skills.
5. Wait for the results of the examination and attend an interview (if notified). The recruiter will take some time to mark the papers before releasing the results, but will notify those competitive applicants for an interview. The most qualified applicants will be recommended for recruitment within the Organization as alternates for current and recent vacancies.
Hints
1. Write your application materials very carefully, e.g., check carefully for spelling errors, blank information, careless grammatical errors, etc. You need to understand that recruiters may receive a large number of application materials, and one tiny mistake may cause the application to be ruined. It's a good idea to have a friend read through your CV to help identify any mistakes you've overlooked and make helpful suggestions. It's a tough process, probably tougher than any job application you can imagine, because you're applying for a job that everyone in the world wants.
2. Do everything you can to get more information about the position you are applying for, both by email and by phone. This includes asking if the current employee in the position you are applying for is a junior UN employee looking for a permanent job, which will help to get a clear picture of the competition you are facing. Similarly, don't be surprised if, after checking for information, you find yourself in a bad position.
3. Apply early. Recruiters tend to be dismissive of applicants who apply at the last minute. It's a safe bet that recruiters receive a lot of last-minute applications, and if you're unlucky enough to be one of them, you're likely to be skimmed over, and late applications will undoubtedly be lost.
4. Unfortunately, the reality is often the same: those who do get a job at the United Nations tend to have contacts within the Organization. Who do you know? It is particularly important to find out who the "insiders" are who can help you. Thus, despite the rhetoric of meritocracy, it is not the only key to the door of a United Nations job. Beyond that, beware of country quotas and national biases, which can also determine whether or not you are successful in getting a job at the UN.
5. Gender advantage: Article 8 of the Charter of the United Nations states that the Organization shall accord to men and women equal opportunities and shall not restrict them in the performance of any functions in its principal and subsidiary organs. However, there is an unwritten rule in the United Nations recruitment policy (ST/AI/2006/3, sect. 9.3) that women are given priority in qualifying for jobs. If a woman is on the United Nations recruitment roster (the roster of unsuccessful candidates endorsed by the central review bodies), her eligibility is retained for three years, as opposed to one year for male applicants under the same conditions.
Warnings
1. The United Nations does not accept normal applications and curricula vitae, and applicants must apply for vacancies through the online application system, unless otherwise indicated. Be aware that a job at the United Nations may not always be the challenging, glamorous, "save-the-world" type of job you aspire to. Read books written by people who have worked at the UN, many of whom complain that while the pay and benefits at the UN are impressive, the bureaucracy, nepotism, lack of creativity and lack of fulfillment of the original vision are not. Unless there is someone who is rationalistic, strong-willed and determined to change the situation, these shortcomings will persist. Therefore, before deciding to work at the UN, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the job.
2. Do not aimlessly apply for jobs for which you are not qualified. Because previous applications will remain on your employment file, the interviewer has a good memory and can remove you from the hiring pool for any number of reasons. So be smart when applying for positions.
3. When applying for a position, do not communicate any additional personal information to the recruiter unless requested. Doing so will anger the recruiter, as he will assume that you are intentionally sabotaging the official recruitment process, which in turn may be used as a reason to turn you away. If you get an interview, then this extra personal information will be the difference between you and the recruiter.
4. If you're lucky enough to get an interview despite being underqualified, be prepared for the rigors of the interview. This is because it usually takes multiple rounds to get far in an interview.
5. Don't throw your hat in the ring. While applying for UN jobs, search for other opportunities and start applying for them. If you have been unsuccessful for several years, take a break.
6. While working at the UN is a prestigious job in some circles, not everyone sees it as such, due to an understanding of the UN's inefficiencies and its own corruption, as it is not an elected body and is influenced by monarchies.
What you should look for
1. dedication and perseverance
2. a university degree and/or a few years of relevant work experience
3. communication and networking skills
4. a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the world, including politics, UN-related general knowledge, understanding of the UN's policymaking process, and a good understanding of the UN's role and functions in certain specialized areas, such as legal, medical and other fields. Professional skills in certain areas of specialization, such as legal, medical, etc. 5. clear writing and communication skills
6. belief in equality
7. a sense of humor