How to Get a Job With the United Nations

Preparing to Apply

Research career options at the UN. Browse through the United Nations website to get a feel for the different types of work available at the UN. Which areas interest you most? Are there areas you are already qualified for? Are there areas you would like to work in but for which you still need qualifications? Conduct research before starting your job search. Look at the following websites for information: The UN Official website (http://careers.un.org) The UN Channel website (https://unchannel.org) The UN Job List website (http://unjoblist.org)

Decide what staff category you want to pursue. UN careers are divided into different staff categories, each of which requires a specific educational background and area of expertise. The categories are further broken down into jobs at different levels that require varying amounts of work experience. Taking into account your skills, interest and experience, decide which category and level is appropriate for you. Here are the options: Professional and higher categories (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)

Make sure you have the required education and experience. Each career option has specific education and experience requirements. Before you apply for a job, make sure you have all the prerequisites. If you don't, your application won't be considered. Here are common requirements for many positions at the UN: Fluency in English or French, the working languages of the organization. Fluency in additional languages, particularly Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, or Russian, is helpful for most positions. A bachelor's degree or higher. Some lower-level generalist positions (mostly clerical or secretarial jobs in the General Service category) require only a high school diploma and, usually, relevant work experience, but most positions in the UN require at least a bachelor’s degree. Many specialist positions require advanced degrees in the area of speciality. Work experience in a related field. Depending on the position you are applying for, you might need anywhere from 1 - 7 years of work experience.

Applying for a Job

Browse available jobs. Look at the UN employment website to see current vacancies with organizations in the UN Secretariat. You can use UNjobfinder to search vacancies in all UN organizations. Vacancies are constantly updated, so if you don’t immediately see a position that fits your goals and qualifications, check back often.

Register for a “My UN” account. Click on the “Register as a User” option at the top of the UN employment website. You will be required to fill in your name, email, and date of birth, as well as create a username and password.

Create your “Personal History Profile” (PHP). Once you register you will be prompted to create your PHP. This profile will be your confidential online resume and includes general information about you, your education, and your employment history. You will only need to complete this once, but you can edit it for different vacancies if you wish. You can complete the PHP right away, or come back later. It will take between 30 minutes to one hour to complete, and you can save a partially completed profile at any time and return to finish it. Ensure that your PHP is thorough, detailed, accurate, and picture-perfect. When you apply for a position, the PHP is the first (and, initially, only) thing the recruiter will see. If you don’t do a good job of representing your qualifications, or if your profile is marred by spelling or grammar mistakes, your application will be passed over. You can continue to update your PHP at any time, but make sure it is in perfect condition when you actually apply for a listed vacancy.

Select the job for which you're applying. Be certain you meet all its requirements; if not, either have very good reasons for why the recruiter might overlook whatever is lacking, or don’t apply. The UN website makes it clear that you can apply for as many vacancies as you like, but your credibility will be hurt if you apply for positions for which you are not qualified.

Apply for the chosen vacancy by following the online instructions. You will be prompted to submit your most recent version of the PHP, along with any other information required by the particular vacancy. Update the PHP if necessary before submitting your application. Provide an e-mail address so that they can acknowledge your application. If you don’t get such acknowledgement within 24 hours, contact them again for confirmation.

Wait for an interview invitation. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted, and this can take some time. You may check the status of your application in the “Application History” of your “My UN” account. Many positions require that you pass an examination in order to be considered. Follow the instructions given for the specific vacancy for which you are applying.

Applying to the Young Professionals Programme

Make sure you're eligible. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is intended for talented young men and women with little to no work experience. Those who are eligible may take a written and oral examination to determine whether they qualify for placement on the job roster for YPP participants. Those on the job roster are selected for YPP jobs as they become available. To be eligible for the YPP, you must meet the following requirements: Be 32 years or younger Hold at least a first-level university degree in one of the job families offered Be fluent in either English or French Be a national of a participating country

Register for a “My UN” account. Click on the “Register as a User” option at the top of the UN employment website. You will be required to fill in your name, email, and date of birth, as well as create a username and password.

Create your Personal History Profile. Once you register you will be prompted to create your Personal History Profile. This profile will be your confidential online resume, and includes general information about you, your education, and your employment history. You can complete the PHP right away, or come back later. It will take between 30 minutes to one hour to complete, and you can save a partially completed profile at any time and return to finish it. Make sure you fill out the space for your "Country of Nationality" with a country participating in the YPP program.

Apply for a job. As a YPP candidate, you must select a job labelled "YPP Examination." Choose a job in the job family you're interested in and qualified for. Fill out the correct combination of “Main Course of Study” and “Field of Study” that matches your degree and the requirements for the job. You can submit only one application for an examination. After completing the forms, click "Apply Now" to submit your application. You'll need to answer a few screening questions and agree with the terms to successfully submit the application. You will receive an email confirmation that your application was received. Your application will be evaluated, and you will either be invited to take the examination or informed that you are not eligible.

Take the written examination. If you are eligible, you will be invited to take the written examination. It lasts 4 1/2 hours and consists of two parts: General Paper, which is the same for all job families, and the Specialized Paper, which tests your knowledge on your specific area of expertise. If you pass the test, you will be invited to take the oral examination.

Take the oral examination. This is an interview conducted by the Specialized Board to determine whether you have the skills and behaviours required for the jobs within the job family you're applying for. After the examination, you will be contacted by the Central Examinations Board to let you know whether or not you may participate in YPP.

Receive endorsement from the Central Examinations Board. If your interview is successful, the Central Examinations Board will endorse you for a position on the YPP job roster. When a job in the appropriate job family becomes available, you will receive an offer. Receiving an endorsement doesn't automatically mean you will get a job. While the chances are quite high, getting an offer is dependent on job availability in your job family. If your interview is not successful, you'll be contacted by the Central Examinations Board to let you know that you did not receive an endorsement.