How To Get A Job At The United Nations

Have you ever want to work for the United Nations? Well if you are looking at this hub then you are possibly considering it. The United Nations have so many great jobs and the do such a good job. Depending on the type of job you are after you could get to see a lot of the world and have lots of adventures. So this hub gives you some tips for getting a job at the UN.

1. Decide whether you wish to join the United Nations as a generalist or a specialist. If you join as a generalist, do you wish to join the secretarial stream, peace-keeping forces or administrative work? If you wish to join as a specialist, do you want to join as a professional officer with particular expertise (e.g., management, legal, environmental, medical, etc.) or as an officer in a particular policy-making area? 2. Browse through the United Nations website (listed below) to get a feel for the areas the U.N. is involved in. 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? 3. Map out a plan. If you need qualifications, get them, with the goal of entry to the United Nations in mind. Perhaps the most important qualification for any U.N. position is fluency in English or French, the working languages of the organization. Fluency in additional languages, particularly Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, or Russian, is helpful for some positions. Education is also important. 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 U.N. require at least a bachelor's degree. Many specialist positions require advanced degrees in the area of specialty. 4. Browse available jobs. Look at the UN employment website (also listed below) to see current vacancies. These are constantly updated, so if you don't immediately see a position that fits your goals and qualifications, check back often. 5. Register for a "My UN" account. Click on the "Register as a User" option at the top of the U.N. employment website. Registration takes about a minute. 6. 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. 7. 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 in a New York minute. 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. 8. Select your vacancy (see the External Links below). 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 U.N. 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. 9. 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. 10. Provide an e-mail address so that they can acknowledge your application. If you don't get such acknowledgment within 24 hours, contact them again for confirmation. 11. Wait. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted, and this can take some time. Be patient. You can 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.