How to Get a Job With the United Nations

Last Updated: December 30, 2022 Approved

Whether you want to prevent environmental degradation, help impoverished areas develop their economies, or advance progressive causes, the United Nations may have the ideal job for you. The UN is a huge employer and offers opportunities for advancement and career variety comparable to those found in large private companies. Competition for most positions is fierce, but with a lot of preparation and a little luck, you may land your dream job with the UN.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing to Apply

1
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)
2
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:^{[1]
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- 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)
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3
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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Applying for a Job

1
Browse available jobs. Look at the UN employment website^{[2]
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2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Applying to the Young Professionals Programme

1
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^{[3]
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- Be fluent in either English or French
- Be a national of a participating country
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.^{[4]
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- 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.
5
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.^{[5]
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6
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.
7
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.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I ensure my interview goes well?

Amber Rosenberg, PCC
Pacific Life Coach
Amber Rosenberg is a Professional Life Coach, Career Coach, and Executive Coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the owner of Pacific Life Coach, she has 20+ years of coaching experience and a background in corporations, tech companies, and nonprofits. Amber trained with the Coaches Training Institute and is a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Amber Rosenberg, PCC

Pacific Life Coach

Expert Answer

Make sure you get a good night's sleep, eat well, and arrive a few minutes early so you can get situated.
Question

Which subject should I study in school if I want a UN job?

Community Answer

For university, probably international development/relations/affairs or global health.
Question

As a 14-year-old student, what can I do to work towards getting a job with the United Nations?

Community Answer

Consider joining student council, and/or the debate team. If your school has a model UN group, definitely join that! You can also learn a new language and/or pursue volunteer opportunities.

Warnings

Be ready to wait a very long time after the position closes for any contact. Eight (8) months is not unusual.

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Don’t send extra information about yourself unless you are asked for it. Doing so will irritate the recruiters, who will view it as trying to go outside the bureaucratic process and they may use it as an excuse to bypass you. If you get an interview, that will be your chance to shine.

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Don’t apply willy-nilly for jobs for which you’re not qualified as the interviewers have long memories and may take advantage of any excuse to weed out people from a huge employment pool. Prior applications will remain on your employment file, so be judicious.

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Be prepared for a rigorous interview process if you are lucky enough to get that far. It may involve several rounds if you are selected to go further in the process.

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The U.N. does not accept general applications or resumes. Unless otherwise noted, you must use the online application system to apply for vacancies.

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Be aware that working with the United Nations may not necessarily be the challenging, glamorous, “save the world” job you’re looking for. Do your research and look at books written by people who have worked in the United Nations. While the pay and benefits are great, many employees are quickly disenchanted by the stifling bureaucracy, lack of creativity, inability to utilize initiative, and nepotistic favouritism. All the same, things won’t get better unless idealistic, strong-minded and determined people get in there and change it for the better. Just be fully aware of the downsides as well as the advantages.

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