Getting a job in the UN is a dream for many people, as a UN job is an amazing chance to grow both professionally and personally while getting priceless experience. Working for the UN, one should expect working in a team of international experts, competitive salaries, and great career opportunities. So, let's have a more detailed look at job types offered by the UN and clarify how to become a part of this powerful organization.

But the main question is “how to get a job at the un” without spending 10 years to achieve this dream ?

How to Start the UN Career

If you love our planet and people and are eager to change the world for better, you will certainly find an ideal job for yourself in the UN. This organization is a huge employer, offering numerous career opportunities not only for experienced professionals but also for those who are just looking for a dream job. Competition is usually fierce, as there are often many candidates for the same position, which is proof that UN jobs are desirable and popular. Nevertheless, it's possible to become a UN worker. But be ready to prepare for it, as it may not be as easy as people eager to start a career in the UN usually expect. Now, let's have a look at the main steps you'll have to do to start the UN career.

Prepare. The best way to start is to browse the United Nations official website to get a better understanding of what you are offered. This may be super helpful for those who do not yet understand what they are looking for. On the website, you will have a chance to get acquainted with a list of job openings, areas, and qualifications required. Information is everything, so be prepared.
Choose the staff category. As we have already mentioned, there are several staff categories to choose from. So, the next step is choosing the category. You should take into account your skills and interests, as well as work experience (it's essential for some jobs).
Make sure you have enough experience and qualification for the position chosen. Understandably, each position has a set of requirements you should meet for your application to be considered. Sometimes candidates don't pay attention to the requirements relying on luck. It's completely wrong, as in this case people just waste their time applying. We'll discuss general requirements a little bit later.
Register an account. Having selected a job, you should proceed to the next step - registration. To register a personal account, you'll have to provide some personal information (like your date of birth, your name, email, etc). You'll also have to provide some information about your qualification. And the last step is to create a user name and a password.
Choose a job and apply. Think twice whether you meet all the requirements not to waste your time for nothing. You can apply for as many positions as you like. Instead using CV, you will need to use forms as UN p11 form (personal history form). The applying process is not a complicated one, you just have to follow the instructions.
Wait for an interview invitation. Having applied for a job (or several), all you have to do is wait. You will be able to check the status of your application in your account. Be attentive, as only those selected for an interview will be informed about the result.

There are several programs designed to help young people to find a career path in the UN. One of the most popular is the Young Professionals Programme (we'll discuss it a little bit later).

UN Jobs FAQ

How can I get a job in the UN?

Getting into the UN may be challenging, so it's better to be fully aware of all your options and understand the potential problems you may face. The first step is research. Browse the official website to get acquainted with the company's ideology and its job openings. If you are sure you want to contribute to the well-being of humanity working in the UN, you are welcome to choose a position you like the most (or several) and apply. To do this, you'll have to go through the registration and provide some information about your qualification and some personal information. Make sure you meet all the requirements of the position chosen. If you are not experienced enough, you can select one of the internship programs offered by the UN.
What types of jobs are there in the UN?

There are several job networks in the UN, including economic and social development, peace and security, information systems and communication technology, management and operations support, safety and security, public information and external relations, conference management. There is a huge selection of jobs for the potential candidates of various experiences and qualifications, so your possibilities are plentiful. There are different categories of workers, such as field services workers, professionals, national professional officers, general service workers, and several others.
How much do jobs at the UN pay?

Salaries in the UN are competitive. In fact, the sum of money you'll get depends on several factors, such as your category, qualification, type of your contract, and your duty station. For some jobs (general services, national professional officers) people are hired locally, so the salary depends on it. Use our UN salary calculator to know your future sqlqry. Choosing a position from professional and higher categories, you'll get from 37,000$ to 123,000$ and from 31,000$ to 90,000$ if you are planning to work in field services (depending on qualification).
Is it difficult to get a job at the UN?

Getting a job at the UN is certainly not an easy task. The competition is fierce, as there are usually many people eager to get the same position. It's better to immerse yourself into this adventure being prepared and ready for any outcome. Understandably, there are many people dreaming about working in a powerful international organization, but only the best candidates are chosen. All applications are carefully reviewed and chosen candidates are invited for an interview. It will be difficult, but we can make progress only by means of difficulties, so it's certainly worth trying.
Which languages should I know to apply for the UN job?

Every UN job has a set of requirements, like age, work experience, etc. Language knowledge is another requirement that can influence your success. English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian are the official UN languages, but usually, candidates are required to have a good command of either French or English. The more languages you know - the bigger your chances of getting a job of your dream. Besides, if you have good language skills, you can become a UN translator, interpreter, language instructor, or a teacher.
What degree/diploma/certification should I get to work at the UN?

It depends on the position you'd like to get, as there are different education and work experience requirements. For some positions, a bachelor's (or higher) degree is required, while you can apply for the others having your High School diploma only.
Can I get a job being a student?

Those looking for chances to start a successful career can do it even while studying in the university, as the UN offers several volunteer programs and internships for young people. For example, the UN Internship Programme makes it possible for students in the final year of a Bachelor program to get into the UN and understand the core principles of its work better. There is also a United Nations Volunteers Programme, which is active in approximately 80 countries nowadays. So, if you are a student and want to get new knowledge and skills, you are welcome to choose any of the UN programs for students.
Where should I apply for a UN job?

The applying procedure is not complicated at all. So, the first thing you should do is visit the career.un.org website to get acquainted with the job openings currently available. So, select the area you like and have a look at those. If you already know what types of positions you are looking for, just use filters to make the search easier. Click the "Search" button and you will have all the jobs in front of your eyes. If you have already chosen a position you'd like to apply to, the next step is registration at inspira.un.org. On this website, you'll have to provide all the necessary details about your qualification (as well as your personal information), write a cover letter and voila - you are ready to apply. Just go back to the vacancy you have selected and click the "Apply" button.

Use the UN career Guide if you are in trouble, it actually helped more than a thousand of candidates to find the job of their dream in the UN. In our guide we offer opportunities for all countries : from France UN jobs to Somalia jobs. Last week Fred got a UN job in south Sudan thanks to our guide.
How much time does a UN job applicant have to wait for feedback whether she/he was shortlisted for the job?

As a rule, it takes from two weeks to four months to go through the selection process. So, you'll have to be patient and wait for the e-mail informing you that you are selected for the next step (as a rule, it's a writing test). We have many written assessment test samples for organisations such UN, UNDP, WFP, and Unicef.

Our UN career Guide provides you the best and most recent UN, WFP, Unicef and UNDP written test.
Then comes the interview (by Skype or personally). After an interview, you'll have to wait for the final decision from 1 week to 1 month.
How to write a successful CV for the UN?

The first and the most important rule you should remember - there should be no mistakes. A single little mistake or inaccuracy can reduce your chances. So, first of all, you are to provide your personal information. Then, proceed to education. Always start with the latest degree you've obtained. You should provide information about years of studying and the full names of educational institutions. Then comes a summary of your skills and proficiency. After this block of information comes professional experience, where you should try to highlight your most impressive achievements. Having done it, you are to provide some additional information (languages, additional training, etc.) and at least three references.

Opening the world of new opportunities with IOM jobs

IOM jobs provide a unique opportunity to become part of a global program whose mission is to promote the humanization and streamlining of migration processes for the benefit of the whole world.

IOM jobs as a tool for professional growth and world development

The International Organization for Migration, originally known as the Interim Intergovernmental Committee for the Relocation of Migrants to Europe, was established in 1951, amid chaos and the huge number of displaced people that arose in Western Europe after the Second World War. The organization was called upon to help European governments identify countries for the resettlement of about 11 million people who were forced to leave their homes during the war; During the 1950s, the organization ensured the resettlement of migrants in the amount of almost 1 million people.

The name of the organization changed several times, and over half a century, the organization was transformed from a technical department for organizing the resettlement of people into an international body on migration issues.

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Goals and Objectives of IOM

IOM’s activities in regulating migration are carried out in four main areas: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and forced migration. The activities are aimed at promoting the development of international migration legislation, organizing discussions and preparing recommendations on migration policy issues, protecting the rights of migrants, addressing health issues, and protecting the rights of women in connection with migration processes.

In order to be always aware of all news of the UN, you can follow the Telegram page and Instagram page.

Positions of IOM vacancies

The IOM staff can be divided into two groups: specialists and support staff. This is the standard classification of posts in the UN. The category of professionals includes managers (superiors, directors, etc.). Specialists are hired internationally. Such positions are characterized by increased requirements for candidates (university or academic degree, work experience, leadership skills, managerial abilities, recommendations, etc.).

The following categories of posts that are regularly vacant in the regions belong to the professional category: legal expert, financial management specialist, director of the communications department, public relations officer, technology specialist, procurement expert, operations coordinator, editor, translator, etc.

General service workers are assigned administrative and technical tasks. This category of personnel includes employees in the following areas: human resources, legal issues, patent processing, paperwork, administrative management, etc.

Pros of working in IOM

First of all, the amount of remuneration for work should be highlighted. The salary of specialists consists of two parts: salary and allowances. The size of the base salary is strictly regulated in the charter of the organization. However, the allowances may be adjusted directly by the heads of regional offices. Their size is affected by the average standard of living in a given country, the degree of employee tension, occupation, hours worked, merit, etc.

As for the maintenance staff, the work of such workers is paid according to the local salary scale. Only in rare cases are we talking about allowances.

Also, IOM provides a wide range of benefits and privileges. For example, organization employees can take 30 days of vacation pay per year (rate + premiums) per year. Every specialist and general service representative receives international health insurance, including dental services.

Of the benefits, it is advisable to allocate benefits for dependents, maternity leave, subsidies for higher education, payment of travel expenses, an allowance for the payment of rental housing.

Features of internship at IOM

Persons with a diploma of higher education of any specialty are suitable for completing an internship. Work experience is welcome, but not required. The internship is open in such areas as economics, law, statistics, technical cooperation, translations, information technology, project management, marketing, administrative management, public relations, program planning, etc.

To participate in the internship program, you need to send an application online to the IOM department and wait for an answer.

It is worth noting that the organization takes care of health insurance, can help in case of problems associated with the opening of a visa. Interns receive a scholarship for their work, which is designed to cover part of the costs of staying in a foreign country. In the case of an internship in the homeland, scholarships are also paid in full, so that some trainees even manage to earn a little.

Requirements for getting IOM vacancies

A mandatory requirement for employment is knowledge of the written language and speech of the English language. Proficiency in other official UN languages will be an advantage. In the case of employment for a specialist or manager, it is important to have a university degree and international work experience. Authoritative recommendations and competent essays are welcome. However, in any case, candidates must pass standard exams. Their focus depends on the selected vacancy.

The internship is open only to students who graduate from the last course of study at the university. In this case, a referral from the university to practice is required. It is important to understand that an internship does not mean a subsequent invitation to a permanent job.

By the way, there a special book from the UN, where future candidates can find effective tips for getting a job at the UN and other NGO organization.

Soft skills that will help get IOM jobs

Soft Skills are related to your personality characteristics. You can demonstrate Photoshop knowledge right there, on the spot, but leadership qualities and flexibility are unlikely. This is what we used to indicate at the end of the resume, usually for a tick or for an impressive amount. And very in vain. The fact is that in our time, communicative qualities are becoming increasingly important. Industries are increasingly interconnected, mechanical work goes to robots, and people are left alone or in a team with each other. This is where Soft Skills come in handy. Just read an approximate quality that will make you an attractive candidate.

The ability to adapt to all situations and develop solutions to problems that satisfy any client.
To respond and adapt to emerging challenges and obstacles, under stressful conditions, calmly and logically, timely develop working solutions.
To create working relations with colleagues and clients with different types of personality and from different walks of life, always supporting a professional and equal position.
Analyze large amounts of data, identify trends, and present results clearly and understandably.
Develop comprehensive solutions to complex problems through careful analysis and accurate data assessment.
Determine the effectiveness of budget allocation within the framework of the tasks and successfully implement them.
Prevent work accidents by encouraging safe working practices and preserving company equipment.
To monitor the activities of competitors.
Create and detail step-by-step processes to create intermediate and final deadlines for all projects, making it easier to identify the main obstacles and solutions for brainstorming.
Organize and communicate very detailed planning and time management goals so that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities.
Restructure underdeveloped projects requiring a complete review.
Strengthen strong relationships with customers and strategic partners to increase brand awareness.
Provide a high level of confidence in communication with groups or individuals, which allows you to convey ideas or instructions clearly and understandably.
Understanding the meaning and realization of body language both for assessing the intentions and views of others and for projecting the desired position for others through non-verbal communication

It is up to you to decide which of these qualities to develop, however, this set can develop for a very long time. It all depends on you and your desire.

International Organization for Migration Jobs

UN Jobs : how to build a career in United nations