Navigating job searches in the UN: My experience and advice
Lately, I've seen several posts about job searches in international development, so I wanted to share some advice I've been giving to people who've reached out to me.
Keep in mind, this is based on my personal experience and observations—there’s always room for exceptions, and others may have different views. My goal is to provide insight, not claim to have the only source of truth.
UN Job Types
If you're aiming for a job in the UN, there are four main categories of positions to consider:
G-Level Jobs (General Service) Historically, these were primarily administrative roles, but now many have responsibilities similar to P-level positions. Some colleagues prefer G-level contracts to avoid frequent relocations, which are often required for P-level roles. However, a crucial point to note: it's extremely difficult to transition from G-level to P-level positions. And, as you might expect, the pay ceiling is lower for G-level roles.
P-Level Jobs (Professional) These are the roles most people seek, usually requiring a master’s degree or higher. Keep in mind, P-level contracts often require changing duty stations every few years. This can be exciting but also challenging for those with family or other commitments.
Consultancies Due to budget constraints, consultancies are increasingly common. Many of these roles don’t offer benefits like paid leave or health insurance, though some do (such as PSA contracts at UNDP). Consulting can be a great entry point into the UN or a way to continue a career in the organization.
Internships Sadly, many UN internships are still unpaid, although organizations like UNDP do offer some compensation. While internships can be tough, especially if you’re switching careers or have family obligations, I know colleagues who have successfully transitioned into the sector by starting as interns. It’s a fantastic way to build a network and gain recommendations.
Where to Find Jobs
The UN’s main career website (careers.un.org) is a good place to start, but it doesn’t include jobs from all UN agencies. For positions at UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and others, you’ll need to check their individual websites. There are also unofficial job aggregate sites for UN roles (like unjobs.org and unjobnet.org), but be cautious—always ensure you’re applying through official UN websites. Additionally, these sites sometimes pull listings from other sources, making it overwhelming to sift through. I recommend using them in combination with the websites of your preferred organizations (like UNDP).
Meeting Job Requirements
This part might be a bit biased, as I’m a woman and we tend to be more self-critical. UN jobs list both "required" and "desirable" qualifications. Required means required—if you don’t meet those, it’s not worth applying. Desirable qualifications, however, often make the difference between being longlisted or shortlisted. In the past, I didn’t apply if I didn’t meet all the desirable qualifications, especially with language skills. For example, if they prefer a Spanish speaker, why would they choose someone without that skill? And more often than not, there’s no shortage of qualified candidates. However, it’s a judgment to be made in each case.
Detailed Applications Matter
Coming from the business sector, I was used to brief applications. But UN recruitment is different. There’s a structured process that must be followed: typically, one application, sometimes a test, and a single interview with set questions and a fixed timeframe for every candidate. In the business world, it’s common to follow up with multiple interviews, but in the UN, that’s usually not possible—you essentially have one chance for that particular job.
For example, I once saw a young candidate state that they had developed a policy brief in a high-level working group as an intern. While that’s possible, it’s more likely they contributed to the research or coordination. It’s important to be specific—did you manage the research, write the brief, or handle project coordination? Clearly outline your contribution and the skills you gained as a result.
Tailored Applications
Unless you are highly specialized (and even then), it’s important to pay attention to the language used in the job advertisement. Essentially, you want to make it as easy as possible for the recruiter to see that you’ve done what’s being asked for. In fact, that’s how I landed my first position: I was fortunate enough to find a job opening that matched exactly what I had done in my previous two roles. However, I still took a couple of hours to rewrite my application, ensuring that the necessary qualifications stood out at the top and using similar language from the job ad to avoid any guesswork.
Avoiding Typos
Typos won’t necessarily disqualify you, but with free tools like Grammarly, there’s no reason not to submit a clean application. It’s a bit like basic hygiene—just a necessary step.
Interview Preparation
Be ready with several success stories from your past experience. Many interviews will include questions like, "Tell me about a time when..." Having strong, relevant examples prepared will help you stay focused and highlight your qualifications effectively.
Patience is Key
UN job applications often take time—sometimes months. In some cases, I've seen over a year pass between an interview and a job offer. It depends on the type of position, the urgency, and the agency’s process. Being patient and having backup plans can help manage this uncertainty.
These are just a few thoughts that come to mind. For me, working at UNDP has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, and I hope that everyone who is seeking a job in the UN world will find the right opportunity for them.