Application by Internet. 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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Select your vacancy. 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.

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 acknowledgment within 24 hours, contact them again for confirmation.

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.

Application by Competitive ExaminationVisit the U.N.’s National Competitive Recruitment Examinations Programme’s website, linked below. The NCRE program is used to select junior professional officers for specialist positions. Only nationals of participating countries—these are listed on the website—are eligible, and you must be under 32 years old to apply. You must also have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or (outside the U.S.) three-year first-level degree relevant to one of the available occupational groups listed on the website.

Apply for the examination before the annual deadline. The P-11 application form available on the website is the only acceptable method of application. Do not send additional documentation.

Study for the examination. The applications are screened, and qualified applicants are invited to take the examination and to interview. If you are invited, you will be sent a list of recommended reading, and sample tests are available on the website. You will need to exhibit expertise in the subject area for which you are applying, but you’ll also need to show a good knowledge of current events and world politics.

Take the examination. The examination takes place on a specified date at U.N. offices all over the world. It consists of a general paper, which tests your ability to synthesize information and write clearly, and a specialized paper that tests occupation-specific knowledge.

Wait for your results and attend an interview if invited. The tests take some time to mark, but competitive applicants will be invited for an interview, usually taking place several months after the examination. The most qualified applicants are then recommended for employment within the U.N. and are placed on a reserve list for current and future openings.

All the best
CareerAge Counselor