How To Get A Job At United Nations (UN)?

For folks who wish to contribute directly to making this a world a better place, a job at United Nations can be a step in the right direction. A job at UN promises entirely new experiences that won’t be possible in a typical 9 to 5 job. You will have the opportunity to participate in a number of field activities and projects. A number of career options are available at United Nations and you can choose as per your interest and qualification. Here are some options, as to how to get a job at United Nations.

Young Professionals Programme – This is a special recruitment drive held annually. It targets highly qualified, talented professionals who wish to take up a career at UN. To gain entry, candidates will have to pass an examination. Candidates need to be 32 years or younger and have at least a university degree. Fluency in either English or French is required. Selected candidates will get to work with the UN secretariat as an international civil servant.

Language expert – If you have a flair for languages, you can work for various language positions at UN. A number of language-related jobs are available such as proofreaders, production editors, editors, interpreters, translators and verbatim reporters. Currently, UN has six official languages – English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, French and Arabic. You need to have proficiency in one official language and good command in at least one other language.

Junior Professional Officer Programme – This is a specialized program that hires candidates for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Successful candidates can get work opportunities at various UN organizations. Junior Professional Officers are hired as per an agreement with UN and participating countries.

Volunteer programme – If you are not sure about how it will feel like to work at UN, you can start with the Volunteer programme. Every year, hundreds of qualified and experienced individuals take up volunteer work at United Nations. As a volunteer, you can be involved in missions such as disaster relief, empowering communities, education, etc. If you like the work, you can later think about taking up a full-time career at UN.

Internship programme – If you have interest in things like public policy and diplomacy, you can start your career as a United Nations intern. You will get the opportunity to work with other talented folks and assist the senior management. You will have to do plenty of analytical work and attend high-profile meetings and conferences.

Temporary jobs – United Nations hires temporary staff to meet specific short-term requirements and seasonal or peak workloads. Temporary jobs at UN are best suited for individuals who are yet to finalize their career goals.

Consultants – If you have any specific expertise in any field, you can get a job of a consultant at UN. You will have the option to work part-time or full-time.

How to apply for jobs at United Nations? 

To access and apply for available job opportunities at United Nations, you need to register at Inspira, the human resources gateway of the organization.

What is the salary at United Nations?

UN offers attractive pay packages and benefits for its staff. The salary will vary based on the type of job. For example, net base salary is US$ 37,000 – 80,000 for P1 to P3 entry level professionals; US$ 67,000 – 106,000 for P4 – P5 mid-career professionals; and US$ 95,000 – 123,000 for D1 – D2 senior level professionals. Salaries for field service professionals is slightly lower than above.

In addition, you will be entitled to various benefits. It includes health insurance, retirement pension, 18-30 days annual leave, rental subsidy, hazard pay, hardship allowance, assignment grant and travel and shipping expenses. It is also worth noting that salaries, allowances and grants received from UN are usually tax free.