The idea behind the program is to transfer your knowledge in exchange for a better understanding of development work in this area. UNV points out: “While UN Volunteers with different professional and technical backgrounds are always in demand, there are certain areas of expertise where potential volunteers with relevant backgrounds and skills are more frequently in demand.” Of course, candidates must be prepared for employment in difficult regions and be able to adapt to rapidly changing living and working conditions. Staff of the United Nations system are generally recruited internationally and are expected to serve at various duty stations throughout their careers with the organization. A complete overview of the formal criteria and staff characteristics can be found here. After these rather general requirements, which apply to just about all jobs and positions, I will now take a look at the specific programs for young professionals. The program allows you to acquire knowledge that can be transferred to work in other similar fields. It is important to note that the UN makes it clear that potential volunteers have a better chance of being accepted into the programme if they have different technical and professional backgrounds, and there are certain backgrounds and areas of expertise where volunteers are more frequently requested. Those who apply to the United Nations and become volunteers must be ready to be sent to different parts of the world, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing working and living conditions is a necessary skill. It can be helpful to look at it this way: the first two options described above are best suited if you`re not yet quite sure that working for the UN is right for you. The last two are very specific and first-rate programmes, so they are best suited to those who have put their hearts into working at the United Nations. Please note that you can only apply for certain job openings, which can be viewed on donor countries` websites. Candidates should apply directly to their national Ministry of Foreign Affairs and should therefore search the respective national website for vacancies, specific information on application requirements and the application process in general.

The only exception is that candidates from developing countries should contact the United Nations Secretariat directly. These candidates should send their application, consisting of a statement of personal history and a cover letter, by e-mail to the UN Secretariat. There are also special job offers for candidates from developing countries. For specific requirements, applicants should consult the website of their national Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but there are certain requirements that all applicants must meet. Candidates must be 32 years of age or younger, hold a master`s degree and have at least two years of relevant work experience. Fluency in English is required and knowledge of a second UN working language (Russian, Spanish, French or Chinese) is preferred. JPOs are generally offered one-year contracts that can be renewed for individuals under the age of 32 who have a master`s degree or equivalent in a developmental discipline. At least two years of experience as a paid professional in a related field is also required, especially if this experience comes from work in a developing country. Oral and written knowledge of one of the three official working languages of the United Nations, namely English, French or Spanish, is often required. Soft skills such as strategic and critical thinking and commitment to working for development and human rights are a plus. To obtain employment with the UN, you must meet the experiential requirements, which include at least a master`s degree in a relevant field, two to 15 years of experience, depending on the role, and several language skills. You can also work as a temporary UN volunteer or apply for internship programmes.

Entry programs with the United Nations are managed by the respective United Nations organization and the eligibility requirements and application process differ from one to another depending on the program you are applying to. This article summarizes human rights-related UN entrance programs for graduates and young professionals. As with other UNESCO entry programmes, candidates accept the possibility of geographical mobility during their work at UNESCO and receive support when needed. There are six official languages at the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Two of them, English and French, are the working languages. To work for the United Nations, you must have an excellent command of English or French. Knowledge of an additional language is an advantage, but is not required for most jobs. If you`re looking to start a career at the United Nations, here`s a guide to everything you need to know, from preferred education to the highest skills needed to succeed in the organization. There are some basic requirements to be accepted into the UN, so before you start looking for specific opportunities, it is important that you have: fluency in at least one working language, which includes English and French; an advanced degree from a university; ideally previous work experience; and work experience depending on the level you wish to join. It doesn`t hurt to speak another language outside of the main UN languages, but it`s not a requirement for most available jobs.

Once you`ve ticked these boxes, you can start exploring more specific opportunities within the United Nations. Although as an intern you do not receive reimbursement and salary in most cases, we only recommend that you apply for paid internships. There are groups working to change that to better pay for internships at the United Nations and beyond. In some cases, you can find stand-alone programs within the UN that pay their interns. In addition, there are various national internship programs funded by national governments that help the intern get paid for their time. You need at least a master`s degree to work for the United Nations. A bachelor`s degree and two years of relevant work experience will suffice in some positions. With over 39,700 United Nations (UN) employees in 193 member countries around the world, working for the United Nations could be the right career choice for you. The United Nations gives priority to candidates who have practical experience in carrying out development projects. Not only does it tell them that you have commitment and passion for the type of humanitarian work they specialize in, but it also gives them valuable insight into your ability to cope with the intensity and stressors that come with working in a new and foreign culture. Each of the permanent positions requires you to have several years of experience behind you, in many cases several degrees and knowledge of several languages. In some cases, the requirements are lower – for example, for local and administrative staff, but even these jobs are not so easy to obtain.

Read more details on the official website. If there are additional language requirements, as may be the case for certain language positions, these will be indicated in the respective job postings. If you are passionate about helping others while finding global solutions to complex problems, then working for the UN might be the right choice for you. Whether you`re analyzing trade-related information to shape economic policy or providing clean water to communities in developing countries, there are limitless opportunities for you to make a difference at the United Nations. Positions in some job families, including military, civilian police, medical and conference services, may have different standards with respect to minimum training requirements, which are reflected accordingly in their respective job postings. Positions from job families that require specialized education, such as physicians, require an advanced university degree, which cannot be replaced by a combination of college degree and experience. Positions in other fields, primarily language positions, may require only an undergraduate college diploma for minimum educational requirements. The YPP exam is only open to nationals of certain countries and the list of countries changes every year. The United Nations Secretariat aims to ensure that as many nationalities as possible are represented in its system, and nationals of countries currently underrepresented in the United Nations are therefore encouraged to take the YPP exam. The list is published each year at the beginning of the application cycle. Candidates must be fluent in English or French, the working languages of the United Nations.

In addition, applicants must have an undergraduate university degree in the field for which they wish to apply and must not be over 32 years of age at the time of application. There are 41,000 people working worldwide – from New York to Seoul: your work experience must be relevant to the job you are applying for; Each job may also have specific requirements, which are specified in the advertisement. Mid-career and higher positions require progressively responsible work experience. As you gain more relevant work experience, you can gradually apply for higher positions.