Many students come to IDS with aspirations of a career in the UN system. A recent event at IDS gave both students and alumni the opportunity to learn about the realities of such a career and the chance to gain valuable insights from a distinguished panel with a wealth of experience working at the UN.
This article outlines the three key pieces of advice and introduces the panellists. The recording of the event and some helpful resources are available at the bottom.
1) Figure out your personal goals and pathways, and prepare to compromise
There is no one-size-fits-all route to a job at the UN, there are various pathways and entry points, which include:
- Internships
- Volunteering
- The Junior Professional Officers (JPO) Programme.
Applicants for UN positions come from different countries and privileges and have varying levels of experience. None of these factors should be a barrier to applying, but you may have to compromise by aiming for a more a more junior position to begin with. When pivoting into a new field, you may have to find new ways to interpret and apply your existing skills and experience, as explained by panellist Veronica:
“Having to go back to the basics was something I had to compromise with…. I come with a lot of experience, with a different sector’s skills, and a different kind of expertise. And then having to apply them in a completely different world, I understood that I needed to go into an internship or a little bit more of a junior position.”
If you do need to compromise and focus your application on an initial entry-level post, even if in a more junior position than you are used to, there may more opportunities within the UN once you have gained more experience.
2) Don’t be put off by high levels of competition
There is a lot of competition for positions at the UN! It is a rapidly changing space, which creates unpredictability. There are now more short-to-medium-term contracts which has increased competition both internally and externally, especially for young professionals. These factors are out your control, and therefore difficult to navigate.
Although there can be an element of good luck and timing when it comes to first getting into the UN, persistency and making your application stand out are so important, and within your control.
Two great ways to stand out are:
- Have a specialised focus area or topic, which you can do through your master’s thesis.
- Have a clear idea about the technical area you want to work in. The UN can be a very supportive environment in which to explore and get involved in projects aligned with personal interests and passions.
3) Your application – be specific and respond to minimum requirements
When restricted by character limits in application forms, make sure you are extremely specific about personal skills, competencies, and interests. Ensuring applications respond to minimum requirements set out in job descriptions is important, as many first application rounds are subject to automated checks.
Also make sure you play up to personal core strengths and include soft skills and any extracurricular activities you’ve done.
Click below to watch a recording of the event:
Meet the panellists
Veronica Corbellini: Former UN Women Gender and Humanitarian Research Intern. She is also social science and gender-focused researcher from Italy. In 2022, she graduated from IDS with a Master’s degree in Gender and Development. She recently completed a six-month assignment in Barbados at the UN Women Multi-Country Office of the Caribbean, working in disaster risk resilience, climate change, and humanitarian action.
Priya Pajel: Agroforestry Specialist at FAO’s Regional Office for Asia-Pacific in Bangkok. Priya graduated from IDS in 2021 with a Master’s degree in Food and Development. She currently works as an Agroforestry Specialist at FAO’s Regional Office for Asia-Pacific in Bangkok. Before moving to Thailand in September 2024, she was based at FAO’s Headquarters in Rome where she supported the Forestry Division’s global agroforestry work.
Nicholas Rosellini: Former UN Resident Coordinator in the People’s Rupublic of China (PRC). Nicholas’ final assignment before retirement was as the UN Resident Coordinator in the PRC. He previously served as UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, and as UN Resident Coordinator in Bhutan. Before that, he worked in various capacities in UNDP including in the Bureau of Management in New York, Vietnam, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Ghana.
Michael Askwith: Former International Development Consultant for the UN. Michael began his time at the UN serving as a volunteer Junior Professional Officer. He has worked as UN Resident Coordinator in both Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea and later at the UNDP Headquarters. After serving in countless other posts, he moved into a consultancy role with the UN, working over 40 missions in 30 countries between 2000 and 2017. Michael carried out sabbatical studies as a visiting research fellow at IDS in 1994.
Useful links
How to get started: UN application online procedures
Guide to careers in the UN: UNA-UK Careers Portal
Key contacts
