How can I be a part or be employed by United Nations?

Question

I have a degree in International Studies and I would like to work with United Nations or its office here, UN Philippines. Currently I am employed with a big airline company but this work isn't just for me. Can somebody help me and give me an idea where and how will I start? :'(

Answer 1

just go into the un building and ask for an application

Answer 2

apply........................

Answer 3

Apply at Waste Management, that's a basic requisite

Answer 4

You'd need to apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs.  It's on Roxas Avenue, if I'm not mistaken.  It's the same street as the US Embassy in Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, not far from the Manila Hotel and Intramuros.

If they hire you, you'll probably just be stuck working for the department.  They can stick you wherever they want to put you, which may or may not be the UN.  But, it's still your only bet in.

If they don't have you working for the Department in the Philippines, they might send you to work abroad in one of their embassies or consulates.  Those are very nice positions, and they're good stepping-stones for careers in diplomacy.  After that much experience, they might let you choose to go to the UN, but it would of course take a very long time and a lot of hard work.

The other option would be to apply directly to the UN for their positions, but you'd need to live in New York for this where the UN is located.  Even then, you wouldn't get an International Studies analyst sort of job; the jobs there would be, like, UN interpretor.  Those jobs are extremely prominent and pay well (former Democratic Presidential Nominee John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, was once a UN interpretor).  But, the problem is, they're unlikely to need a Filipino translator.  The Philippine Ambassadors to the UN already would need to be well-versed in English, so having a Filipino translator pretty much defeats any practicality.

To get a job where your International Studies skills would come in handy, you'll have to try the Department of Foreign Affairs or even trying out working as a media correspondent and analyst.

Answer 5

Fly to France, purchase a large-white flag, and bring it to the closest UN building. I'd assume you'd be hired on the spot.

Answer 6

Going to the branch office in the Philippines is a good idea.

Some countries' national governments also sponsor and pay the salary of expert economics and policy researchers working for the UN and related organizations like the ILO. Check with your government.

If you can even get an unpaid internship, it might help you find a real job there. After an internship, you might find more work with a short-term contract, or an entry level position.

The UN in NY City has tour guide jobs. Maybe you can apply online. I think they pay about $20 US per hour. It is highly selective and you probably need to know somebody in the government or be completely overqualified with a graduate degree from one of the top universities of the world.

Try joining facebook.com and searching for  people networked as working for the UN. They might have more advice.

To better network with people who already are working in the UN, get an unpaid internship at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, or one of its related organizations such as the International Labour Office (ILO) or  the World Trade Organization (WTO). Apply for the internship after you have become a full-time graduate student in law school or in economics, social policy, or maybe industrial and labor relations (ILR), either for a masters degree or PhD. Cornell University has a program for ILR.

If you want a career working for UN or related organization, it might be worth spending a year or two to get a masters degree to boost your credentials and put you in the university career services office. You can apply for an unpaid internship through your university.  Geneva is very expensive so a scholarship or personal wealth is needed for an unpaid internship. Only the International Labour Organization pays a stipend to its interns who have no funding.

For working in the United Nations in Geneva, it seems to help your chances if you are an economics or social policy PhD who has good statistical analysis and research skills--or even  a law school student. Law school students, especially those focused on international trade law, do intern at organizations such as the UN and WTO.

For other UN roles such as HR, finance or accounting, marketing or public relations, translating, etc... I am not sure how those people found their jobs in the UN, but I suspect they are highly qualified in their job and might also have a close friend or family member with a government role.

If you study at a university in the future, talk to your career services at the school or the department head. Some schools are known for sending interns to the UN, the ILO, etc. For example, Oxford, Cambridge, and Cornell seem to send a number of students and full-time employees. Alumni networking helps. It doesn't matter what university you went to if you have a good resume, but I suspect it helps to know somebody important who can find you a real job opportunity there. I suspect that each country has one or two universities that send a few student interns, occasionally a professor, and other graduates as full-time workers to the UN, ILO, WTO, etc. If you happened to go to one of those universities it probably is easier to network with alumni and gain a position working at the UN.

Answer 7

Payoff the new UN Secretary General (Ban Ki Moon), you'll be put on the top of the list.  The UN is the most corrupt organization in the world aside from Congress and the Senate.

Answer 8

Learn to cover up corruption.

Answer 9

You can apply in the employment dept. at the UN offices. But

first, leave  your back pack at the door! :)

Answer 10

First of all, how many of the official UN languages are you fluent in? Obviously you're well versed in English, but what about Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, etc. This is what the UN looks for most in an employee. If you are able to speak, read, and write in these languages, you are halfway there. Then make sure you get a good resume together, as your previous job skills will have an impact on your being hired. Then, go ahead and apply to your local office as you had mentioned, because you have to start somewhere.

Answer 11

You must first have a lobotomy to work with brain dead morons at the UN!!!