"I want to work for the UN. How do I go about it?" - this is, by far, the most common query we receive at UNA-UK, a real testament to the enduring appeal of the Organisation. Our first response is usually: 'That's great. Which part of the UN would you like to work for, and what would you like to do?"
Career opportunities at the UN are as diverse as the issues on its agenda - you certainly don't need to be an international relations graduate or an aid worker to consider working for the Organisation.Media officers, lawyers, administrators, event organisers, IT professionals, radio producers, photographers and economists are among the UN's 44,000 staff. And a job at the UN doesn't mean working in New York or Geneva. The UN and its myriad funds, programmes and agencies have a worldwide presence.
This diversity offers candidates a wealth of options. But it also makes applying for 'a job at the UN' more complex.
Careers expert panel
UNA-UK supports those wishing to work for the UN through tailored careers events, workshops and resources. At UN Forum 2012, we have put together an expert panel to anwer your questions:
- Dame Margaret Anstee - with over four decades of experience at the UN, Dame Margaret will share her unique insights into working for the Organisation at different levels and locations. The first woman to rise to Under-Secretary-General rank, she recounted her experiences of being a woman at the UN in her inspiring autobiography "Never Learn to Type". Although much has changed since she joined the Organisation, the issues she discusses are still extremely pertinent - even now just a third of UN employees are female.
- John Ericson - as Chief of the UN's Office of Human Resources Managment Outreach Unit, John is probably the best person in the whole UN system to answer your questions on applying to and working for the Organisation. He has previously spoken under our auspices at sell-out events and has a wealth of experience drawn from his own varied postings, which include a peacekeeping operation in the former Yugoslavia and a polling station in Cambodia.
- Andrew Felton - currently serving as Senior External Affairs Counsellor at the World Bank and with a background in the UK civil service, Andrew is in an excellent position to provide a rounded perspective of working in international development. The World Bank employs over 9,000 people in 125 countries - we are delighted to be able to broaden this session to include this important part of the UN system.
Take action
We anticipate that this will be one of the most popular sessions at UN Forum and many participants will want to ask questions.
In order to ensure that the panel is able to answer as many as possible, we encourage you to send us your questions ahead of the event:
- Tweet: #UNForum2012
- Facebook: UNA-UK
- Email: website@una.org.uk
Get inspired
There is a wealth of UN experience within UNA-UK's member and supporter networks, and we regularly feature interviews with people who have worked for the Organisation at different levels.
- Please get in touch with us on the above details if you would like to share your experiences of working for the UN
- Visit the UN's career portal for more information and the latest vacancies
