Working for theUnited Nations

John EricsonChief, Outreach Section

Office of Human Resources ManagementDecember 2009

• United Nations Staff are International Civil Servants 24/7

• Staff may take instructions only from the Secretary-General (or his designated representatives)

• Mobility: Staff may be assigned anywhere in the world by the Secretary-General

• Highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity (Charter, article 101.3)

• Staff are subject to standards of conduct and ethics

• Maximum age: 62 (except very seniorpositions)

STAFF OF THE UNITED NATIONS

CATEGORIES OF STAFF•Senior Levels

• Under-Secretary-General (USG)• Assistant Secretary-General (ASG)

•Professional and Higher Categories (internationally recruited):

• Directors (D-1 & D-2)• Professionals (P-1 – P-5)

•Locally Recruited Staff:• National Officers• General Service & Related Categories (support staff)• (G-1 – G-7, TC-1 – TC-8, S-1 – S-7, PIA, LT)

•Other Personnel:• Consultants & Contractors (Special Service

Agreement: SSA)• Service Contracts• Interns

•United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

MAIN ENTITLEMENTS & BENEFITS

• Annual & Sick Leave• Home Leave• Maternity & Paternity Leave• Education Grant & Travel• Rental Subsidy• Defined-benefits Pension• Health Insurance• Installation & Shipment & Repatriation• Pay for Additional Official Language• Mobility and Hardship Pay• Rest and Recuperation (peacekeeping missions)

UN ESTABLISHED DUTY STATIONS & TRIBUNALS

GenevaUNOG,

UNCTAD, OHCHR, ECE,

OCHA

NairobiUNON, UNEP,

UN-Habitat

New YorkUN

Headquarters

ViennaUNOV, UNODC

Addis AbabaECA

BangkokESCAP

BeirutESCWA

SantiagoECLAC

The HagueICTY

ArushaICTR

SUBSTANTIVE JOBS IN THE UNITED NATIONS

• Economic Affairs

• Social Affairs

• Political Affairs

• Civil Affairs

• Humanitarian Affairs

• Human Rights

• Rule of Law

• Public Information, Radio & TV

• Drug Control & Crime

Prevention

• Statistics

• Demographics

• Public Administration

• Electoral Affairs

• Legal Affairs

SUPPORT JOBS IN THE UNITED NATIONS

• Administrators: Human Resources, Finance, Budget, Facilities Management, Administration (general)

• Information and Communications Technology

• Information Management

• Cartography

• Medical

• Programme/Project Management

• Security

• Logistics

• Procurement

• Engineering

• Aviation

• Library Science

• Conference Servicing

• Language Staff: Interpreter, Translator, etc.

• P-2 = 2 yearsNo experience required if you pass the United Nations NCRE or Language examination

• P-3 = 5 years

• P-4 = 7 years

• P-5 = 10 years

• D-1 = 15 years

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

UN JOBS WEBSITE: http://jobs.un.org

• Examinations held annually based on a country’s representation status and government’s agreement

• Most entry level positions (P-2), except for peacekeeping, are filled through competitive examinations

NCRE applicants must:

• Be a national of any of the participating Member States

• Be younger than 32 years old as of 31 December of the year of the exam

• Hold at least a first-level university degree relevant to one of the offered occupational groups

• Be fluent in either English or French

UN NATIONAL COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION

• Examinations held based on the needs of the United Nations

• All language staff (interpreters, translators, etc.) must have passed the applicable examination

• Language staff are hired from the roster at the entry level (P-2)

• No age limit other than the retirement age of 62

Language examination applicants must:• Hold at least a first-level university degree• Be able to interpret or translate from two languages into

main language• Interpreters: be graduates of a reputable interpretation

school and/or have practical experience of conference

interpretation• Translators, editors, etc.: persons with any background

(law, economics, etc.) are welcome

UN LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS

UN INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME• Opportunity to familiarize yourself with the daily issues

of the United Nations

• Interns work in departments related to their field of study

• It is an unpaid full-time internship

Requirements:• Must be enrolled in graduate school• Must apply at least 4 months in advance of the start

of internship to the duty station of choice• Duration: 2 months (may be extended up to 6

months)• Starting dates are mid-January, June and mid-

September• http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/sds/internsh/

index.htm• http://jobs.un.org -> Internship

MAIN REASONS FOR WORKING AT THE UN

• Opportunity to serve a good cause

• Opportunity to work in a multicultural environment and global organization

• Opportunity to serve in different locations

• Status and reputation of the United Nations

• Strong belief in the purpose of the United Nations

Thank you!

www.un.orghttp://jobs.un.org