Starting a Career at The United Nations: The How

Source: Wikipedia

Is it just me, or has anyone else ever wondered how to start a career with the UN?

At the beginning of my professional journey, working for a UN agency in Indonesia felt like the ultimate dream. Maybe it was because I studied international issues for years, or because I was inspired by the idea of contributing to something bigger than myself and helping create a better world through meaningful work.

So, like many dreamers, I started applying. A lot.

I must have submitted hundreds, maybe even thousands, of applications to different UN agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, and even the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Looking back, some of those roles were far beyond my level of experience at the time, but I believed in trying anyway. No regrets. Every application was part of the journey.

After many attempts, rejections, and lessons learned, I finally landed my first role as a consultant with WHO Indonesia a few years ago. It was a short-term assignment, but one of the most valuable experiences of my career. It gave me practical skills, professional confidence, and a deeper understanding of how international organizations actually work.

What I learned from that experience is this: starting a career at the UN does not always happen through one main door. Many people assume the only path is applying directly through official vacancy portals. While that is certainly one route, it is not the only one.

There are multiple entry points, including consultancies, project-based roles, internships, partnerships, secondments, and networking opportunities that can open unexpected doors. Sometimes the first step is not your dream title, but the experience that prepares you for it.

In this post, I’d like to share a few practical tips based on my own experience on how to begin your professional journey with the UN system. Hopefully, it helps make your own path feel a little clearer and a little more possible.

1. Apply as a consultant - usually through the e-mail at a job vacancy post. Working as a consultant is quite different than working as regular UN staff or service contract holders, in terms of entitlement and salary arrangement. Usually, you will be hired under the lump sum contract or the daily fee based contract (I'm not really familiar with this one). The financial proposal usually will specify a total lump sum amount, and the payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments are made in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. (source: UNDP's procurement notice). For example, you are hired to be a consultant on a specific project for a certain period of time, you will be paid for USD 6000 for a 6 months project. This does not mean that they will pay you $1000/month. They might pay you 25% of the total value of your contract upon the signing, and then another 65% after you submit your progress report, and then another 10% upon the completion of your final report. They might also pay you monthly based on your monthly report. It varies.
2. UN Volunteer Platform - Although it says volunteer, it is not volunteer per se, as the volunteers at the UN are usually paid decently - but they are very specific on calling it a monthly stipend, not salary. Nevertheless the amount is quite good (for example, the stipend for a national UNV in Jakarta is approximately IDR 8.000.000, and for an international UNV in Indonesia you will be given a stipend more than USD 2000/month), and even better than most entry level jobs in Jakarta (or in Indonesia!) as you are also entitled to various benefits which are basically the same as the benefits received by UN staff - insurance (some even covers your dependants!) and training allowances. To apply for a UN Volunteer position, you can check their website here: https://vmam.unv.org/. 
3. Apply through the recruitment system. This method is basically the same as the other organization's recruitment method. There was a time when I was being skeptical and thought that these kinds of recruitment system are basically just formalities for the actual "recruitment" (re: through the insider's recommendation). But I was wrong! Although I failed many times (like MANY), I managed to be called for several written tests and interview sessions. So I guess I just lacked of experience or was just not suitable for the position or the post advertised. So this method takes approximately 2 months in total (could be longer for a professional position such as the G-level, NO-level, or the P- level positions), from the submission deadline, first announcement, written test, and then the interview. I will discuss it on a separate post the details of this process so that you can better understand how to prepare for the recruitment process 😊 

So, where can you find reliable information about UN recruitment opportunities?

In the past, I often heard about vacancies through colleagues, former lecturers, and friends from my university network. Personal connections can be incredibly helpful, especially when people share openings you might not have seen elsewhere.

That said, if you are actively looking for opportunities, there are several platforms you can regularly check. Of course, the number one source will always be the official websites of each UN agency. Most organizations publish their vacancies directly on their own career pages. 😊

In addition to that, there are two useful websites many job seekers rely on when exploring opportunities within the UN system:

1. The UNjobs (not official UN job portal) https://unjobs.org/
2. The Impactpool https://www.impactpool.org/

Both platforms usually redirect applicants to the official recruitment websites of the respective UN agencies, where the actual application process takes place. What makes them valuable is their well-organized and frequently updated database of current vacancies, making it easier to track opportunities in one place.

One thing to keep in mind is that applying for a job with the UN can be quite detailed and competitive. In many cases, you may be asked to submit comprehensive documents, including forms such as the P11 Personal History Form, along with completing multiple stages of online application questions. The process can feel long, so it is important to stay patient, pay close attention to every instruction, and make sure no document or detail is missed.

It does require effort, but for the right opportunity, it can absolutely be worth it. 😁