|
A Career
with the United Nations
A job with the United
Nations (UN) is one of the most sought after. It has status
and prestige, with lucrative emoluments. In this issue, we
describe the various opportunities and how to apply for jobs
with the UN. We have also provided addresses from where
additional information can be obtained.
The United Nations plays many vital roles. More than ever
before, member States are seeking assistance of the UN and
trusting it with an unprecedented set of new
responsibilities. In many areas of conflict and humanitarian
assistance, it is the only institution that can tackle
pressing global challenges.
This challenge is met by a global Secretariat of 14,800 staff
drawn from 160 countries and many more civilians serving with
peacekeeping operations. The United Nations Secretariat needs
dedicated staff who are competent in a multitude of fields.
Some of the occupational groups which are required by the UN
are listed below:
Occupational Groups
Administration: Positions in administration provide a variety
of day-to-day support services for the substantive activities
of the UN. Staff in this occupational group are involved in
the planning and management of human and material resources,
in recruitment and training of staff and in administration.
They liaise with programme managers and financial planners,
as well as secure goods and services required by the United
Nations.
Economics: This includes a wide variety of specilisation,
such as designing and conducting research in various economic
areas; development of economic models for long-range
forecasting and development strategies; and planning,
developing and monitoring technical assistance projects. A
prominent area of activity is the field of sustainable
development and capacity building.
Electronic Data Processing: Positions relate to a wide range
of assignments in data processing, telecommunications and
infrastructure support. These assignments consist of
feasibility studies, systems analysis, systems development
and implementation, local and wide-area network
implementation and support, electronic messaging, setting of
hardware and software standards, and operations support.
Finance: Accounting, auditing, financial analysis, and
treasury personnel are required. Staff in the accounting
field perform accounting functions for the regular budget as
well as the peace-keeping budget of the United Nations and
trust funds. Auditors are responsible for audit functions for
all UN activities. The United Nations Treasurer is
responsible for managing and investing the United Nations
Pension Fund. Financial analysts provide information and
advice, and respond to inquiries on financial matters to the
major bodies of the United Nations and to Member States.
Language and related work: Positions in this occupation group
are found in the following areas: Translation,
Interpretation, Editing, Verbatim Reporting, and
Proof-reading in the six official languages which are:
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The
services of interpreters are needed in the meetings of all UN
bodies. Proficient in at least three official languages,
interpreters are put to the test every day as they quickly
and accurately convert statements from one language to
another, often without the benefit of the written text.
Translators are also required to be proficient in three
languages and work on reports, resolutions and official
communiques in social, political, technical, financial and
other fields. Teams of verbatim reporters prepare written
records of meetings of the most important UN organs. Editors
ensure the accuracy and conformity of documents and
publications to UN style and form. Terminologists establish
and ensure the application of UN terminological standards,
while copy preparers and proof-readers are responsible for
typographic processing and accuracy.
Legal: A specialisation in law is required. The following
activites are conducted under this area: preparation of
opinions and studies on the interpretation of the UN Charter
and the rules of international law; progressive development,
codification and harmonisation of international law;
providing advice on commercial matters dealing with claims of
an international or a private law character; responding to
the needs of the Member States in dealing with legal,
political, economic, scientific, technical and environmental
aspects of the law of the sea and marine affairs;
representation of the Secretary-General before the
International Court of Justice and in the settlements of
claims.
Library: The services provided include management of an
archival collection of United Nations documents and
publications and in-house production and processing of data.
This information is used by delegates, permanent missions,
staff members and researchers. The UN libraries also support
the world-wide network of depository libraries, which assist
in disseminating United Nations information.
Public information: Positions in the field of public
information involve making of UN press releases and
information materials, both in print and on-line. The
assignments may include providing official coverage of United
Nations meetings, conferences, and programmes for
delegations, the media and Non-Governmental Organisations,
the production of thematically-integrated publications,
radio, television, video, and photographic products. Other
major activities comprise the handling of promotion campaigns
and media coverage of international conferences and
observances, special events, conducting public tours and
responding to public inquiries.
Social development: Crime prevention, criminal justice,
narcotics control, institutional development and popular
participation, social integration and welfare, promotion of
equality of men and women, rural development, as well as
issues of importance to youth, the ageing, and the disabled,
are part of the social development activities undertaken by
the UN, Demography and population science are other important
areas in this field. An increasingly prominent area of
activity is the field of environmental protection.
Statistics: Positions in this field provide for increasing
the availability and use of relevant, timely and reliable
statistics for national and international planning and
action. They also contribute to the development, expansion,
improvement and maintenance of cost-effective statistical
capabilities through teh formulation and the improvement of
statistical methodologies. Furthermore, assignments in this
area are responsible for enhancing the collection and
dissemination of statistics in numerous fields, promoting the
co-ordination of international statistical work, and
producing the international statistical series, which
includes national accounts, prices, internatinal trade,
population, social indicators, environment, industry, energy,
transport, and housing.
Salary and Benefits
The United Nations offers attractive remuneration packages
and benefits. Starting salaries are based upon academic and
professional qualifications, as well as the level of the
post. The base salary scales are set by the General Assembly.
There is also a post adjustment element based on the cost of
living and the rate of exchange of local currency and the US
dollar at each duty station.
Recruitment Through competitive Examinations
Junior professionals and professionals are recruited through
National Competitive Recruitment Examinations. The
examinations are organised as a matter of priority in
countries that are inadequately represented among the staff
of the secretariat.
For junior professional positions, a candidate must possess a
first level university degree and be 32 years of age or
younger. For senior positions, a candidate must possess an
advanced university degree, four years of professional
experience, and be 39 years of age or younger. Fluency in
either English or French is required. All those who meet
these criteria and believe in the purposes and ideals of the
United Nations are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates
should contact: United Nations Examinations and Tests
Section, Division for Staff Development and Performance,
Policy and Specialist services, Office of Human Resources
Management, Room S-2590, NY 10017, USA.
Language Examinations
Examinations are held to establish a roster of qualified
candidates from whichto fill language positions. The
frequency of the exmainations varies according to the needs
of the UN. Interested candidates should contact: United
Nations Language Examinations Division for Planning,
Recruitment and Operational Services, Office of Human
Resources Management, Room S-2555, NY 10017, USA
Peace-keeping operations
In order to fulfil its primary peace-keeping role, the United
Nations is involved in a number of operations established in
different regions of the world, known as United Nations
Peace-keeping Operations. Aside from the widely known "blue
helmets", which are military forces provided directly by the
member States of the United Nations, these operations also
rely on civilian staff for a wide variety of functions
ranging from monitoring the observance of human rights to
managing human or material resources.
Positions are offered in the following fields: political
affairs, legal affairs, human rights, election monitoring,
humanitarian assistance, public information, general
administration, procurement, logistics, civil engineering,
and electronic data processing.
Interested applicants may obtain an application form and
submit their curriculum vitae to the following address:
United Nations Personnel Management and Support Service,
Field Administration and Logistics Division, Department of
Peace-Keeping Operations, S-2280, NY 10017, USA.
United Nations Headquarters Internship Programme
The United Nations Headquarters Internship Programme is
offered to students enrolled in graduate school with a view
to promoting a better understanding of major problems
confronting the world and giving them an insight into how the
United Nations attempts to find solutions to these problems.
The programme consists of three two-month periods throughout
the year: mid-January to mid-March, mid-May to mid-July, and
mid-September to mid November, As the UN has no provision in
its budget to pay interns, all costs connected with
internships must be borne by the students concerned or by
their sponsoring institutions or governments. Interested
candidates should contact: United Nations Internship
Programme, Division for Staff Development and Performance,
Policy and Specialist Services, Office of Human Resources
Management, Room S-2580, NY 10017, USA.
|
|
