Stories
Essential skills and qualifications required to secure a job in the UN.
- •Getting a job in the UN is not an impossible dream and requires the right strategy, strong intentions, and firm paths.
- •More than 35000 regular and permanent international civil servants work in the United Nations Secretariat and its various agencies.
- •Global networking and professional reach with people from social work, diplomacy, or policy making matter a lot in getting opportunities.
- •Soft skills like excellent communication, negotiation, staying calm during crises, and respecting cultural diversity are vital.
- •A strong academic background including a Master's degree in fields like International Relations, Public Policy, or Law is preferred for entry.
Key Questions Answered
A strong academic background with higher education is the entry gate to the United Nations, where a Master's degree is generally preferred for roles in agencies like UNICEF, WHO, or UNESCO. Degrees in fields such as International Relations, Public Policy, Law, Economics, Environmental Science, Journalism, or Social Work can open doors very easily.
More than 35,000 to 40,000 regular and permanent international civil servants work in the UN Secretariat and various agencies like UNDP, UNICEF, and UNHCR, with numbers exceeding 100,000 during peace missions and field operations. UN jobs are available in both long-term permanent or fixed-term positions, as well as short-term contracts and consultant roles based on project needs.
Soft skills are vital, with excellent communication in global languages like English and French at the top of the list. Other crucial attributes include negotiation skills, crisis management, calmness under pressure, and the ability to respect cultural diversity.
