United Nations

sheyn · Oct 13th, 2009, 11:46 PM

So I was thinking of applying to the UN for a job in a healthcare /advisory/research capacity.

As a girl what are the chances I would be able to get a job with them and what other kind of jobs are available for girls within the United Nations ?

Can one apply and request which part of the world they would like to be posted or must you wait for a job to be posted in that part of the globe .

Does the United Nations have internships related to healthcare here in New York ?

Anyone have any experience with the United Nations and is it advisable for a girl to apply to these jobs . Basically I want to know what my chances are of getting hired

Has anyone else tried applying with the UN and succeeded ?

Niksik · Oct 13th, 2009, 11:47 PM

My physician dad turned down 2 offers from the UN

My chachi works for them. She's an engineer. My taya retired from there as an engineer. I can ask them for ya.

sheyn · Oct 13th, 2009, 11:51 PM

Please Niki , I'd appreciate any kind of advice , inside info and advice on how to go about securing a job with them !

Thanks

CM · Oct 14th, 2009, 01:48 AM

You have three systems in the UN.

1. Secretariat - which are based in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi
2. Agencies - who have their headquarters based in Geneva or New York or Vienna or Nairobi and then family duty stations (like Dubai) or field stations (like Darfur, Chad etc.)
3. DPKO - Which are based in conflict situations like Darfur, Chad, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan etc.

Now comes the complicated part. The Secretariat and DPKO have the same website for jobs - jobs.un.org.

You have to register and fill out the PHP on the website. The PHP is the Personal History Paper or also called the P.11.

When you apply for a post in the Field, you apply to a generic vacancy. When you apply to a position for New York or Geneva you get sent there. You do not get to chose where you can go when you first apply.

On the other hand each agency is an individual entity and has their own website like www.unctad.org or www.who.int or UNHCR Welcome etc. And their jobs are not listed together. But the guys in geneva have set up: Job Vacancies in United Nations and International Organizations to help out with all the UN jobs in all locations.

Now Healthcare is a wide ranging issue in the UN. It is all covered by UN Agencies like OCHA, WHO, UNHCR, UNFPA etc. Only UNFPA is based in New York with their large headquarters and they have a limited aspect for health care. But health care is mainly seen in field locations on in HQ. Nowhere else. Meaning you can't do health work sitting in LA. No UN base there.

However you will do health work in Geneva or in the field or family duty station.

UNDP is by far the largest UN agency that covers everything including health care. You just need to decide on how you are going to apply.

The UN counts work experience after your masters degree for a professional post called a P post. P-2 is the entry level and requires 1 to 3 years work experience after your masters in the field you are applying for.

The UN is a huge organization and I can better help if I am provided with specific questions to answer.

Edit: As a girl your chances to get a job as a professional in the UN is higher than a man. They aim to recruit more women to keep a gender balance.

NaMaan · Oct 26th, 2009, 02:35 PM

CM, for the administrative job in UNO they always ask for experience which a fresh graduate might not have, apart from an internship. Do you think it is still worth trying for these jobs ?

Can you recommend any UN entity which is best for both administrative and technical jobs ? or may be combination of both ?

Thanks for the useful links you posted.

CM · Oct 27th, 2009, 02:29 AM

Every section of the UN needs administration and administrative support. Depends what you background is. We have a finance section, a budget section, an administrative section and then under that you have transport, logistics, facility management etc etc. 70% of UN staff is administrative in nature.

It is always worth trying to get into the UN because the jobs pay well, you pay no taxes, you get full insurance coverage, and special grants for childrens education, health, dependents and what not. It is a very cushy job.

I suggest you apply to all the UN agencies and try your luck. DPKO - Department of peace keeping hires the most but you end up in the field and not in New York or Geneva. Also try jobs.un.org for jobs.

Arleitter · Oct 27th, 2009, 03:24 AM

CM,Do they consider Bachelors degree in any subject and a considerable work experience ?

Are jobs with U.N on contract basis?

CM · Oct 27th, 2009, 04:29 AM

Depends on the nature of the post. But all Professional Officer jobs are masters degree. It is the clerical and support staff can that can work with Bachelors.

There are contract jobs in the UN which are a very different nature. Basically you get a 1 year contract that is renewable. Unless you commit murder or a serious crime getting your contract cancelled is near to impossible.

People do no work on a day to day basis for 20 years and still have UN jobs. Though they never get promoted and such.

You have short term contracts for 3 - 6 - 9 months but they do not have any perks or benefits. Its the 1 year plus contracts that give you all the benefits monetary and professional.

Arleitter · Oct 27th, 2009, 06:59 AM

^O.K Thanks CM

Bigboi · Oct 27th, 2009, 07:17 AM

United Nations? In what? Roobbing the poor and the needy? lol

NaMaan · Nov 6th, 2009, 12:08 AM

Which entity of UNO deals with "E-Government" ?