Tip #1 Strategies for a UN Job Search: Learn about the UNCS

Part 1 of a 5-Part Blog Series

By Katarina Holm-DiDio

What comes to mind when you think about working for the United Nations? Most of us probably equate the UN with the iconic skyscraper on New York City’s east side. But the United Nations is so much more. Yes, the building is beautiful, with conference rooms and art from all around the world. World leaders gather there to discuss and seek solutions to issues from peace, poverty and human rights to sustainable development. However most of the UN’s work is done in the field by highly diverse employees in remote locations all over the globe.

If you are interested in working for the United Nations, we have five tips to get you started:

1. Learn what the United Nations Common System (UNCS) is and does.
2. Diversify your job search and research the Duty Stations.
3. Review the different recruitment programs and options to work at the UN.
4. Identify what the hiring UN organization is seeking.
5. Submit well-written, appropriate job applications.

We’ll address a new tip each week in this blog, so be sure to return each week to catch the next tip! Let’s get you started with the first tip:

TIP #1: Learn what the United Nations Common System (UNCS) is and does.

The UNCS is a family of organizations that share policies on salaries, allowances and other conditions of service. They have independent recruitment offices and practices, but there is some consistency across all organizations. For example, all organizations require five years of relevant experience for a P-3 level job.

The Common System includes the United Nations, its affiliated programs, 13 specialized agencies, and one special-status organization. There are more than 70,000 employees in over 600 duty stations around the world.

You need to understand what the UNCS is, how it works, and why it is relevant to your job search. It is critical that you understand the UNCS to be effective with your job search. For more information about the UNCS go to:

About the International Civil Service Commission

UN Job Opportunities

UN Common System Overview & Compensation

Next week we’ll cover the next tip on how to increase your chances of landing a UN job.

NOTE: If you are a member of Passport Career (meaning your organization or university/college pays for a license so that you have access), then you can access the all five tips immediately in the My Global Career Briefcase section. There are also many other tips and strategies available to you in this section. If your organization is interested in more information about how to purchase a license to access Passport Career’s 12,000+ pages of career information and resources for 250+ cities in 78 countries, contact info@passportcareer.com.

Katarina Holm-DiDio is a cross-cultural career consultant and trainer working with expatriates moving to the US and clients interested in global careers. She is also a cross-cultural trainer specialized in the US and the Nordic Countries and a columnist interpreting current events in the US for newspapers in Finland. She writes her own blog at KHD Consulting International’s Global Skills for Life and Work.