Debunked: 4 myths about working for the United Nations

With 16 specialist agencies, an additional 108 agencies under these and more than 55,000 employees globally, the United Nations System is a dominant force in international development. But for many professionals, working at the United Nations is a career aspiration that often feels out of reach. Here are four myths about working for the United Nations, along with the truth. 1. Once you join the United Nations, you are there for life While it’s true many professionals spend the entirety of their career within the U.N. System, that isn’t the only career path available. In fact, human resources leaders from many of the leading agencies encourage their staff to get outside experiences. It’s becoming more common for a U.N. employee to spend three to five years on the job and then move on to a position in the private sector or with a government agency or nongovernmental organization. Many U.N. leaders support their staff’s career development even if it means getting experiences somewhere else. They also welcome former U.N. employees back to infuse new ideas and approaches into their work. Adapting a more revolving-door policy is one way the United Nations is trying to spur innovation and develop new skills within the agencies. 2. The United Nations prefers hiring their own Due to staff rotation requirements and a commitment to staff development, it is true some vacancies are reserved for existing U.N. personnel. However, there are many more positions that are truly open to any candidate, whether internal or external to the system. Some positions may have a preference for someone who already has an understanding of how to navigate the system, yet others may prefer someone who can bring in fresh ideas and approaches. For example, 40 percent of UNICEF hires come from external candidates. This is especially true as many U.N. agencies look to develop talent pools in new professional areas. 3. The United Nations only hires people from the “global north” While many of the donor countries to the U.N. System have a high representation among staff, there is actually a strong demand for more candidates from program countries. When we meet with U.N. human resource and recruitment leaders, one of their major recruiting challenges is attracting enough candidates from the global south. Many agencies are conducting active outreach to these underrepresented groups and attending events like the Devex career forums in Nairobi and Manila to engage with a diverse group of talent. 4. The United Nations has a strict quota system Last fall, Devex surveyed our members about their perceptions of working at multilateral organizations like the United Nations, and a surprising 52 percent said they believed they could not get a job with one of the agencies because of a strict quota system. A common belief about the U.N. System is it has a specific number of spots for citizens from each country and once those slots for your country are filled, even if you are highly qualified, you are out of luck. However, most agencies have no such quota systems. They may monitor the nationalities of their staff and conduct additional outreach to underrepresented groups, however, when it comes down to it, they want to hire the best candidate regardless of nationality. What other myths are we forgetting to debunk about working for the U.N.? Leave your comments below. Looking to make a career move? Visit our career center for expert advice on how to navigate your job search - all you need is a Devex Career Account to get started.