Sign up to Devex Career Hub today.
As the United Nations General Assembly in New York moves toward its final week, the U.N. has been even more in the spotlight than usual — which is usually a lot. Maybe this has more development professionals thinking about a potential U.N. career?
If this sounds like you, or you’re just a little bit curious, I’m happy to share our new career guide to working for the U.N. It includes advice on everything from deciding on career paths and networking to the do’s and don’ts of the application process.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’ve pulled out a few tips from our guide on what prospective employees need to consider before beginning a potential U.N. journey. Plus, you can explore job opportunities at leading development consultancies and established INGOs such as Save the Children, in addition to many more top development organizations hiring talent now.
+ Many of the articles in our Career Road Map: Navigating the United Nations guide are available exclusively to Devex Career Account members. If you aren’t one yet, get 50% off now to become a member and gain access to the full guide and to all of our digital events, including recordings from our recent series: How to optimize your LinkedIn profile and The do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn networking.
Top jobs this week
1. Director East Africa OperationsSayara International
Kenya
2. Business Development Manager
Save the Children
Senegal
3. Protection Measure Consultant
Management Systems International (MSI)
Mexico
4. Team Leader, Knowledge Hub for Expertise on Youth
SOFRECO
Belgium
Tipsheet: Preparing for the UN
“Compared to working for a private company, the pace is often slower at U.N. agencies.”
— Andreas Seiter, former employee, World Bank
—If you’re considering a career with the U.N., it’s very possible that you haven’t thought through or are not aware of all that working for such a prestigious global entity entails. This is why we reached out to former and current U.N. staffers to see what prospective candidates should consider.
✅ Contractual nuances. The U.N. has many different types of contracts based on a position’s category and grading, location, and other factors. “There's many little nuances that make a big difference in your income,” said one Philippines-based staffer.
✅ No need to rush. If you first take time outside the U.N. system to develop a skill base, you may be in a better position to eventually work within it. “You’ll have credentials and then you can apply for any level position,” said Andreas Seiter, who worked at the World Bank for 18 years.
✅ Progress can be slow. Compared to working for a private company, the pace is often slower at U.N. agencies, Seiter explained, which can mean that it’s quite often difficult to see the immediate results of your work.
Read: What development professionals should know before working at the U.N.
+ Our in-house recruitment specialists are currently compiling talent pools based on specific global development skill sets, including experts on gender, food systems, and climate change. These lists are exclusive to our top recruiting organizations. Candidates can update their Devex profiles to be considered, and employers can learn more here.
Members-only jobs this week
Advocacy and Outreach Communications Specialist - International consultant
Intergovernmental organization
Lebanon
Workplace Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Adviser
INGO
Kenya
Multilateral development bank
Gabon
Individual Consultant: Program Analysis and Research
Climate-focused intergovernmental organization
India
ICYMI: Your questions about using LinkedIn answered
In the final edition of a three-part Devex Career event series on Mastering the Art of LinkedIn, international coach Simone Anzböck answered questions from our community on networking, profile optimization, and much more.
Watch: Your questions about using LinkedIn answered
What we’re reading (and listening)
Work is too big a thing to not take seriously. But it is too small a thing to take too seriously. [The Atlantic]
Diversity and inclusion. Midcareer women are often surprised by the levels of bias and discrimination they encounter in the workplace, especially if they’ve successfully avoided it earlier in their careers. [Harvard Business Review]
Podcast: UNGA Decoded #1 — Raj Kumar on shaping development narratives [Devex]
To keep up to date with all the must-read global development coverage, be sure to sign up to the daily Devex Newswire.
Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.
About the author
Justin Sablich
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
