Presented by Loyola Chicago Rule Of Law for Development Program
How to break through the United Nations job application process is something many aspiring development professionals ask us about. Thankfully, we found someone perfectly positioned to shed some light on what can be a tricky undertaking.
In a Career Hub exclusive, we asked a human resources pro at the United Nations Environment Programme about what job candidates need to know before applying. I’m also sharing expert advice for those thinking about moving abroad for their next development gig. Plus, featured job postings from the likes of USAID, Energy and Security Group, and more.
+ Join us on January 16: Gain an insider’s perspective of what a development career really entails and how to find the best fit from our expert panel. If you’re not yet a member, we’re offering a limited-time 50% discount on annual subscriptions, which open access to all career events and advice content, our complete job board, and much more.
Top jobs this week
1. Chief of Party - Bosnia Energy Policy Activity
Energy and Security Group, LLC
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Nutrition Specialist
USAID
Rwanda
3. Economic Empowerment of Women Analyst
Asian Development Bank
Australia | East Asia and Pacific
4. Assistant Human Resources Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Kenya
Devex Jobs Alert on LinkedIn: For many more of the top job opportunities in the social impact space from global development’s largest job board, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn.
UN applications explained
“If you don’t meet one or more … requirements, you will automatically be screened out by the AI system, and nobody will see your application.”
— Siti Soraya Soemadiredja, human resources officer, UNEPSiti Soraya Soemadiredja, a human resources officer with UNEP, offers some helpful tips and tricks for candidates applying for U.N. jobs.
✅ Create a template. If you’re applying to a U.N. agency for the first time, you’ll be using the Inspira platform for the first time as well. Soemadiredja recommends spending time getting used to how the portal works and creating a template application. “It takes time to fill out the personal history profile, so it’s easier to have a template you can copy and then update instead of beginning from scratch,” she says.
✅ Check minimum requirements. If you think you’ve found a role worth applying for, make sure you meet the minimum requirements for education, work experience, and languages listed in the job posting. “These requirements are always listed with the phrase, ‘… is required,’” Soemadiredja points out, which is crucial to know as not meeting any of these will likely result in your application being automatically rejected by an AI screening process.
✅ Use the questionnaire wisely. U.N. applications require candidates to fill out a job fit questionnaire before the personal history portion. This can further help you understand if you are a good fit and will meet the expectations of the hiring manager. “It takes time to craft job applications, and the job search process is not easy, so it’s nice to know from the outset whether you should take your time to apply to this job or whether it’s better to spend that time to search for jobs more suited to your qualifications,” Soemadiredja says.
More recruiter insights from UNEP: Devex contributor Katrina J. Lane spoke to several other UNEP professionals on what the agency is looking for in candidates and how you can make your application stand out. (Career)
Looking abroad?
Relocation, according to Cecil Laguardia, the communications director for World Vision’s Ukraine crisis response, means thinking about a whole range of factors. “You really have to prepare what you will be up to and against,” she said.
From accommodation options to safety, local culture to career progression, Devex contributor Rebecca L. Root asked those who have relocated what considerations need to be made before moving and advice for making the transition a success.
Read: What to know about relocating for development work (Career)
Members-only jobs this week
1. Senior Energy Strategy and Business Development Manager, Energy
Multinational technology company
United States
2. Head of Finance
Nonprofit organization
Germany
3. Individual Consultant: National for Environmental Impact Assessment
United Nations agency
Mali
4. Gender Programme Adviser (Re-advertisement) (Fixed term)
Global charitable organization
Myanmar
Curated Candidate Lists: Recruiter pick
Take your career to the next level by updating your Devex profile with your latest professional experience today. Get featured in Career Hub and be considered for exclusive Curated Candidate Lists that can unlock exciting job opportunities!
Career level: Mid-level with 14 years of experience.
Elevator pitch: “I am a development professional and a strong advocate of the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and SDGs, with expertise in public policy and sustainable development programming. For five years, I worked with UNDP, where I led the process of SDG integration. It was a high-impact initiative, as through our continued technical and advisory support to the government, we equipped the government with frameworks, tools, and processes to mainstream the Global SDG Agenda into its policy, planning, and budgeting processes. Most recently, in 2023, I facilitated the World Bank and the government of Punjab in formulating a tariff model for the provision of WASH services in rural areas.”
Are you a recruiter? View Shahzad’s full profile.
+ Our in-house recruitment specialists are currently compiling talent pools based on specific global development skill sets, from grant writers to monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialists, and many more. Candidates can update their Devex profiles to be considered, and employers can learn more here.
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• 2024 will be a big year. Countries are holding elections, humanitarian crises are on the rise, and the need for a new development model is growing more urgent. Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar breaks it all down.
• ICRC’s new leader comes with baggage. Pierre Krähenbühl has 25 years of experience with the organization but has also seen his share of controversy. He stepped down from a previous role as head of UNRWA in 2019 amid accusations of mismanagement, including an alleged affair with an employee.
• USAID’s falling funds. USAID funding through grants and cooperative agreements dropped sharply in the fiscal year that ended in September after years of record rises. This included a $3.3 billion reduction in funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, but other agencies saw big cuts as well.
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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.
