How to find and land an internship with the UN

Most United Nations internships might be unpaid, but the gig remains extremely competitive, whether it’s with agencies like U.N. Women and United Nations Population Fund or at the U.N. Secretariat itself. The six-week to six-month programs offer unique, insider access to the workings of international diplomacy and aid. They also, in some cases, can eventually lead to full-time jobs with the U.N. Devex tracked down recruitment and human resources officials at a variety of U.N. agencies to glean the strategies and tips you need to stand apart from a pool of competitive applicants. Who’s eligible? There are about 4,000 interns working around the world for the U.N. in any given year, according to John Ericson, the U.N.’s chief of outreach unit in the human resources management office. Internships are typically open to students enrolled in a graduate program or who have graduated from a program within the past year. Bachelor’s students, or people who recently received their undergraduate degrees, are also sometimes considered. UNDP, for example, recently altered its qualifications to consider students who are in their last year of their undergraduate program, in addition to one year post-grad, in a bid to widen the applicant pool. The U.N. Secretariat made the same move. How to apply Prospective interns apply to each organization individually online, following a decentralization of the application process in 2011. Those interested in an internship with any U.N. agency should visit this site, which will help them navigate through different possibilities with various organizations and field sites around the world. Most agencies, like U.N. Women and UNDP, lump all of their internship listings around the world together with their other job postings, as they appear online. Applicants should think carefully about why they are considering a certain agency and should reflect their knowledge of the organization in their cover letter or online application, depending on which is required. “In the introduction, they should state why they are applying to the organization and show why they are actually interested in development work and the work that UNDP does. Why did they choose UNDP instead of some other organization?” said Martha Helena Lopez, UNDP’s director of human resources in New York. “Second, they should show why they are interested in the specific announcements, or advertisements, and what they could bring to us.” UNDP advertises around 130 internships globally each year and receives anywhere from a few dozen to several 100 applications for each position, depending, in part, on the location of the internship. The U.N. Secretariat receives about 50 to 100 applications for every internship listed in New York. Specificity is also valued for UNFPA in the internship application process, said Besik Mikhelashvili, a talent management consultant with the organization. UNFPA recently revamped its internal human resources online database, so hiring managers can search for candidates by expertise, availability and degree program. Using terms that are relevant to UNFPA and its work, like “gender-based violence,” could help a candidate get noticed. Conversely, if a candidate is interested in a finance position and fails to use financial terms in his or her application, the application could inadvertently get passed over. How to stand out Candidates could also increase their chances in getting shortlisted if they are flexible in terms of where they are willing to move. Internships in New York City tend to be the most competitive, followed by those in Geneva and duty stations in the Americas or parts of East and South Asia. Duty stations in Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are typically less sought after, said Lopez of UNDP. All internships are listed on UNDP’s website, which classifies them by theme and type of work, like governance and peacebuilding or sustainable development and poverty reduction, and then also lists the location of the specific internship. Men applying to U.N. Women, in particular, could have a leg up, since the organization generally receives applications from women. “We get a lot of female applicants and encourage male applicants because of what we do and our mission,” said Mamta Singh, U.N. Women’s human resources specialist for headquarters and Asia Pacific based in New York. Generally, though, these experts say they are looking for people who are team players, strong communicators, well organized and open to working with people of different nationalities. “We need someone who has relevant experience in their studies or work experience, who is reliable, efficient and creative, who can work in teams, who has solid writing and can do the job they applied for,” Singh said. “For me the ones that catch our eye communicate clearly what they want to do and what they have accomplished in the cover letter.” Payment and job prospects The International Labor Organization, or ILO, is a unique tripartite U.N. agency, made up of government, employer and worker representatives. This organization offers interns a basic stipend. The Food and Agriculture Organization also offers interns a $700 monthly stipend, though it mandates that interns not be more than 30 years old. While there is no indication that other U.N. interns will receive pay anytime soon – funding comes from member states — there are plans in the works to provide opportunities for people who might struggle to afford the living costs of the unpaid program, according to Ericson of the U.N. Secretariat. UNFPA is implementing a fellowship program open to people from developing countries, launching June 2016. Eight fellows during the first year will work three months at U.N. Headquarters and nine months from a regional office. The government of Denmark is partially backing the program and UNFPA will also look to the private sector for donations. Lopez of UNDP noted that very few interns immediately get jobs following their program, since most full-time positions require about five years of full-time experience. Interns must also observe a six-month break before they can apply for a job. But the experience can provide people an opportunity to reflect on what they need to do in the future to become staff members, Lopez said. While there aren’t hard numbers available on how many interns return to become staff members, it does happen occasionally. Mikhelashvili of UNFPA is a former intern himself. Interns “absolutely” come back to work for the organization, he said, noting that some of the full-time positions are really technical. Interns can sometimes return back to the specific skills they specialized in during their internship program, or work to hone during their master’s program. Devex Professional Membership means access to the latest buzz, innovations, and lifestyle tips for development, health, sustainability and humanitarian professionals like you. Our mission is to do more good for more people. If you think the right information can make a difference, we invite you to join us by making a small investment in Professional Membership.