What you can do now to prepare for a career with the UN

When you apply for a job with the United Nations Population Fund, as with many U.N. agencies, you are up against a large pool of candidates. To increase your chances of job application success, it is helpful to understand which skills and experiences specific agencies are looking for, and what you can do now to prepare. Victoria Fernandes, former head of strategic sourcing with UNFPA and currently head of change management with the United Nations Development Programme, shared some tips and tricks on applying to the agency — and many of these tips are applicable to other U.N. field-based organizations. Fernandes also highlighted where you might be able to identify gaps in your own profile, depending on whether you are a recent graduate, transitioning from another sector, or a development professional just trying to break into the U.N. system. She recommended looking at actions you can take now — such as gaining a certification, brushing up on a second language, or getting overseas experience — to stand out to a U.N. recruiter. Gain volunteering experience If you are interested in a particular U.N. agency, make sure you get volunteering experience relevant to the work the agency is doing, Fernandes said. So, at UNFPA, any volunteering or internship experience related to sexual reproductive health or empowering young people would be valuable. This is particularly critical for professionals looking to make a change and transition into the development sector, Fernandes said. Prior to working at the U.N., Fernandes completed volunteering work before landing her first role in the U.N. system. “We’re looking for people who are demonstrating genuine interest and commitment to working on our mandate,” Fernandes said, “and volunteering work is a very strong way of doing that.” She also highlighted UN Volunteers as a great way to gain experience and help candidates stand out to recruiters. UNV positions can be competitive and candidates may still be required to have a minimum of one to two years’ work experience, previous volunteering experience in another culture, proficiency in a second language, or specific computer application skills. A stipend is provided to UNV participants so it is also something they can do full time. Identify the gaps in your profile Fernandes advised that candidates look at current job descriptions to identify gaps in their own profile. Are you missing a language? Lacking international experience? Or is it that you don’t have any volunteering experience? Once you have established where the gaps are, think about what you can do to fill them, Fernandes said. It could be that you need to get a certification or professional qualification or think about ways to strengthen your leadership skills, she explained. Make sure you have field experience As a field-based organization, UNFPA is looking for individuals willing to be mobile and serve in hardship duty stations, Fernandes said, and highlighting this kind of flexibility and commitment can help you stand out as a candidate. The importance of field experience cannot be understated, she added. Starting out as a consultant can be a great way to get field experience and these short-term assignments can be easier to land than a full-time position within the system, Fernandes explained. Be active on social media Social media is also an important part of getting job ready — both for finding out about openings and for building your professional brand. Fernandes recommended that interested professionals follow UNFPA on different social media platforms where new vacancies may be posted. Recruiters also look to platforms such as Devex and LinkedIn to see what additional information can be found on a candidate, Fernandes added. It is therefore important to make sure that you have a strong online profile, which is up-to-date and lists not only your past roles, but what you have achieved, she explained. Watch the clip here and the full video here for more tips on networking as well as insights on what languages are in demand at UNFPA.