Fact Sheet: Employment Opportunities at the UN
- Introduction
-
General Information
- Age limit
- Languages
- Salary and Benefits - Internship Programme
- Categories and occupations
- Specialized Agencies
- Download Fact Sheet
Introduction
The United Nations has a continuing need for competent and dedicated staff. While it is impossible to list in detail the different types of positions for which the Organization recruits, we have compiled for you a list of the major categories and occupations represented in the Organization.
Candidates are encouraged to review the list of current jobs opportunities and to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
Learn more
Job opportunities in the Organization
Job opportunities in the UN System
GENERAL INFORMATION
Age Limit
As the mandatory retirement age for staff appointed since January 1990 is 62, the United Nations does not appoint persons who have reached or are approaching this age. This, however, does not apply to experts and consultants under the technical co-operation programmes.
Languages
The working languages of the Secretariat are English and French. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Salary and benefits
Starting salaries are based upon academic and professional qualifications, as well as the job entry level. The base salary scales are set by the General Assembly. There is also an adjustment element based on the cost of living and the rate of exchange of local currency vis-à-vis the United States dollar at each duty station.
Staff serving away from their home countries receive:
- assignment allowance
- education grant and dependency allowance for each eligible child
- rental subsidy, if eligible
- paid annual leave, sick leave and home leave
- contributory health, dental and group life insurance coverage
- various shipping, travel and installation allowances related to appointments to and transfer between duty stations
Staff members with regular appointments contribute to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. The monthly contribution is tied to salary level as determined by the United Nations General Assembly.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
The Internship Programme consists of three two-month periods throughout the year: mid-January to mid-March (Spring Session), early June to early August (Summer Session), early September to end-October (Fall Session). Normally it is full-time, i.e., interns are expected to work five days a week (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) in the department or office of the Secretariat which has selected them, carrying out their tasks under the supervision of a staff member.
To qualify for the United Nations Headquarters Secretariat Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:
- Must be enrolled in a degree program in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) at the time of application and during the internship;
- If pursuing studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages, must have completed at least four years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree.
- Undergraduates (for instance, students pursuing a Bachelor's degree) are not eligible.
All costs connected with internships must be borne by the students concerned or by their sponsoring institutions or governments.
Contact:
Internship Programme
United Nations Headquarters
Office of Human Resources Management
Room M-09025 D
New York, NY 10017, USA
E-mail: OHRM_Interns@un.org
http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/sds/internsh/index.htm
SPECIALIZED AGENCIES
The Specialized Agencies (i.e., UNESCO, FAO, ILO, etc.) conduct their own recruitment programmes. Interested candidates should write to the appropriate agency for information concerning employment opportunities.
Clerical and secretarial staff are recruited locally from among the residents of the area in which a particular agency is located.
For a current listing of vacancies:
In the Organization
In the UN System
Not an Official Document ■ For Information Only
This fact-sheet has been issued by
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