With nearly 100,000 employees worldwide, the United Nations is one of the largest employers of talent focused on international cooperation and development. However, with countless applicants competing for limited openings, landing a UN job poses challenges.
AMVS Capital partner and tech investor Anamaria Meshkurti understands the draw of UN careers. But with sought-after positions in short supply, she recommends specific strategies to boost your candidacy. By tapping professional networks, establishing domain expertise, and diversifying your search, aspiring UN recruits can improve their odds in this hyper-competitive job market.
Attend UN Events And Volunteer Opportunities
“Your network is your net worth,” says Anamaria. While the UN recruits talented applicants worldwide, those with connections and visibility have a leg up in the competitive hiring process. Anamaria emphasizes attending UN events in person when possible, but also suggests tapping into online webinars and conferences.
“There are today a lot of webinars that the UN is doing and a lot of the people working there are attending those webinars online,” she notes. “You should register, they are free, and you should try to connect with the people, add them on LinkedIn, send them messages during the webinar and try to really get another call to talk to them further.”
Beyond digital networking, Anamaria advises seeking out the UN’s numerous volunteering opportunities across their duty stations globally. “You should definitely go to those volunteering opportunities and to those initiatives,” she urges. Hands-on experience can provide exposure to UN staff while demonstrating your commitment to their work.
Position Yourself As An Expert
While some seek UN careers based on idealism alone, Anamaria argues subject matter expertise is equally important. “For the UN, it is important that you should be seen as an expert in your field,” she explains. “So, if you want to find a job in the UN, you should be that expert that the UN is looking for.”
Conveying your credentials online is crucial, according to Anamaria: “It is important that your profile highlights your expertise. When someone checks you out online, they should immediately understand what your expertise is on.”
She advises applicants to carefully analyze their personal brand and messaging: “Do a brand analysis, try to understand that what you’re trying to push as a messaging is the right messaging for everyone out there.”
Anamaria also stresses the power of digital networking to reinforce your positioning: “Try to also connect online with as many people as possible that work in the UN so that when you launch your expertise out there, they can actually see you in their LinkedIn profiles for instance.”
With subject authority and a strong network, you’re far more likely to catch the eye of UN recruiters seeking specialized talent.
Diversify Your Location Preferences
The final component of Anamaria’s UN job-hunting strategy is location flexibility. “Many think when it comes to the United Nations of the cities of Geneva and New York, but there are so many locations around the world where you can apply,” she points out.
Opportunities extend far beyond those two headquarters cities to field offices worldwide. “From Thailand to Kenya to Senegal to so many places where there are UN agencies,” Anamaria lists.
Just as financial advisors recommend portfolio diversification, she suggests candidates take the same approach: “Diversify your application just like you would diversify an Investment Portfolio and apply to different locations.”
To learn more about Anamaria Meshkurti, visit her website here.
