By Victoria Butanu
The United Nations is the largest and one of the most well-known international and intergovernmental organizations in the world. For many, working for the UN would be a dream job and an internship with the UN, a highly sought-after position, may be the perfect kick-start for a career in development, diplomacy, or public policy. So, what steps are necessary to secure an internship?
The number of interns employed by the United Nations has exploded in recent years. In 1996, the organization employed a total of 131 interns whilst during 2014-2015 that number had grown to 4,475. The good news is that there are more internships available at different agencies but the sad news is that the hiring rate is now below 10% as demand for interns has now far exceeded supply. However, don’t be discouraged, be prepared! The people who were accepted (and were sometimes offered several internships during one application period) have something in common: they approached the application process strategically.
Finding the right internship
Although we say “UN”, it is actually not a single entity per se. The UN consists of over 30 agencies and research institutes, each dealing with distinct issues, from health to the monetary system and humanitarian relief. The UN is thus a collection of these separate but interlinked organizations.
The UN webpage, as well as the pages of its many agencies, often update their calls for internships. Core eligibility requirements include:
- A university degree (at least undergraduate, having enrolled or graduated within the past two years) with demonstrated strong academic performance. However, former interns suggest you have more chance of being selected during or immediately after your MA program.
- Minimum 18 years of age.
- Fluency in English, French or Spanish and knowledge of another UN working language (Italian, Chinese, Arabic) is desirable.
- Having no immediate relatives who are staff members and no relatives in the line of the authority to which the intern will report.
Applying to the advertised structured internships is the most straightforward way to approach this process. However, there is one major tip to consider. If we understand what UN internships are in reality – the possibility for core staff to alleviate their workload – then it is therefore logical that you can create your own internship outside of those advertised on the website. Consider where your academic or professional expertise is the strongest, find the appropriate agency/department, research the personnel there and then create a customized e-mail offering your services to work on small portions of their assignments.
Researching the inner workings of the UN structure is an important tip for any internship application. This includes reading up on all the UN-related news, becoming familiar with the distinct agencies, their core values, and development strategies, as well as reaching out to any former UN volunteers you may know or current and past staff of the UN and its agencies.
The application process
Once you have selected the internships that appeal to you (and applying to several is always a good idea), you will need to create a profile on the UN webpage. Here, you will provide all the relevant information regarding your education and skills, as well as upload a cover letter. After all this documentation has been reviewed, those lucky enough to be selected may need to pass some sort of an assessment exercise or face an interview. The entire process is detailed here.
Standing Out
As these internships are extremely demanding, they attract some of the best minds from the world’s top universities so a very worthwhile approach thing would be to prepare well ahead of the application process. For instance, you could attend specific classes or work on a project that strongly aligns with a particular department within the UN that interests you.
The UN receives thousands of applications so it is important to make sure that your own stands out. Besides a high-Grade Point Average and relevant coursework or experience, do your best to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. Make sure to include powerful stories from your life that prove your integrity and character as well as details of any unique experiences you may have had (such as volunteering abroad).
Pros and Cons
While the preparation might last several months and the application process may be grueling, will it all be worth it in the end?
The big pluses are those you would expect from a close encounter with the UN: multicultural experience, working alongside smart, committed people, great exposure to the world diplomacy scene.
The cons are that, after the internship, there is a small chance of full-time, paid employment. A UN internship does not count towards the years of experience required to qualify for UN staff positions and you cannot apply for a paid position with the UN within six months of finishing your internship. However, you could use this time to gain some more work experience and continue searching the Jobs section on the UN website.
To get a clear understanding of what the day-to-day reality of a particular job is really like beyond any glossy façade, access Glassdoor.com.
Paid or unpaid?
The UN has been widely criticized for not paying its interns and therefore many claim that this approach favors only those seeking an internship who are wealthy. Internships last between two and six months and take place in some of the most expensive cities in the world so therefore living there while receiving no income does require substantial support from a third party.
Nevertheless, several UN agencies have decided to award compensation to all of their interns by contributing towards their living costs. UNICEF, United Nations System Staff College, UNOPS, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and the UK Mission to the United Nations all pay their interns. Eligibility criteria for these internships are similar to the core elements described above while additional qualifications are vacancy specific and can be found on the websites of these agencies.
One more piece of good news is that there are funding bodies that finance international internships. Check out Funding for International Internships to see if you qualify for financial aid. Be mindful of deadlines – most applications are due in February-March. Also, be sure to check in with your university – some do offer sponsor internships for their outstanding students. Meanwhile, as some past interns suggest, old fashioned sidelines hustles like waiting tables or teaching English as a second language can help you get by.
Other ways to get involved with the UN
If an unpaid internship is something you can’t afford to do, the good news is that there are other ways to gain some UN-related experience. One way is to volunteer, in person or online, with some of the UN agencies. This way, you can not only contribute to the betterment of society but also have a unique opportunity to observe the workings of one of the world largest organizations from the inside.
Another option you can consider is to intern with one of the many NGOs that are centered around the UN headquarters and work in conjunction with the UN. Although not the UN itself, the advantage of taking the upside of this route is that you may get to do much more exciting work while still having interaction with the UN.