United Nations Association of Australia Graduate Programs & Internships

What it does: The UN develops friendly relations among nations, ensures international peace and security, and promotes human rights, social progress, and better living standards

Mission: To maintain international peace and security, to promote the well-being of people of the world, and international cooperation to these ends

Size and presence: It has approximately 39,700 staff (as of 31 December 2016) from 193 member states

Best known for The UN is known as a forum for countries to negotiate and solve problems together

The good bits: Meaningful work, a great work environment and a culture

The not-so-good bits: Work-life balance can be challenging

The Story of United Nations Australia

The UN was founded in 1945, at the end of the Second World War, when many countries came together to focus on humanitarian emergencies, global peace, and country development. The UN’s unique international character allows it to provide a forum for its 193 member states to express their views, either through the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council, or other bodies and committees.

With the powers vested in its founding Charter, the UN takes action on a wide range of issues. To handle these issues, it has 36 agencies and programs that are considered independent international organisations and funded through voluntary contributions.

Australia is committed to global cooperation, including through the UN. It is a founding member of the UN and an active participant in UN institutions for over 77 years. Australia is also the 12th largest contributor to the UN's regular and peacekeeping budgets.

Culture & vibe

The issues on their agenda are diverse, just like the careers they offer. Among their many equally critical functions, there are staff members whose task is to coordinate relief in humanitarian crises, disarm child soldiers, provide administrative or logistical support, monitor elections, or carry out their complex mandates.

Their staff members serve at different locations around the world in Field Operations, Regional Commissions, Tribunals, Headquarters, and Other Locations. The diversity of staff from almost 200 member states means that you will be working in multicultural teams with people from various backgrounds and cultures. They have wide experiences, perspectives, and approaches.

Recruitment process

The recruitment process at the UN consists of:

1. Search for job openings
   • Most of the offers are position-specific job openings (designed for a specific position in a particular office and duty station). However, there are also generic job openings that are used to create rosters (pools of candidates available for immediate selection) and Recruit from Roster job openings (only open to candidates who have already been rostered).
2. Create a profile and prepare an application:
   • You must first register on their website and create a user profile so you can create one or several job applications. It is also important to accurately complete and update all the information as it serves as a basis for evaluating your suitability for a job opening.
3. Submitting a job application
   • You will need to answer a set of questions to demonstrate your relevant experiences, skills, and knowledge, and describe related published work, acquired licences, certifications, and training. Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be changed for that specific job opening.
4. Evaluation of the application
   • Your application will be evaluated based on the required criteria, e.g., education, experience, and languages. You will be invited to an assessment exercise or a competency-based interview only if you meet all the required evaluation criteria and additional ones that the hiring manager decides to apply for the screening.
5. Assessment exercise
   • The assessment exercises can include a simulation exercise, case study, written exam, or other evaluation mechanism. You will be informed in advance of the time, type, and length of the assessment.
6. Competency-based interview
   • It may take place either via phone, video conference or in person. You will be notified in advance of the time, duration and means or place of the interview.
7. Selection notification
   • The decision is made by the head of the department. You will be notified if you are the selected candidate for the job.

Career prospects

The broad array of jobs means that you can change functions, geographic locations, departments, fields of work, or even organisations throughout your career in the UN. 

Remuneration

The salary per year at the UN is estimated: Test Analyst (AU$57,000-62,000), Logistics Coordinator (AU$77,000-83,000), Health Manager (AU$86,000-147,000), Concept Artist (AU$81,000-87,000), Project Manager-General (AU$94,000-149,000), Accounting Manager (AU$115,000-124,000), Head of Editorial (AU$276,000-294,000).

Some of the roles paid in USD are Construction Project Manager (USD58,000-63,000), Policy Analyst (USD77,000-84,000), International Consultant (USD81,000-89,000), and Sr HR Advisor (USD126,000-136,000).

Benefits

The benefits vary, based on the category of your role, whether it is General services, National professional officer, Field service, or Professional and higher categories. However, they basically include:

• Tax exemption
• Base salary and post adjustment
• Allowances and benefits: dependency allowances, rental subsidies, education grants, assignment grants, travel and shipping expenses, hardship allowance
• Holidays and leave
• Health insurance
• Retirement pension

Social Contributions

The work of the United Nations touches almost every aspect of social and humanitarian issues, from the protection of the environment and refugees, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, disaster relief and mitigation, to disarmament and non-proliferation.