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United Nations-know anyone?


Naseebers! It's one of these rare times that I am looking for "connections" within the organization. All the jobs I had previously I found on my own, and proud of it. But with UN it's tougher, you really have to know someone.

I have applied for a position which I think I will be absolutely perfect for. I speak fluently 4 out of 6 official UN languages. I need to have a contact there, someone who'd meet me and then can wouch for me if needed....or be a reference. I have never taken their language examinations, but ready to if needed.

So, if any of you or someone you know has a contact in the UN, PLEASE do tell me!

It would also be helpful if you or someone you know, who currently works for the UN, told me a bit about the whole process of "getting in". Some of my classmates from college interned there but never ended up being selected for a job, so it's extremely tough, and it's all I know.

Thanks in advance for all your help.
 

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Login to find out (September 27, 2005 at 6:45pm)
yeah, it's a TRUE bureacracy in every sense of the word . . . the friend I was talking about interned there for all 5 years (one year full time and the other 4 part time whiel in gradschool). The dude's Andoran so he knew 6 languages to begin with and now he's also picked up farsi and ArABIC (blasted Europeans can learn languages in their sleep! lol) Well, he passed teh examination earlier this year and they have put him on hold while they 'actively' try to post him. Not worth the hassle if you ask me, but a nice, cushy bureacratic gig if you get it, I guess.
 
Login to find out (September 27, 2005 at 2:33pm)
Nazook: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. I am fluent in first four and read and write the last one.

Desihulk, thanks anyway. I heard stories from some of my classmates who interened there. One girl (speaks fluent german and polish) interened for 2 semesters in a row and said "she had enough" and decided to work for private company or a bank instead...I think she ended up in German consulate actually...

My arabic teacher took the examination in 2003 and got in in early 2005...he said that they had to do lots of clearances on him, since he is a nigerian citezen and lives in Saudi Arabia for a very long time. But he still GOT IN! I don't understand the organization. So many vacancies, not in the most "desirable" places in the world (I applied for positios in Dackar and Baghdad) yet they are overly-picky.
 
Login to find out (September 25, 2005 at 7:53pm)
Getting a gig at the UN pretty much seems like a fluke or crapshot to me. A good friend from grad school took their entrance examination, passed it a few months ago, and has been waiting since then to get a posting. Another friend's dad was the undersecretary general a while ago but then he point blank refused to give references . . unless he did it of his his own accord. Sorry, couldn't be more helpful.