Hello all. I've been wondering how one can penetrate such organisations like British council, the various UN organisations, USAID etc. Is it that they don't recruit young graduates or what? I am a young graduate with a second class upper degree in the humanities with about two years working experience and I have been trying for a long time to find my way there but no way.

I will really be grateful if I can get tips , or connections. Thanks

We Share the Same Passion, I'm an Environmental Technologist and My dream Job is With the United Nations.
I Think it's Challenging to get such Jobs here in Nigeria and Quite Easier Outside this Shores.
For A Start, I'd Give you The Job online Website. Register and Fill in your credentials. Then you monitor them when A New Job Arises.
www.Jobs.Un.Org

Iceman296: We Share the Same Passion, I'm an Environmental Technologist and My dream Job is With the United Nations.
I Think it's Challenging to get such Jobs here in Nigeria and Quite Easier Outside this Shores.
For A Start, I'd Give you The Job online Website. Register and Fill in your credentials. Then you monitor them when A New Job Arises.
www.Jobs.Un.Org

I heard they recruit mostly advanced degree holders, like masters and higher. I too share the same dream. I checked out the web site. Seems you have to have minimum of five years working experience

you are right they commonly ask for advance degree even if you are applying as an intern and been bi lingual is also an added advantage

Ishilove:
I heard they recruit mostly advanced degree holders, like masters and higher. I too share the same dream. I checked out the web site. Seems you have to have minimum of five years working experience

You are absolutely Correct in Your Assertions But there are Certain Criteria on which they Exempt some of those Rules. Eg If one studies at the UN University New York, the Chances of landing the Job is High. i decided to Work, Concentrate on an advanced Education and learn more Languages Most especially French and Spanish. Learning the Six UN Language increases Your Chances of Getting the Job too. I'd want us all to work together since we share the same Passion in Information dissemination and Gathering. Just Followed you!

Iceman296:
You are absolutely Correct in Your Assertions But there are Certain Criteria on which they Exempt some of those Rules. Eg If one studies at the UN University New York, the Chances of landing the Job is High. i decided was to Concentrate on an advanced Education and learn more Languages Most especially French and Spanish. Learning the Six UN Language increases Your Chances of Getting the Job too. I'd want us all to work together since we share the same Passion in Information dissemination and Gathering. Just Followed you!

Followed you too. How does one go about garnering the five years experience that they are asking for sef?

Ishilove:
Followed you too. How does one go about garnering the five years experience that they are asking for sef?

Lol. I presume its Just any Working Experience. Its diverse Organization with Lots of Sectors So Many Field will Fit in Nicely. Do you want to work as a Specialist or Generalist?

Iceman296:
Lol. I presume its Just any Working Experience. Its diverse Organization with Lots of Sectors So Many Field will Fit in Nicely. Do you want to work as a Specialist or Generalist?

Generalist. As in Jackson-of-all-trades

I've been eying UNESCO because what they represent is what I have a passion for. If we don't have the requisite five years, does that mean we will wait until we have the five years??

Ishilove:
Generalist. As in Jackson-of-all-trades

I've been eying UNESCO because what they represent is what I have a passion for. If we don't have the requisite five years, does that mean we will wait until we have the five years??

No o, People Still get the Job as Soon as the Leave School. We Just need to find someone who works there for Guidance. Sometimes depending on How close you are to the person, They can act as a One who Recommended you and You easily Get the Job.
I Love UNEP But I will be Versatile though. Generalist Are Far Better!

Iceman296:
No o, People Still get the Job as Soon as the Leave School. We Just need to find someone who works there for Guidance. Sometimes depending on How close you are to the person, They can act as a One who Recommended you and You easily Get the Job.
I Love UNEP But I will be Versatile though. Generalist Are Far Better!

The issue now is getting an insider...

another idea is starting small,believe in a cause and follow it try and volunteer for affiliate NGO they usually have information and it can also help in going for their programmes please im interested too.especially in the development and youth work.i have a bsc in politic,philosophy and economics.

another idea is starting small,believe in a cause and follow it try and volunteer for affiliate NGO they usually have information and it can also help in going for their programmes please im interested too.especially in the development and youth work.i have bsc in politic,philosophy and economics.

Ishilove:
The issue now is getting an insider...

Exactly My Point, I've Searched for 3years Now For An Insider all to No Avail. But i Know I would Eventually Find One!

zerray: another idea is starting small,believe in a cause and follow it try and volunteer for affiliate NGO they usually have information and it can also help in going for their programmes please im interested too.especially in the development and youth work.i have bsc in politic,philosophy and economics.

You are Right, Most NGO's Partner UN in some of there Programmes!

Iceman296:
Exactly My Point, I've Searched for 3years Now For An Insider all to No Avail. But i Know I would Eventually Find One!

Good heavens! Three years? How very discouraging. However, I believe we should strive to build ourselves and just hope for the best

Iceman296:
You are Right, Most NGO's Partner UN in some of there Programmes!

So how do we go about finding these partners?

Ishilove:
Good heavens! Three years? How very discouraging. However, I believe we should strive to build ourselves and just hope for the best

Haha. Don't be dismayed. Like i said, Its my dream Job so i can Search For 10yrs, I no mind. For Now I just Concentrate Sorely on Building Myself up, Work experience Wise and International Languages! The Six UN Languages are English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian and German!

I am also eyeing these institutions..in addition to the points earlier mentioned, do lots of volunteering I.e foreign and local, it would expose you to the right people and boost your portfolio..lol

Also interested in these jobs

Getting a UN job or international job is quite challenging but I found out they r interested in one or two of these.
1.Ur place of work. Its easier to get work in UN if u r currently working in a UN affilliate in ur country.
2. Joining the international society of ur discipline. For example,an engineer instead of limiting urself to the Nigerian society of engineers can join d international society of enginners too. They(ur society will be sending u any international vacancy in ur field)
3. Go to international workshops.
Most of these UN whatever don't look at our certificate especially African certs(thanks to our good university systems), rather,they want to know what the kind of workshops u hv attended and ur presentation(if u had one). The pple u meet along the way can equally help too.
I can remember a friend that got job tru the british lady he met at a workshop. It turns out that the lady has d final say on a job that he applied for and he never knew. It was the lady that broke the news to him.
Goodluck everybody.

I agree with what yellow pawpaw and others said about your place of work mattering in the UN organization you want to work for. I recently took a brave step and left my job for a volunteer position @ an International NGO all because the latter would mean me getting experience relevant to my dream job.

It has been a really tough period, but it has already helped my employment prospects e.g. I have tried for 3 years to land a UN job without even being shortlisted for the interview stage. Within two months of my volunteer position, i have already been shortlisted for a UN vacancy.
I can't advice others to do what I did
but if you want to be relevant, you have to be seen to be relevant (which really boils down to your experience)

Like someone just said, start with NGO'S, those who are Catholic can Start with JDPC in their local Parish, from there you can move to CCFN, CAFOD or CRS, if you land yourself in Cafod or CRS you might not be needing UN jobs.

Volunteering in NGO's is quite an innovative way, but how do you take care of urself while being a volunteer?

@mieyeborichard, are the bodies you listed out also as rigid as the UN?

Larai Boluwaji: Volunteering in NGO's is quite an innovative way, but how do you take care of urself while being a volunteer?

depending on the location, some volunteers are paid stipeds (am thinking of abuja here) while other ngos with give you what they can afford, or maybe even a smile @ d end of the month.
I am into some side business and have some other resources available to me which helps to make ends meet as a volunteer.

But an alternative is to go for an advanced degree related to the area of specialization of the UN agency you want to work for. They can sometimes forego the qualification in favour of experience or vice versa, but they will never forego the two together.

Best wishes.