Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
Entry-level junior professional positions are filled exclusively through the Young Professionals Programme (YPP). In order to qualify, a candidate must possess a first-level university degree in the relevant occupational group, be 32 years of age or younger, be fluent in either English or French and be a national of a country participating in the competitive recruitment examination.
Consultant
The United Nations frequently engages experts under individual contracts to work on short-term projects either as a consultant or an individual contractor.
A consultant is a recognized authority or specialist in a specific field, engaged by the Organization in an advisory or consultative capacity.
Junior Professional Officer
The JPO Programme recruits Junior Professional Officers for the UN Secretariat. JPOs are recruited under bilateral agreements between the UN and donor countries. JPOs are generally nationals of donor countries, however some donors also finance nationals of developing countries. Candidates are young professionals, usually with an advanced university degree and minimum two years of professional experience. JPO positions are generally at the P1 or P2 level.
Internship
Internships are intended to promote a better understanding of the work of the United Nations among students and to provide United Nations offices with the assistance of students specialized in various professional fields. Our video series "intern testimonials" gives insights into the jobs and tasks, interns at UN Geneva fulfil day by day.
Internships are not remunerated. The acquisition of the necessary visas, travel costs and arrangements, and living accommodation are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions.
United Nations Language Careers
UN language staff come from all over the globe and make up a uniquely diverse multilingual community. What unites them is the pursuit of excellence in their respective areas, the excitement of being at the forefront of international affairs and the desire to contribute to the realization of the purposes of the United Nations, as outlined in the Charter, by facilitating communication and decision-making.
FAQs
Due to the large number of applications received we cannot arrange for individual appointments concerning your application. If you are pre-selected then you will be contacted to come for an interview. If you have any queries about employment at the UN, please visit the Contact Us page on UN Careers website.
Due to the large number of applications HRMS receives, you will only be contacted if you have been pre-selected to come for an interview. Depending on how many applications were received for a specific post you may only be contacted 3-5 months after the deadline mentioned in the vacancy announcement.
- Refugees holding permits type B or S may be employed with the United Nations on all types of contracts. Holders of permits type S must renounce their refugee status before being recruited. After their separation from the organization, they can request to reinstate their refugee status and reapply for a permit S if they continue to live in Switzerland. Holders of permits type B do not have to renounce their status as their permits will be replaced by a carte de legitimation while working with an international organization.
- Refugees holding permits F may be recruited as non-staff members only (consultants or interns).
- Refugees holding permits N may not be recruited by the UN.
Refugees outside Switzerland may be recruited by the United Nations if they can provide, before being recruited,
an official document from the State which admitted them as refugees allowing them to freely leave and return to their country of residence any time, and
a valid travel document.
Unfortunately, if you have a mother, father, brother, sister, daughter or son working at the United Nations you cannot be considered for employment with the UN.