UN Internships Application Process
Be selected for a UN Internship Program is a dream for many! Being a UN intern combines a wide range of benefits with meaningful work that can help millions of people around the world. Working for a UN organization means developing a global career with a global reach, in a multicultural and pleasant environment; where you will be able to construct influential networks and receive encouragement to develop professionally.
In this sense, the UN Internship Programs seek candidates interested in a highly diversified and multicultural work environment conducive to the development of their skills. The UN internships application process is a great opportunity for those interested in building an international career in the institution.
In this article, we’ll look at the UN Internship Application Process!
In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook (available soon) and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.
UN Internships – Products & Services
1) UN Internships Application – When to apply?
Firstly, it should be borne in mind that the intern recruitment and selection process is highly decentralized between the numerous organizations that make up the UN System.
Therefore, the application period, and other details related to a specific vacancy, or internship program, may vary. Generally speaking, there are four most common types of application period for the internship programs: a) applications always open; b) applications open on demand; c) applications by season and d) mixed applications. Further details about each of these will be provided below.
a) Applications always open (rosters)
When UN organizations keep their internship applications permanently open, what they are looking for is establishing a type of applicant database, called an internship roster, where potential applicants are filtered throughout the year. Those who have the profile most in line with the agency’s needs are selected. Rosters are reserve lists composed of pre-assessed and eligible candidates who no longer need to be interviewed to take on a position.
The vacancies offered in this way usually have more generic requirements, which may attract a large number of professionals. Many of these programs establish a validity period of between six months and one year for applications. If applicants are not called within the stipulated timeframe, this means that your applications were not successful.
b) Applications open on demand
There are also UN organizations that open up selection processes for interns only when they identify a need for this. Generally speaking, these vacancies have more specific demands, with regards to requirements and the application process. Therefore, participants should check the opportunities on the respective agency recruitment sites, and search for the vacancies that best fit their profile.
c) Applications open by seasons
There are also UN System internship programs that open their selections at specific times of the year, giving applicants a specific period to apply. This is the case of the World Bank, which offers summer and winter internships. The former is open between December 01 and January 30, while the application period for the winter internship is between October 01 and 31.
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d) Mixed applications
We should also mention that specific UN System organizations may offer internship opportunities that fit into more than one of these categories. This is the case of the IOM, UNESCO and WTO, which offer vacancies according to demand by their sectors, and they also have an internship program that is open throughout the year. Therefore, you should know the maximum possible about each agency’s specific characteristics, so that you do not miss out on the different opportunities offered.
The following table summarizes this information, with the distribution of the agencies, and their different application deadlines (the list is not exhaustive).
| Always open | Open on demand | Open by seasons | Always open + Open on demand | Season + Open on demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMO UNRWA UNIDO WIPO JIU FAO | ICC IAEA ICAO IFAD CTBTO ITU UNISDR UN WOMEN UNDP UNFPA UNICEF UN SECRETARIAT UNCTAD UNEP UN-HABITAT UNOPS UNODC UNAIDS WFP UPU UNWTO UNSSC UN FOUNDATION UNFCC | ICSID IFC ILO IMF OPCW World Bank | IOM UNESCO UNHCR WTO INTRACEN | WHO |
| Total: 6 | Total: 25 | Total: 6 | Total: 5 | Total: 1 |
2) UN Internships Application Process – How to apply
Generally speaking, there are three types of application for UN System internships, namely: a) application through internship rosters; b) application for specific vacancies; and c) email application. These application processes have similarities and differences between them, which will be explained below. A common point is that they all require the online submission of the applicant’s supporting documents.
a) Application through internship rosters
As mentioned above, the internship roster is a type of applicant database that remains open to new submissions throughout the year. Usually, the applicants’ documents are available for the recruiters to analyze for up to six months. This type of application is made up of three steps:
- Initial registration on the system: requests basic information to access the site, such as: your name and surname, email address, password, and other general data for identification and contact purposes;
- Completing the personal/professional profile: this stage requires more specific information on your educational background, previous professional experience, language fluency, and other skills acquired;
- Document submission and sending the application: following the previous stage, you may need to send your CV/resume and a cover letter. Some agencies also ask for references/recommendation letters from former employers or professors who have worked with the applicant, and can confirm their competency for the position. Lastly, just submit the application on the system, which will be valid for between six months and one year, in the majority of cases.
b) Applying for specific vacancies
In relation to specific vacancies, the application process differs a little from the previous one. The following steps are required to apply for them:
- Initial registration on the system: usually a basic registration is also required to access the agency’s site, through general contact information and user identification.
- Research specific internship vacancies: you should research and use the agency recruitment site’s filters to find internship vacancies that match your profile.
- Complete the personal/professional profile: after you have found a vacancy that you are interested in, the applicant should complete the personal/professional profile specifically for that vacancy. We emphasize that, in some cases, completing the professional profile is independent of the vacancy; in other words, it may be carried out in advance, and be saved in the user’s account.
- Submit your documents and send the application: as when applying for the internship roster, specific vacancies may require the submission of documents (CV/resume, cover and recommendation letters, among others). After sending them, the applicant will be contacted, if they are selected for interview.
c) Email applications
Lastly, are the email application processes, which are much easier, compared with the previous ones. This is the case of UNRWA – an agency that focuses on the protection of Palestine refugees – in which the interested party should look for the email address of the desired unit (headquarters, field/country or representative offices) and send their CV/resume, a cover letter and, in some cases, a statement that justifies the selection of the agency and indicates which areas of activity they are interested in.
d) Documents required for the UN Internships Application Process
The UN Internships Application Process requires you to submit:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume;
- Cover Letter/Statement of Interest
- Proof of enrollment
- Academic transcripts
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The following table presents the application processes, divided into the three categories mentioned above.
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