Crafting Your UN Application: Personal Statement and CV
Securing a position within the United Nations through competitive examinations requires a meticulously crafted Personal Statement and Curriculum Vitae (CV). These documents are your primary tools to showcase your qualifications, experience, and alignment with the UN's values and mission. This module will guide you through developing compelling application materials that stand out.
Understanding the UN Application Landscape
The UN employs a competency-based approach to recruitment. This means they are looking for evidence of specific skills, knowledge, and behaviors (competencies) that are crucial for success in their roles. Your Personal Statement and CV must directly address these competencies, providing concrete examples of how you have demonstrated them in your past experiences.
Think of your application as a narrative. Your CV provides the factual evidence, and your Personal Statement weaves that evidence into a compelling story that demonstrates your suitability for the specific UN role.
Developing a Winning CV for UN Applications
A UN CV is more than just a list of your work history. It needs to be tailored, concise, and highlight achievements rather than just responsibilities. Key sections typically include:
Achievements, quantified whenever possible, demonstrating UN competencies.
Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement
The Personal Statement (often referred to as a motivation statement or cover letter in UN applications) is your opportunity to connect your experiences and aspirations directly to the specific role and the UN's mission. It should be persuasive, authentic, and demonstrate a deep understanding of the organization.
The STAR method is a powerful technique for structuring behavioral interview answers and providing concrete evidence in your personal statement. It involves describing a specific Situation, the Task you needed to complete, the Action you took, and the Result of your actions. This framework ensures your examples are detailed, relevant, and demonstrate your capabilities effectively.
Text-based content
Library pages focus on text content
Tailor every application. A generic statement or CV will not impress UN recruiters. Research the specific role, the department, and the UN's current priorities.
Key Competencies to Highlight
While specific competencies vary by role, some are universally important within the UN system. Familiarize yourself with the UN's competency framework and ensure your application materials reflect these:
| Competency | What it means | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|---|
| Professionalism | Upholding UN values, integrity, and impartiality. | Highlighting ethical decision-making, commitment to duty, and objective analysis. |
| Communication | Clear, effective, and respectful communication. | Providing examples of successful presentations, reports, negotiations, or cross-cultural dialogue. |
| Teamwork | Collaborating effectively with others. | Describing instances of successful team projects, conflict resolution, and supporting colleagues. |
| Accountability | Taking responsibility for actions and decisions. | Showcasing how you managed projects, met deadlines, and learned from mistakes. |
| Planning and Organizing | Efficiently managing time and resources. | Detailing how you prioritized tasks, managed multiple projects, and achieved objectives within constraints. |
Final Review and Submission
Before submitting, meticulously proofread your CV and Personal Statement for any grammatical errors, typos, or inconsistencies. Ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date. If possible, have a trusted colleague or mentor review your application for clarity and impact. Pay close attention to any specific formatting or submission instructions provided by the UN.
Errors can undermine professionalism, attention to detail, and overall credibility, potentially leading to disqualification.
Learning Resources
Official overview from the UN Careers website explaining their competency-based recruitment approach and the types of competencies they assess.
Provides practical guidance on the UN application process, including tips for crafting your application documents.
A detailed document outlining the core competencies expected of UN staff members, essential for tailoring your application.
A helpful blog post offering advice on tailoring CVs specifically for international organizations, with principles applicable to UN applications.
Explains the STAR method in detail, a crucial technique for structuring examples in both your personal statement and for interviews.
Offers practical tips and strategies for writing persuasive personal statements relevant to international career applications.
While focused on volunteering, these tips often provide valuable insights into presenting oneself effectively for UN-related roles.
A video tutorial offering a comprehensive walkthrough of the UN application process, including advice on CV and personal statement writing.
Provides foundational knowledge about the UN's core principles, mission, and values, essential for aligning your personal statement.
Reviewing actual UN job descriptions is vital for understanding the specific competencies and requirements for different roles.