Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Society Business and Career
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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

ALD? Series 300 or series 200? Also was your contract a local appointment or international? Secondly when your contract expired what reason did they give? Was the post converted at any point?

99% of the time UN jobs are never lost. They are just converted and people are rehired after a 2 week break. If you have any questions let me know.

special/sentimental moments
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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

CM- here are the answers

1) MBA- from US. program is ranked in top 20
2) post MBA 10 years work experience, all US, with significant international reponsibilities
3) Developed, planned, commercialized and launched a global environmental program i will PM you some info.

The issue I have had is that I am more of an international business strategy/marketing person and not finance, i have had opportunities come my way in the financial area but not only is it my focus but not really my cup of tea.

I just said environment as one area because that may be of interest these days, but it does not have to be.

PS what about pay scales? last time i was seriously looking, it seemed like it was not comparable. per Jan 08 info. its USG which is at $189K Gross, what type of roles fall under under USG? and what are trhe benefits like. anything below that simply is a non starter from a numbers perspective.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

I responded to your PM as well. But let me break down UN salaries for you.

The UN has one pay scale all around the world. That is your salary. That is roughly 5 figures when you start. 6 figures when you retire.

But on top of that is your Post Adjustment. Which is roughly 50 to 70% of your salary. So if you get 5k a month in a salary you get on top of that 4k more as post adjustment. So you are earning 9k a month tax free. This of course does not include the fact that the UN provides health insurance, dental, living allowance and if you are a permanent employee, they pay for your children’s education all the way through undergraduate. Lets not forget all the insurance your family and dependant gets and the rest of the perks of traveling with a UN passport. Visa free travel and god knows what else. The Perks are amazing linked with a 6 figure salary.

Just to give an example. The USG (a post which is political and not mangerial) earns roughly 300k a year tax free. The USG post is a political appointment normally of a former Foriegn Minister or a a very strong political candidate. You will never be hired as a USG unless you are a genius.

I will give you the example of the USG for Economic and Social Affairs. A brilliant economist who was Finance minister by the age of 28. He hangs out socially with Sachs and Bhagwati and the other leading economists of the world. He lectures at Harvard for fun etc etc. These men/women are the creme de la creme of their field.

You won’t get a USG post. Depending on your experience you may get say a P-3 which could range from 90k per year to 130k. It would obviously go up from there.

If you want to mix your business and environment aspect look up the Global Compact. http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

That should be more up your alley. Look the UN salaries are extremely high. We UN staff get paid more than lawyers get paid in New York at say Skadden Arps.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Naih yaar. My prob is a different one. Got an offer. But for Liberia...still struggling completing my studies (masters) and working full time is no joke!
As you said: No Masters no Mission :p

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

I knew it, approach = safarish right ...? if you try the regular (website) no response comes, it would be a lotto win, even if we would get invited for a interview and here I am talking about a G post.
I actually have a contact of a person who is a middle person for technical jobs ect.. I havent contacted her yet, I want to finish the education first... now its hard to work full time with a kid ..

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Saadia, I understand your problem. Its never easy married, kid and then work + study.
But well try that contact out. I think you mean a person who I might know ;-)
Dont worry I'm talking about a G post as well. But remember once G (almost always) G. So P is hardly to reach then. Thats why I have never tried to apply for a G in first place.
Well the regular procedure you can forget. You need a contact person.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Ali, most IT jobs that I see are of G post, like this currently one **IT Systems Technician (G-5) at IAEA. **I even have the ITIL and Senior PzM certificate.
But then its no use appling as they dont bother answering back or u get a letter after few months that the postion has been occupied by someone else, like u care after 3-4 months about the postion anymore .. i think their recuriting system sux.

So whats wrong with a G post, why is it so lower then a P post ?

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

actually it was an SSA i was hired under the YPO programe (it was for 11 months max in 2006) it was after the earthquake hardly 2 ppl were rehired and they were the ones who had more experience then me and sum other girls....hey btw do u know Bharad Harrichand???from NY HQ-(HR)???and at that time SSA couldnt be extended more then 11 months and u had to take 1 year break as well b4 rejoining....I have no other questions except for getting a gud job there btw is there any UN agency in Dubai??

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

aj i went to UNDP- pakistan n b4 going i thought i had tok to the DRR-operations abt a job and i couldnt do it i also met the HR manager stillllllllllll :S: :S:S:S i didntk now how to tok to em abt a job

Cafe's Auction ~Jhanjariya~
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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

CM couple of questions

  1. explain tax free aspect. US citizens and residents have to pay taxes regardless of where they work from what I know
  2. I looked up on the UN site and it listed USG for US at $189K, it did not have the info like the ‘post adjustment’ allowance. Is there a site which lists it all. health insurance is not an issue, college education is a def perk, and the UN passport is non issue.
  3. so this p3 post is that with or without ‘post adjustment’ from what I recall a USG in US was at $189K and the level below that was $170K at the highest levels.

Please dont take it as being critical, I am just trying to understands this fully. Because it seems that the info on UN website is telling half the story.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

ATTN:
CM or Ali_R

I need neccessary information about joining the human rights, women rights or the children welfare wing of the UN. Can you please PM me so that I could reply with my questions? I cannot PM anyone as I am a new user.

Much appreciated.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Hi,

I wanna know if you have any information about the medical internships there? I had wanted to do my own research for that but I'm too drowned in exams right now, would you be able to help?

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

You know what, I'm interested in this too... so I'll give away my info as well:

Degrees: BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), MBA (Master of Business Administration) as well as MASc (Master of Applied Science) from North American Universities.
Experience: Over 7 years of progressive experience in software engineering, project management, consulting and organizational change. No "field" experience, but significant exposure to client engagement and consulting.

Will check the galaxy website as well.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Taxes:You have to fill an income tax return with the IRS. The UN helps you with all that but you personally do not pay a single penny to them. UN staff are exempt from paying taxes to the US or their home nation. I can personally guarantee this.

Post Adjustment: Welcome to the best kept secret in the world :D But seriously the UN does not tell you everything as it is an "old boys club" or a "gentleman's club". Those who know the system keep getting in, the ones who don't stay out. Getting in is all based on connections as Ali said. Hell very few get in on merit. You won't find 90% of the stuff you need to know to get a job on the UN website. It requires someone with intimate knowledge of the process - like me - to help guide you through. Hell even I got help in my 3 years to get a job in the UN. The post adjustment is different in each location that maybe a reason why it is not listed.

If you get to the field it is a different matter with MSA and Hazard pay. Post adjustment documents are internal documents and can not be distributed to the public.

G staff and P staff G = General. P = Profession. General staff is technical support and administrative support. Professional is your officer cadre. The ones who do the substantive works. The ones who go to international meetings. G staff can be described as code monkeys or clerical staff. However now you can move from G to P but it isn't easy.

stylobabe Yeah then we have a problem. YPO's are one year long but more importantly they are used basically like Interns. Though another issue is donor fatigue. The UN got very little money for the earthquake. When the funding dried up they eliminated the posts. What you need to do is contact someone in UNDP In Pakistan and speak to them actively. Your contract was not a standard UN contract, so you had no safety net. Basically you need to network. If it was Series 300 or something I would suggest you talk to Human Resources and ask them why your contract was not renewed. You are in a bind. Is your boss still there? I suggest you ask him if he can help you.

Ambassador1
1. Human Rights - Geneva
2. Health - WHO - Geneva
3. Women's issues - New York UN Secretariat. CEDAW or Gender divison. UNFPA HQ, New York.
4. Children - UNICEF HQ New York.

Look at their websites and tell me what jobs you qualify for so I can give more direct information.

Safeena
Medical - WHO Geneva. They won't let you operate on people or medical procedures like that. But these are the guys that coordinate the fight against SARS, HIV/AIDs and other medical problems. They also work on providing health services to Africa and Asia specifically in war torn situations. A medical background is always good and some field experience.

hypnotix-2000
Where do you want to work? Which section? Which city? Which Agency? What field?

Important information
Before you join the UN or apply for any job, please for the love of god know the different organs and background for the UN. Know what an Agency is. Know what the UN Secretariat is. Know what the difference between an Agency and an Organization is. Know which ones you can work with. Just asking for "women issues section" will be no help to me. New York has 4 "women issues " sections. They have International agreements which have their own secretariats. They have Agencies on issues. I am more than willing to help explain all this stuff.

Connections are the name of the game. You have to be good at networking, not lying. Networking. There is a big difference. Most of the UN guys are extremely smart and they know what they are doing. So this is not US Law firm networking. You have to show you know what you are doing but more importantly you can be diplomatic and lack for a better word classy. From what I have seen in the US and Pakistan, being pushy gets stuff done. In the UN circles being pushy and demanding earns you disfavor.

Also I will help you find an organization that suits the needs you have the experience you have and I will explain the recruitment procedure. After that you are on your own.

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Hey CM at least someone who admits that connections got him to the UN, 99% of the people dont admit it, if you ask they would say, oh I just filled up the form and got invited for an interview and they loved me and wanted me ... :~)

I am not saying that grapes are sour, but do you think is it better to work with some multi national as at the UN? because UN seems difficult to get into.
As about contacts, people that we know especially pakistani will never encourage u or guide you for a job at the UN.
We really need someone who knows the procedure and how they operate.
But yeah once u get inside, u can get your family inside too :-) thats called United Nations networking ..

ps. I have heard that here in Vienna, if you are Austrian national then you pay the taxes so how right is that?

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Just read the post in the General section. So posting it here.

CM, can I send you my PHP, so that u can check any mistakes by me ?
what about the references (3 are needed) .. what kind of references should they be and are they ever contacted?

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Lol dont tell me :P
I applied for the same post some months ago. But as you said no answer.
Could you tell me on how you applied for It? There are some tricks ;-)

NO you dont need PzM at all nor do you need ITIL as far as I know.

And If you are hopeless:
Get a person with some influence on HR working at the very dep. of your job application of interest, make him/her your friend and buy him/her some nice things. Then wait for the result :D

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

CM, dont forget about S and FP, FGs.
I would have thought you to be on FP job. Arent you?

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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

@Ambassador1, as CM said It's all Geneva. I have some one there, but I hardly think he can help you with getting a job. Nor can any one of us here.

Safeena, be prepared that you will not get paid for any intership you do.

Your husband has impregnated a woman....
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Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]

Everybody needs connections to join the UN. But its not that easy. You see the UN gets roughly 20,000 applications per job. How do you shift through 20,000 applications? You don't. What happens is say Job A is advertised, someone knows you have applied to the job, so they tell their friend in Human Resources. The friend looks at your PHP. If it is not up to UN standard, you get rejected.

If it is up to UN standard you get technically cleared. Then you get on a roster and after that you are on your own. Then the team/unit/division needs to like your PHP and call you. Then you have to be short listed. Then you have to be interviewed. Then you need to be cleared officially. Then you are offered the job.

That is 1 year easily if not more. Plus if you are Pakistani its worse. We are over represented and 90% of them are related to the MOFA. So they know we got our country's interests at heart.

Well all my contacts were Pakistanis. They all met me once a week or once every 2 weeks. The UN mission in New York pushed my case, but I also worked for them. The Pakistanis are helpful. But they won't hand you a job on a silver plate.

What you need to do is give them the following:
1. Name, title and location of job
2. Division and who is the man interviewing you
3. Human Resources individual who needs to clear you
4. Your funding source.

Once they know all this they can help. But I will point out this is 100% an old boys club. As for taxes. Just checked with finance. No taxes paid period.

As for PHP Sure. I will pm you a dummy address which you can send your PHP to.

References: No UN staff counts as references. Standard reference rules are 1 professional 1 personal and 1 academic.