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?
Nope. Got love being Pakistan. Series 300 1 year renewable contract.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
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. .......
yeah i know its sumfin like intern but cuz of the earthquake scene we were treated as employees cuz we did more work then the dumb old staff (on apermanent contract) got sum HR trainings ...orientatiosn etc overall it was a great learning experience ....i know my cntract couldnt be extended where i went wrong was that being there i should have let em know that i want to continue and tok to sum ppl like SOME other ppl did...yeah my boss is still there and i went there yesterday i talked abt everythingggggggggggg going in the world except for my job :S i duno how to tok abt it....:( hellpppppppp
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 got in UN without any connection and no one believed it :(
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
and yeah ppl let me tell u that sumtimes the job advertisment u might be applying for is already filled in how nice :D and how efficient ....they just place the adv to complete their proceudres....but thats not the case alwaysss....
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
The prob at the Vienna HQ is that they have a fix quota (very low) for Austrian nationals, which makes applying for a job as an Austrian even harder.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
i got in UN without any connection and no one believed it :(
Congratulations!
You are 1 of billion.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Stylo, thats true...where are you now at? Islo?
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Mashallah :k:
I have that PHP fobia.
Are there any examples you can find for the most likely to be UN HR approved PHP?
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Stylo we can't help with that. You have to bring up the issue of your job up to your boss yourself. Every contract that is handed out is based on connection and merit. Merit alone does not get you a job in the UN. You could be extremely qualified but out of 20,000 applications you are just another name in a sea of names.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Ali there is no ideal PHP. But there somethings you need to highlight. International experience in the world environment. How well you do with foriegn cultures. A white guy that enjoys sheesha and a shwarma in Jeddah is one of those things. How your explanation of your work does not sound like "I am so cool i ran a company solo" etc. To the point direct and honest, because they check every single detail you send. Do not lie on your PHP.
People lie on their CVs and get away with it. Do not lie on your PHP. Once you get rejected for a job you are rejected and if you lie they will make a note of it.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
I wasnt aware that UN cares so much about that PHP. Some people said they dont even look at It much, when you have a contact sitting at HR directly.
BUt you have stated the opposite. I'm amazed.
My problem is to understand when you are rejected and when you are accepted. What can you do wrong? Lets say Im direct, honest, and not exaggerating. What else can go wrong with my PHP?
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Ali, I havent applied for any job at the moment, was just looking at the site and the job advertisment caught my attention.
When my father was in Vienna in 1974-1979 he could have easily gotten a job for the UN my father being a patriot wanted to stay with the Pakistani F.O.
Even my (late) uncle regected some offers, his own ex-boss wanted to have him there 
Now spill out the tricks, I am temped if I can get called for an interview, I will see it as an achieved goal.
CM, is a proffesional post only contracted for few years or is it permenant once u get that status. Okay I understand many people apply for a single job, so they can easily select their best person. About contact thats a tricky business as don’t have any contacts.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Saadia I thought you did. I wasnt aware of that.
I know your father was a real Patriot. No doubt. I guess thats coz of your background.
I think you need to get your studies completed first like me. Right?
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Ali the PHP is important because other people see it. The basic thing is that a lot of people are qualified for these jobs and the approval or rejection for technical clearance is based off a fact sheet. They look for specific things and they also have a handbook on questions they ask you during interviews. I do not know what they looked like as they are confidential documents and I never asked to get a copy.
If you have a contact in HR they still need to approve you. They can't approve someone with a BA for a job that requires an MA. So they watch their backs. Contacts = more important than PHP.
Now Saadia, if you don't have contacts you need to make some. I am not sure what else to say. Everybody in the UN gets chosen via contacts now. Back in the 60s and 70s it was different. Now everybody wants a UN job. So ask Ali and his dad to help out.
I know UNODC has a few Pakistanis there. Former FO and some others there. Not sure who the Pakistani Ambassador is in Austria. Maybe he can be of some help.
No more permanent UN contracts. That was decided in the 60th Session of the GA - 2005. You get permanent contracts only after what 5 to 6 years of continious service and only then i think in New York, Geneva and Vienna. Otherwise 1 month contracts to 1 year contracts.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Saadia I thought you did. I wasnt aware of that. I know your father was a real Patriot. No doubt. I guess thats coz of your background. I think you need to get your studies completed first like me. Right?
yeah some wrong decisions and potentials not used wisely ... what about my background?
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
CM, ok don't have any contacts at the moment and lets forget about asking some pakistani Ambassador, cannot do that, will not do that, had my father been still working might he might have done it for me, he had all the contacts back then but got sick while we were at the age of employment.
Well you can help me with my personal history form, that will mean a lot to me, tell me the major mistakes and it will help me a lot.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
Sending you a PM with my e-mail address now.
Edit: Sent
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
i got in UN without any connection and no one believed it :(
must have been of your good looks and pleasant personality :)
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
yeah some wrong decisions and potentials not used wisely ... what about my background?
You had some well known Army Officers in your family, who gave their lives in the war against India. Your bros said that once.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
must have been of your good looks and pleasant personality :)
Trust me, not even good looks counts these days ;-)
Btw no tricks, I was just kidding.
Re: Career in the UN [split: New Government (in Pak Affairs]
CM so if its is all contracts as I saw, how do they go about offering new contracts. I mean it would suck for someone to go for it and then a year later out you go. I know job security in general is high at UN but does that apply to contract positions as well.