International organisations

Given the diversity of the organisations in this sector, career opportunities are wide-ranging and cover a number of issue areas, themes and professions. Jobs can be technical, field-based, policy-based, strategic/leadership, or administrative – just as they are within the UK’s civil service and within many commercial organisations. You could be a lawyer, medic, accountant, economist, conflict specialist, political negotiator, water and sanitation specialist, nutritionist, or logistician… in fact the list is nearly endless! There is huge variety in this sector which is partly why its such a popular choice.

Most entry-level positions require a two years’ relevant experience and a Masters Degree in a related topic. With some also requiring an additional foreign language. Do check the criteria carefully. A number of graduates enter this field via the internship route, in the first instance. Many internships are unpaid. Others opted to do a short term consultancy and gain experience that way. Openings for graduates at the start of their careers are relatively rare.  Many graduates spend a number of years on fixed term contracts before, if at all, gaining a permanent contract. Many graduates chose to gain some experience in the private, NGO or charity sector and go the field and then after gaining some experience apply for jobs at HQs.

The high level of interest in employment opportunities in this sector leads to competitive entry standards, particularly as there are normally quotas for nationals of different member countries. Knowing how to navigate the opportunities that do exist and planning how best to access them, through building and marketing your skills and demonstrated interest in the field, is essential.

Funding, or lack of funding to international organisations is an ongoing issue and pressure on budgets may impact on recruitment from one year to the next. 

International organisations typically require a relevant postgraduate degree and professional work experience, as well as fluency in English and in some cases at least one other language. Depending on the area you are applying to it can be to your advantage if you have some work experience or internships carried out abroad, in particular in what are described as 'hardship' locations.  You need to demonstrate your interest, passion and motivation to work in this sector. Some of the larger organisations also set an upper age limit for entry-level posts such as fixed contract ‘Young Professional’ type schemes, or ‘Junior Professional Officer’ programmes, below are a few examples of such schemes.

United Nations (UN)

The UN recruits into a number of occupational groups/divisions, as and when required and core staff from eligible countries (based on the requirements of the UN quota system of representation) are usually initially recruited for advertised junior posts or can begin their career via the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) .  

Most graduates enter the UN via an internship in their chosen field.  These are highly competitive and many require you to have a Masters degree. It is important to research applications with the UN agencies in addition to the Secretariat. You need to apply to these separately.  Your application form and CV are key to getting you shortlisted.  

Most ‘entry’ level positions with the UN usually require an advanced university degree and two years or more professional experience relevant to the job for which you are applying. For mid-career and senior level positions, progressively responsible work experience is required. Individual bodies within the UN system each have their own recruitment notices that can be accessed via their specific websites.

Another of the UN's recruitment programmes is the Junior Professional Officer's Programme (JPO) Candidates are recruited under bilateral agreements between the UN and donor countries, so JPOs  are usually nationals of donor countries, with the exception of some donors who finance nationals of developing countries.

The main objective of the JPO Programme is to provide young professionals with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of multilateral international cooperation through a learning experience under the supervision of specialists, and to contribute to the advancement and furtherance of their organization’s mandate, particularly with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Individual divisions have their own criteria for applications so check carefully what they are for the divisions you're interested in. 

The World Bank Group

The World Bank Group is not a ‘bank’ in the common sense, but an international organisation owned and managed by more than 180 member countries – borrowers, lenders and donors. Together they set the Bank’s policies and oversee operations. All Bank Group efforts are coordinated with a wide range of partners, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations, other aid agencies and the private sector. The Bank is also not a single organisation, but five agencies working together:

• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – IBRD
• The International Development Association – IDA
• The International Finance Corporation – IFC
• The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency – MIGA
• The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes – ICSID

The Bank has several entry schemes, depending upon the level of experience required. For more information about these visit The World Bank website.

The World Bank Group Young Professionals Programme (WBG YPP) is the most high profile programme. The programme recruits on behalf of the World Bank, IFC and MIGA 

This is a two-year leadership development programme at the start of a five-year employment contract. Young Professionals (YPs) start the programme in Washington, DC, where they engage in intensive training—on-the-job and in the classroom—learning the fundamentals of leadership and development operations across institutions, and how to identify opportunities for joint impact. Candidates must be under 32 years old, have a Masters or PhD/DPhil and specialise in a field relevant to YPP business areas

European Union

European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) website is the best place to find out about vacancies, internships and programmes at various EU institutions including:

• European Commission
• European Parliament
• Council of the EU
• European Court of Justice
• Court of Auditors
• European Economic and Social Committee
• Committee of the Regions
• European External Action Service
• European Ombudsman
• European Data Protection Supervisor 

The EU also has traineeship programmes which offer an opportunity to get a taste of what an EU career is about. Each year the programme recruits c.2,000 trainees who work for around 5 months in the various EU institutions, bodies and agencies 

Demonstrable evidence of an interest in and having the technical and practical skills required for the sector, are very important as in a highly competitive international market you will need to "stand out from the crowd" of other applicants. Below are some general skills that are useful to have for the sector:

• Language skills - some people working in the sector speak at least 2 languages fluently
• An international perspective - including the ability to work effectively in multi-cultural/national environments
• Flexibility
• Problem-solving
• Resilience
• Communication
• Project Management

Most jobs require a combination of postgraduate study, experience, skills and networking. Research the area and group of organisations within which you want to work, consider what kind of role you want to to and work backwards to plan milestones and your immediate next steps. You may well also re-define and re-focus along the way. Have a look at job vacancies and the skills that they require - even if you are not quite ready to apply for roles yet. This will help you decide what to do to make yourself competitive in a year or so time. 

Talk to people and build your networks (with alumni, colleagues, tutors, supervisors) – who are already working in a field within which you might want to specialise, or who may know people who are in that field. If you are planning a thesis, already writing one, or undertaking research, think about how this may relate to your future aspirations.

Specialist qualifications

Some positions require specialist technical expertise so think about how you can develop that through postgraduate study and work experience. When choosing a course, make sure that it will give you the technical knowledge and skills needed for your chosen role

International experience

It's can be helpful to gain some relevant international experience before undertaking postgraduate study. This will  help you to identify/clarify which global region(s)you're interested in and will also give you the opportunity to experience what working in an international setting could be like. Read the Careers information pages on International Development and Charities for further resources about how to gain relevant experience. In some cases though achieving a Masters in a relevant field can help you apply for roles and gain the experience you need.  There is no 'perfect' way of approaching things. 

Payment

Some international organisations don't pay interns a salary or may only offer a stipend to cover all or some living costs, so make sure you carefully check whether it's a paid or unpaid internship. Also check the relevant employment law of the country you are working in to understand your employment rights.

In the UK, internships and summer jobs are governed by National Minimum Wage law, which means that if you are carrying out activities that class you as a “worker” by the employer, then you should be paid. Full details of Employment Rights and Pay for Interns are published by the UK government.

If you are undertaking a learning and development opportunity such as a micro-internship, or volunteering for a charity or statutory body, or shadowing or observing, then you may not be eligible for the National Minimum Wage. The organisation may reimburse you for your travel and/or lunch expenses, but they aren’t obliged to do so. 

Recruiters are keen to have a diverse workforce, and many will have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting students and graduates from diverse backgrounds. An increasing number of recruiters are offering traineeships, internships and insight events that are aimed at specific groups and many are being recognised for their approach to being inclusive employers.

Try the following to discover more about the policies and attitudes of the recruiters that you are interested in:

• Read their equality, diversity and inclusion policy.
• Search their website to see if they have any specific staff networks.
• Look for external accreditation such as whether they are a Disability Confident employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion or part of the Mindful Employer charter promoting mental health at work.
• Check to see if they are partnering with organisations such as Rare Recruitment, SEO London, MyPlus Students' Club, EmployAbility or one of the many other organisations that are working for specific communities.
• Explore what they do to celebrate diversity on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

The UK Equality Act 2010 has a number of protected characteristics to prevent discrimination due to your age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation. For further information visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s webpage on the Equality Act and the Government’s webpages on discrimination.