A Complete Guide to Applying for United Nations Jobs through Inspira

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Applying for a job with the United Nations involves more than finding a suitable vacancy. Applicants should understand the different staff categories, job opening types, Inspira account requirements, application procedures, screening processes, assessments, competency-based interviews and application results.

This guide is based on the United Nations inspira Applicant Guide and presents the application journey in a practical, step-by-step format.

Important: United Nations recruitment procedures, policies and system functions may change. Applicants should always refer to the current United Nations Careers Portal and Inspira for the latest requirements.

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Chapter 1 | Understanding United Nations Job Openings

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1. Who does the United Nations recruit?

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The United Nations seeks to meet the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity in the employment of its staff, supporting its objectives relating to peace, inclusive sustainable development and human rights.

In addition to staff positions, the United Nations also engages:

• Consultants

• Individual Contractors

• Interns

• United Nations Volunteers

Each opportunity has its own requirements, responsibilities and contractual arrangements.

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2. Main staff categories

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United Nations positions are advertised under different staff categories.

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Professional and Higher Categories

Internationally recruited staff performing analytical and conceptual work, normally outside their country of origin, with the expectation that they may move geographically during their careers.

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Field Service

Internationally recruited staff working in field operations. Their functions may range from procedural, operational and technical work to analytical and conceptual work.

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National Professional Officers

Nationals and permanent residents of the country of service performing analytical and conceptual work within a national context.

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General Service

Staff whose functions range from routine or repetitive work to complex and paraprofessional work.

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Trade and Crafts

Examples include drivers, electricians and building management staff in New York.

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Security Service

Security officers, including positions in New York.

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Public Information Assistants

For example, tour guides working in New York.

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Language Teachers

Language teaching positions in New York and Geneva.

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3. Types of job openings

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Job openings for one year or longer

Job openings are generally advertised to fill specific positions available for one year or longer.

Some field operation vacancies are available only to candidates who have already been pre-approved for selection and placed on a roster.

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Temporary job openings

Temporary job openings are advertised for staff positions lasting less than one year.

A position may be temporary because of budget constraints or because the need for the position is limited in duration.

 

4. Non-staff opportunities

The United Nations Careers Portal also advertises opportunities outside regular staff positions.

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Consultants

Consultants are engaged in an advisory or consultative capacity to provide specialized skills or knowledge that staff may not normally possess.

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Individual Contractors

Individual contractors may perform staff-like work, such as:

• Translation

• Editing

• Part-time maintenance

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Internships

Undergraduate students in their final year and graduate students may apply for internships to enhance their educational experience and gain experience working with the United Nations.

The guide states that internships are full-time and generally last two to six months. Interns are not paid.

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United Nations Volunteers

United Nations Volunteers generally volunteer for at least six months and are mainly deployed to support field operations.

Many have relevant expertise and several years of work experience. United Nations Volunteers receive an allowance.

 

5. How to find United Nations job openings

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The United Nations Careers Portal is the main starting point for searching for United Nations opportunities.

Applicants can search using criteria such as:

• Job title

• Job category

• Level

• Posting date

• Job network

• Job family

• Duty station

Applicants can then open a job title to review the full details of the position.

Although both the Careers Portal and Inspira can be used to browse and search job openings, applicants must create an Inspira account in order to submit an application.

 

Chapter 2 | Creating an Inspira Account

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1. Who needs an Inspira account?

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Applicants generally need an Inspira account unless they are staff members of the United Nations Secretariat or another United Nations or related organization that uses Inspira as its talent management platform.

United Nations staff members receive employee accounts when they join the organization.

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2. Creating an Inspira account

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To create an account, applicants need to provide:

• Given name and family name

• Password

• Primary email address

• Date of birth

After registration, Inspira automatically creates a User ID and sends it to the applicant by email.

Applicants are advised to keep their User ID for future reference.

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3. Update your profile after logging in

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After creating or receiving an account, applicants should log in and open:

My Profile

All mandatory profile fields must be completed before an application can be submitted.

Applicants should also ensure that their:

• Telephone number

• Email address

• Physical address

are current, because hiring managers may contact them by telephone or email.

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4. Passport and identity information

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Under Nationality & Residence, applicants who are not current employees should upload a copy of the personal details page of their passport containing their photograph and biographical information.

If a passport is not readily available, another travel document or photo identification may be provided.

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5. Transferring roster membership

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Applicants who obtained roster membership through an external account may transfer their roster membership to an employee account when applicable.

Before starting the transfer, applicants should complete their employee account profile and follow the instructions to verify ownership of both accounts.

After the transfer, the external account cannot be used to submit new applications. Applications submitted before the transfer are not affected.

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Chapter 3 | Applying for a United Nations Job

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1. Understand the job requirements first

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When you find a position of interest, carefully review its requirements.

Pay particular attention to:

• Education

• Work experience

• Languages

• Competencies

• Required criteria

• Desirable criteria

Required criteria are mandatory requirements.

Desirable criteria are not mandatory, although some or all may be relevant when applicants are shortlisted.

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2. Start an application

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Applicants can create a draft application in Inspira.

For a specific vacancy, select:

Apply Now

Applicants can also replicate information from an existing draft or previously submitted application and update it for a new position.

This can make it easier to tailor applications to different job openings.

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3. The application process

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The application includes a series of steps.

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Step 1 | Welcome

Indicate how you learned about the job opening.

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Step 2 | Start Application

Choose whether to create an application from scratch, replicate a previous application or use an offline template.

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Step 3 | Job Requirements Questions

Answer questions designed to identify candidates who meet the criteria specified in the job opening.

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Step 4 | Education

Provide information about university degrees and high school qualifications.

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Step 5 | Work Experience

Provide information about relevant work experience and supervisors.

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Step 6 | Languages

Indicate language proficiency, including your mother tongue and proficiency in the working languages of the Secretariat.

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Step 7 | Skills and Training

Provide information about relevant training, certificates, diplomas and publications.

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Step 8 | Motivation Statement and References

Explain your motivation for applying and provide relevant professional references.

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Step 9 | Review Application

Review all information before submission.

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Step 10 | Certify and Submit

Review the terms and agreements, then certify and submit the application.

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4. Job requirements questions

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Job requirements questions relate directly to the criteria specified in the job opening.

Your answers should be supported by detailed information elsewhere in your application, including:

• Education

• Work experience

• Language proficiency

• Relevant qualifications

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5. Education

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Applicants should list:

• High school diploma

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent

• Master's degree or equivalent

• Doctorate or equivalent

Degrees must be issued by academic institutions accredited by the competent authorities in the location where the institution is based.

The United Nations makes the final determination regarding recognition and equivalency after reviewing the nature, level, context and content of the education programme and the accreditation status of the institution.

If your institution or degree cannot be found in the application database, the guide provides an option to select:

Other / I cannot find my school

Applicants may then enter the institution manually.

Degree certificates, transcripts and other supporting documentation may also be required.

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6. Languages

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Applicants should indicate their proficiency in the languages specified in the job opening, including their mother tongue.

The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat include:

English

French

The application should accurately reflect the applicant's proficiency in the required languages.

Language proficiency is assessed across four areas:

• Reading

• Speaking

• Understanding

• Writing

According to the guide, a language is considered fluent when all four areas are rated as fluent.

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7. Work experience

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Applicants should include all relevant work experience.

Do not simply list an employer and job title.

Describe:

• Main responsibilities

• Duties

• Relevant achievements

• Management responsibilities

• Number and type of employees directly supervised

Applicants should also provide employer and supervisor contact information.

The United Nations may contact employers and supervisors to verify employment records and conduct qualitative reference checks.

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8. Skills, training and professional qualifications

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This section can include:

• Short-term certificates

• Diplomas

• Professional qualifications

• Licences

• Training

• Publications

• Books

• Articles

• Journals

• Reports

Professional qualifications, such as accountancy certifications, may also be included where relevant.

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9. Motivation Statement

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The motivation statement should be tailored specifically to the position being applied for.

It should highlight:

• Relevant experience

• Qualifications

• Competencies

• Why you are suited to the position

• How you can contribute to the team's mission and objectives

The goal is to clearly connect your background with the requirements of the position.

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10. Professional references

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The United Nations primarily seeks employment references from supervisors.

Applicants with relatively short careers or fewer than three supervisors may provide other professional references, such as:

• Professors

• Thesis advisors

• Mentors

• Colleagues

• Clients

• Collaborators

• Other professional contacts

Personal references such as family members and friends should not be used as professional references.

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11. Before submitting your application

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Review the entire application carefully.

Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be changed.

An applicant may withdraw an application but cannot apply again to the same job opening.

Before selecting Submit Application, check:

✓ Personal information
✓ Education
✓ Work experience
✓ Languages
✓ Skills and training
✓ Motivation statement
✓ References
✓ Supporting documents
✓ Job requirements
✓ Mandatory questions

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12. Offline applications

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Applicants without a stable internet connection may use the Offline Application process.

First, download the latest version of the offline application template.

After completing the template, use:

Load from File

within the Inspira application process to upload it.

Only the latest version of the template can be uploaded back into Inspira.

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Chapter 4 | Evaluation, Assessment and Interviews

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After an application is submitted, applicants may go through several stages:

Screening → Evaluation → Assessment → Interview

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1. Automatic and manual screening

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After submission, applications go through an automatic screening process in Inspira based on pre-established rules.

The screening may consider factors such as:

• Age

• Academic qualifications

• Length of work experience

• Family relationships

• Criminal record

• Applicable policies

• Requirements of the job opening

In some cases, manual review may also take place.

Applicants should respond promptly if additional information is requested.

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2. Evaluation by hiring managers

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Hiring managers evaluate applicants who have passed the relevant screening stages.

They create a shortlist based on the criteria specified in the job opening.

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3. Types of assessments

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Shortlisted applicants may be invited to participate in:

• Written exercises

• Presentations

• Technical tests

• Knowledge-based interviews

• Competency-based interviews

• Other assessments

Assessments are normally scheduled for a specific date and time.

Failure to respond to an invitation, failure to remain reachable, or failure to participate may result in disqualification.

Applicants should follow all instructions and deadlines carefully.

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4. Competency-based interviews

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For job openings and generic job openings, the competency-based interview is a preferred assessment methodology.

Its purpose is to obtain objective evidence of an applicant's competencies through their past behaviour and performance.

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5. Preparing for the interview

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Before the interview, review the job opening carefully.

Identify:

• Competencies

• Competency indicators

• Relevant responsibilities

• Required behaviours

Then prepare real examples from your previous experience demonstrating those competencies.

A useful way to organize your examples is:

Situation

Task

Action

Result

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6. What questions may be asked?

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Competency-based interviews may ask applicants to provide examples from their previous experience.

Examples include:

“Give me an example of…”

“Please describe a situation when you had to… and how did you go about it?”

Interviewers may also ask:

• What feedback did you receive from your team members?

• What feedback did you receive about your role in the project?

• What happened next?

• What were your specific responsibilities?

Interviewers may ask comparison, appraisal, probing or follow-up questions to obtain further evidence.

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7. Interview format and duration

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A competency-based interview typically lasts:

30–60 minutes

Depending on the applicant's location and available communication methods, interviews may take place:

• In person

• By video

• By telephone

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Chapter 5 | Application Results and Roster Placement

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1. Checking your application status

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Applicants can log into Inspira and select:

My Applications

to check the status of their applications.

Common statuses include:

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Draft

You have started an application but have not submitted it.

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Applied

You have submitted the application and it is being screened through Inspira.

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Under Consideration

The application has passed Inspira screening and the recruitment process is ongoing.

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Recruitment Completed

The recruitment process has been completed and another applicant was selected.

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Rostered

You were recommended for the position but were not selected for that particular vacancy.

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Selected

You were selected for the position.

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Filled from Roster

A roster candidate was selected for the position.

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JO Cancelled

The job opening was cancelled.

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2. If you are selected

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Selected applicants are notified by email.

According to the guide, selected applicants must confirm their continued interest and availability by email within:

5 business days

If confirmation is not received within this period, another applicant may be selected.

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3. What is a roster?

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A roster is a pool of pre-approved candidates who may be considered for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions.

Being placed on a roster does not guarantee future selection or appointment.

When a relevant vacancy becomes available, roster candidates may receive an invitation to apply.

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4. Does being rostered guarantee a future job?

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No.

The Applicant Guide explicitly states that roster placement does not guarantee future selection or appointment.

Roster candidates may receive invitations to apply for future positions for which they have been pre-approved.

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5. Viewing your roster membership

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Applicants can access:

My Roster Memberships

in Inspira to view information such as:

• Level

• Status

• Membership start date

• Associated job titles

• Available job openings for which they may apply

Candidates may also withdraw from or place their roster membership on hold.

The guide notes that once a candidate withdraws from a roster, the roster membership cannot be reinstated.

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The United Nations Application Journey at a Glance

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① Find a Job

United Nations Careers Portal / Inspira

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② Create an Inspira Account

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③ Complete Your Profile

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④ Review the Job Requirements

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⑤ Submit Your Application

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⑥ Automatic / Manual Screening

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⑦ Hiring Manager Evaluation

↓

⑧ Assessment

Written exercise / Technical test / Presentation / Interview

↓

⑨ Competency-Based Interview

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⑩ Application Result

Selected / Rostered / Other result

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Final Application Checklist

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Before submitting a United Nations job application, check that you have:

☐ Created an Inspira account
☐ Completed My Profile
☐ Updated your contact information
☐ Read the full job opening
☐ Checked the Required Criteria
☐ Checked the Desirable Criteria
☐ Completed your education information
☐ Added relevant work experience
☐ Added language proficiency
☐ Added relevant skills and training
☐ Prepared a position-specific motivation statement
☐ Added professional references
☐ Uploaded the required supporting documents
☐ Answered all mandatory questions
☐ Reviewed the complete application
☐ Confirmed that the application cannot be changed after submission

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Official Guide

This webpage is based on the United Nations inspira Applicant Guide, published by the United Nations Department of Operational Support / Capacity Development and Operational Training Service. The guide describes itself as a living document and notes that its contents may change in response to revisions of administrative instructions, policies, lessons learned and reporting requirements.

Source: United Nations — inspira Applicant Guide