United Nations Resume Example
Starting a career as a UN employee gives you the chance to gain experience in promoting UN initiatives and advocating for sustainable development. To get ahead in your applications for UN employee roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your core relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating a UN employee resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a resume for United Nations that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. You'll find useful insights on constructing a resume that makes the most of your unique skills, experience and strengths. You'll also learn how to tailor your resume according to the job description, and depending on your experience levels. Read on to learn the tips Jobseeker careers experts recommend as the best for your UN resume.
Core sections to include in a United Nations resume
Although the content of a UN resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you're applying for junior, entry-level or graduate UN employee positions and you lack work experience, consider using a skills-based resume format to emphasize your skills and education. Focus the content of your resume on your soft and transferable skills, and any hard or technical skills you've learned from your studies or career to date. You can also mention any relevant internships, training courses or voluntary roles you've taken on.
When applying for mid-level UN employee positions, it's typically best to opt for a reverse-chronological resume format. This is because work experience tends to be the most important resume section for this level. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities in each role, show the impact you made and offer evidence that demonstrates the skills and experience listed in the job description.
If you're applying for senior UN employee positions, you'll want to list career achievements and successes that emphasize your senior status. Use a reverse-chronological format and add extra sections to show key career highlights. Expect your senior resume to be slightly longer than resumes for more junior roles. This is because you 'll want to add details of professional memberships, awards, publications, presentations and other achievements expected of senior professionals.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
Your United Nations resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Jose Roberts
jose.roberts@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
linkedin․com/in/jose–roberts123
Resume Summary
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for United Nations employee roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why UN employee roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A strong resume summary focuses on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for UN employee roles in a clear, quantifiable way. It also gives an insight into your personal qualities, to help the reader understand why you're a suitable candidate. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for UN employee jobs below.
Good example:
Dedicated UN employee with a Master of International Relations, skilled in international diplomacy and policy analysis. Formerly served as a Human Rights Officer, demonstrating expertise in monitoring, reporting, and advocating for human rights compliance. Proficient in developing and implementing human rights programs, collaborating with various stakeholders, and conducting thorough research and analysis on human rights issues. Proven ability to work in high-pressure environments and deliver impactful results
Bad example:
Worked at an international organization with some experience in global relations and understanding policies. Previously involved in roles related to rights, where I kept track of things and talked about rights issues. Have experience in creating and running programs about rights, working with different groups, and looking into rights topics. Able to handle busy situations and make a difference
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Work Experience
Your resume work experience section is the chance to show your relevant previous jobs and career achievements as a UN employee. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
For each job listed in this section, add some bullet points so the employer can understand the skills you developed, and your achievements. Focus on showcasing the impact you made on the organization, and show evidence of how you made a difference.
A good work experience section pulls the reader in with clear examples of where you've put the skills necessary for the job into good use in your career to date. This typically includes evidence of how your skills and activities contributed to positive outcomes for the organization. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Human Rights Officer, January 2022 - Present
Global Horizons Consulting, Corpus Christi
- Successfully led a team to investigate and resolve 50+ human rights violation cases, resulting in policy changes and improved community relations
- Developed and implemented comprehensive human rights training programs for 200+ staff members, enhancing awareness and compliance across the organization
- Coordinated with international NGOs to secure funding and support for local human rights initiatives, increasing resource availability by 30%
Bad example:
Human Rights Officer, January 2022 - Present
Global Horizons Consulting, Corpus Christi
- Led a team to address various issues, improving outcomes and fostering positive relationships
- Created and executed training programs to boost awareness and compliance
- Collaborated with NGOs to enhance support and resources for initiatives
In the graphic above you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Education and Qualifications
In this section list any educational qualifications or degrees that are relevant to UN employee roles.
Typically, working as a UN employee requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of International Relations degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your project management expertise or foreign language proficiency.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. You could also add one or two bullet points to draw attention to your grades if they were particularly good, as well as any specialist subjects you studied. This will help the hiring manager understand your knowledge and special skills better.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Master of International Relations, 2017 - 2020
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Skills
Adding a list of your key skills provides a quick reference for the reader of what you can bring to a UN employee role. Skills such as project management expertise or intercultural communication skills are particularly useful for UN employee jobs. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for UN employee positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
Highlighting your hard skills
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a UN employee. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your UN employee job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the UN employee role. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a UN employee resume, see below.
- Project management expertise
- Foreign language proficiency
- Data analysis skills
Soft skills on your UN resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job, especially in an organization like United Nations, where being a culture fit matters. These soft skills include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a UN employee resume.
- Intercultural communication skills
- Conflict resolution expertise
- Team collaboration proficiency
Relevant Certifications and Licenses
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a United Nations employee. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for a UN employee resume:
- Project Management Professional, 2022
- Certified Public Accountant, 2022
- Certified Information Systems, 2022
Optional Information
There are several additional sections you could add to a UN employee resume, to improve your chances of success. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Your hobbies and interests are useful for a UN employee resume if you want to show a different side to your personality, or to stand out among other candidates. They can also be valuable if you're a junior candidate without much relevant work experience. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Volunteer Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for UN employee roles beyond your main employment history. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard UN resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References can be provided upon request.
Best action words for your UN resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Collaborate
- Coordinate
- Implement
- Facilitate
- Advocate
- Negotiate
- Strategize
- Monitor
- Evaluate
- Mobilize
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Example of a resume for United Nations
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your UN resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
•
jose.roberts@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/jose–roberts123
Dynamic and dedicated UN employee with a Bachelor of International Relations and extensive experience as a Human Rights Officer. Proven track record in advocating for human rights, conducting thorough investigations, and implementing policies to protect vulnerable populations. Skilled in international law, diplomacy, and cross-cultural communication, with a strong commitment to promoting justice and equality on a global scale.
Human Rights Officer
2020
-2022
Equitas Global Advocacy (Tampa)
- Led a successful campaign, resulting in the implementation of new anti-discrimination policies benefiting 10,000+ individuals
- Conducted comprehensive human rights training for 500+ law enforcement officers, improving community relations and reducing rights violations
- Investigated and resolved 200+ human rights complaints, ensuring justice and restitution for affected parties within a 12-month period
Project management expertise
Foreign language proficiency
Data analysis skills
Intercultural communication skills
Conflict resolution expertise
Team collaboration proficiency
Project Management Professional
Certified Public Accountant
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Quick tips for a UN employee resume
Tips for best resume practices
- Showcase your key skills throughout your resume, as well as in your dedicated skills list, with each skill reflecting the job description.
- Adapt your resume for every job application for maximum impact. Review the job description to understand the specific requirements for the role.
- Include your educational achievements, including any impressive grades. Focus on the most relevant qualifications for the role.
- Quantify your successes by providing figures and other evidence that shows how your skills have made a difference to your employer.
- Use reverse-chronological order for your work and education, starting with your most recent employment and education.
Avoid these common mistakes on your resume
- Don't use passive language because it can switch off the reader. Adapt phrases like 'the work was completed' to 'I completed the work'.
- Don't forget to review your contact information before sending your resume, to ensure it's all up-to-date.
- Don't list irrelevant work experience as it will likely do nothing for your chances of success.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your UN resume more difficult to read.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. There are several things you can do when writing your UN resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Use design elements that help make your resume more readable. These might include white space, clear, professional fonts and subtle color accents to help certain elements stand out.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
FAQs for a UN resume
After writing your UN resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to UN employee roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
If you want to impress employers with a professional cover letter, use Jobseeker's simple and beautiful cover letter templates.
If you have no experience, it's still possible to write a professional UN resume that makes a positive impression on hiring managers. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. Use the additional information sections at the end of your resume as a showcase for relevant skills and achievements. These can be a particularly useful way of proving you have the skills necessary for the job.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for UN employee jobs. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Junior UN Program Support Officer
- International Relations Specialist and Diplomat
- Senior United Nations Program Manager
The resume format that gives you the best chances of success depends on your experience levels, as well as the type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. If, however, you have relevant work experience in the industry, it's typically best to use a reverse chronological resume format. This highlights your achievements in work, which is probably the most important factor for hiring managers to consider.
Takeaways for your UN resume
The best resumes focus on your skills and the value you've added to previous roles, rather than focusing on your duties and responsibilities. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
HR-approved resume templates and other tools by Jobseeker are the easiest way to create a winning job application. Sign up and follow the simple instructions to complete a resume that stands out from the crowd. Jobseeker's expert-designed cover letter generator can help your applications make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Find detailed cover letter examples to complement your resume and get your application noticed.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
