“I have three primary motivations for participating in the Mid-Career Course. One is to learn what leadership is required in the context of peacebuilding and development carried out by the UN. The second one is to judge how I can leverage my professional experiences in the private and academic sectors and my degrees for peacebuilding and development on a global level. The last one is to build a pragmatic network for my next career.”
January 2025 Mid-Career Course Participant
Building a career in the fields of peacebuilding and international development can be very challenging path. The very norms and principles which underlie the United Nations and other platforms for multilateral cooperation re under threat. It is therefore critical that graduates of this Program keep themselves informed about current trends and continue to develop their skills. In this regard, GPAD offeres various career development support services, including the following:
Guidance on how to prepare effective applications for jobs in international organizations
Interview practice
Introduction to career coaches who will support people in planning their career paths and overcoming challenges
Networking opportunities among graduates
Career Development Support
Useful Links:
- United Nations Careers
https://careers.un.org/home?language=en - UN Competencies booklet
https://hr.un.org/materials/competencies-booklet - UN Competency-based Interviewing Guide
Interview Guide – sample questions(English)_0.pdf - UN Values and Behaviours Framework
- UN 2.0 | United Nations, Quintet of change
https://www.un.org/two-zero/en - UN inspira, Human Resources Gateway
https://inspira.un.org/psp/PUNA1J/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG
– What is inspira?: https://hr.un.org/faq/what-inspir– inspira Applicant Guide: https://careers.un.org/media/how-to-apply/files-1722427783020.pdf
- UN HR Portal
https://hr.un.org/ - 外務省国際機関人事センター空席公募 (In Japanese only)
https://www.mofa-irc.go.jp/boshu/boshu_kuseki.html
Additional References:
- UN Careers | How To Apply
https://careers.un.org/how-to-apply?section=accordion2§ionId=accordion2&language=en - How to Prepare for a Competency Based Interview?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgVeEGCJ9s4 - Career Satisfaction: A Support Framework for All Staff of the United Nations Secretariat
https://hr.un.org/sites/hr.un.org/files/UN_Career_framework_EN_FINAL_0.pdf - UN Career Journeys
- UN Salary Calculator
https://info.undp.org/gssu/onlinetools/SalCalcInt/SalCalcInt.aspx
Unleash Your Potential Series:
“Unlock Your Career at International Organizations” Webinar Held
- Hiroshima University and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) hosted a career webinar on 16 March 2025, aimed at helping junior and mid-level professionals explore opportunities in international organizations.
- Over 150 participants attended the online event, who learned practical strategies to align their professional experience with international recruitment standards.
- The event was part of the Program for Global Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding and Development, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and implemented by Hiroshima University in collaboration with UNITAR.
Hiroshima University and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) held a career webinar “Unleash Your Potential: Unlock Your Career at International Organizations in the Context of a Changing Global Landscape” on 16 March 2025.
Dr. Matanat Rahimova, Founder of TalentTech, has over 25 years of managerial and HR experience across the United Nations system and global businesses. Dr. Rahimova spoke about recruitment and employment at the United Nations. Interacting with participants during her speech and Q&A sessions, she gave tips on crafting standout applications and excelling in competency-based interviews.
The webinar aimed to promote opportunities for junior- and mid-level practitioners in peacebuilding and international development to embark on or advance their careers in international organizations. More than 150 participants, including professionals and students in relevant fields, joined the event. At the end of the event, many participants expressed satisfaction with the webinar, noting they learned practical strategies to align their experience with international recruitment standards.
The webinar opened with welcome remarks from Ms. Masako Saito, Deputy Director, International Peace Cooperation Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, MOFA, and Ms. Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, along with an overview of the Program given by Ms. Jenny Yamamoto, Programme Coordinator, Global Peace and Development Career Network Office, Hiroshima University.
