Administration Intern (Start ASAP)

Your role

About the Team:

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asia and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance, and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

Job Description and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Administrative support
• Assisting in official document preparation
• Assisting in social media outreach
• Assisting in partnership-building
• Providing support to meetings and conferences

About you

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent)

Languages:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Note:

• Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

Benefits

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.

As an intern, you will:

• Enhance your educational experience through practical work assignments
• Deepen your knowledge and understanding of the Organization’s goals, principles, and activities
• Work in an international environment, and network with international civil servants, career professionals, and senior management
• Provide the UN with assistance in your area of expertise

Training & development

An internship at the UN could be ideal if you are considering a career in the Organization. It will give you exposure to high-profile conferences, political decision-making, or work on the ground, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the projects and mandates of the United Nations. Moreover, the minimum duration of an internship is two months and can be extended up to a total period of six months. Interns work five days per week (37.5 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the division or office to which they are assigned.  

Career progression

The global and flexible nature of every UN position will allow you to develop your professional interests around the world, as your career progresses.

Will my internship lead to employment?

Your internship will not automatically lead to a job with the UN. Still, with the experience you have acquired during your time as an intern, you might be interested in applying for General Service or consultancy positions. If you want to apply to positions at the Professional and Higher or Field Service levels, the organization asks you to let at least six months pass after the end of your internship before you submit your application, and ensure that you fulfill not only the educational but also the work experience requirements that are outlined in each job opening.

How to apply

United Nations Hiring Process:

• Submission of job application
• Evaluation of application
• Assessment exercise
• Competency-based interview
• Selection notification and roster
• Reference checks

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• careers.un.org/job-level
• careers.un.org/how-to-apply
• youtube.com/@UN_Careers