Building peace in the minds of men and women

Careers

How to apply

Professional and General Service

You should apply to job vacancies using Careers.

Instructions on how to apply are available in the online application guide.

Application and Hiring process

The recruitment process at UNESCO for Professional and General Service staff is as follows:

  • Applying for a job

For Professional posts, you normally have two months to apply once a job is advertised on-line. For General Service post, you normally have one month. Upon completing your application, you will receive a confirmation email.

  • Screening

After the closing date, a Committee will select candidates on the basis of their qualifications, experience and skills (including language), as well as other relevant knowledge and abilities required for the particular position.

  • Interviews

Selected candidates will be invited for an interview (phone interviews may be conducted beforehand to make a preliminary assessment). Reference checks will also be made relating to your previous professional experience.

  • Evaluation

A Panel will make the final evaluation on whether your profile matches the job.

Decision

An offer of appointment will be made to the successful candidate.

Young Professional

The Young Professionals (YP) Programme provides the opportunity for young university graduates and young qualified professionals under or equal the age of 32 years of application from non- and under-represented Member States to join UNESCO early in their professional career.

Application and Hiring process

If you are interested and eligible to apply to the Young Professional Programme you need to contact your National Commission or Permanent Delegation.

The application process is as follows:

  • Launch

Every year the Bureau of Human Resources Management (HRM) of UNESCO sends a call for applications to National Commissions and Permanent Delegations of non- or under-represented Member States. Each National Commission is responsible for the dissemination of this information and for the pre-selection at national level

  • Submission

Candidates send their application to the National Commission orthe Permanent Delegation of their country of citizenship. UNESCO does not accept applications sent directly to the Organization. National Commissions and Permanent Delegations review all applications to ensure that the profiles match the required qualifications. Then they submit a list of a maximum of 12 shortlisted applicants to the Bureau of Human Resources Management at UNESCO.

  • Screening

All applications are reviewed by a committee which will establish a shortlist based on

  • academic qualifications,
  • motivation/statement of interest,
  • presentation of the application,
  • language and writing skills, and
  • level of professional experience.
  • Interviews

The shortlisted candidates will be required to attend interviews at UNESCO Headquarters (Paris). The interviews provides candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills, team spirit, analytical skills, sense of initiative, creativity, flexibility and adaptability.

  • Evaluation

A Panel will make the final evaluation based on the applicants' technical knowledge of education, science, culture, communication, information or administration. In addition to interviews, language tests are undertaken to determine the level of proficiency in the working languages of UNESCO (English and French).

  • Decision

UNESCO will send a letter of appointment to succesfull candidates. In the other case, UNESCO will inform the interested National Commissions and Permanent Delegations.

Interview and entry on duty and other dates may be subject to change due to visa issues, family situation and/or the geographical location of the selected candidates.

To know if you are eligible for a Young Professional, contact your National Commission or Permanent Delegation.

 

Other opportunities

If you are looking for a short term opportunity in support functions check here.