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Time of Selection

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Congratulations on being offered a post in the United Nations Secretariat!

Find information here that may help you to decide whether to accept the offer – or, if you have already accepted, to get answers to your questions, and learn how to begin to prepare for your new role.

To get to know your duty station, the country where you will work, we suggest you follow these five tips.

1. Review the Relocation Guide for your duty station
Below is an example of such a guide. For your work location, please ask your HR partner, Buddy and/or manager to share any available guidance.

2. Visit the Visitor Centre website and/or public website of your duty station
Here are a few examples:

3. List your questions and ask your Buddy
The GO2UN Programme includes an opportunity to connect with a “Buddy”, an existing staff member who can answer any informal questions you have.
Make a list of all the things you most want to know about your duty station - both the office context and surrounding area. Ask your family and friends to suggest additional questions to add. Then, ask your GO2UN Buddy and/or others you know at the location.

4. Develop your language skills for your new duty station
You are highly encouraged to develop your language proficiency and communication skills for use in the office and in the surrounding community.

  • Ask your HR Partner, Buddy, manager and team for suggestions on how to develop your language and communication skills at the UN

  • Make a plan for how to develop these skills.

5. Explore other resources about your new work location

The UN recently celebrated 80 years of serving the world, and we are excited that you will soon be contributing to this work – as someone new to the Organization, or someone taking on a new role.

To help you celebrate, here are a few inspiring videos:

  • I Was Here(United Nations World Humanitarian Day Performance Video by Beyoncé)

All UN personnel must complete nine mandatory learning programmes that the Organization requires for United Nations Secretariat personnel to complete.

If you are a manager, supervisor, or commander, you will need to complete additional learning programmes, two of which replace courses listed here. Please see this section for the list of courses for all managers and supervisors.

The UN Policy Portal provides public access to administrative policy documentation and resources that impact the work, process and benefits of the United Nations personnel.

While keeping in mind that this is an estimate - and may not be perfectly accurate, may find it useful to use this Salary Estimate calculator for international positions in the UN system.