Into the 'UN' known

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Fifty-one nations across the globe founded the United Nations (UN) on October 24, 1945. The objective: a firm commitment to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every country across the world is a member of the UN. The UN is headquartered in New York.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">The volunteers</span><br /><br />The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is the volunteer arm of the United Nations created by the UN General Assembly in 1970 to serve as an operational partner in development cooperation at the request of UN member states.UNV reports to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and works through UNDP''s country offices around the world. <br /><br />Log on to http://www.unv.org/volunteers/index.htm to find out about volunteer options, how to apply with UN volunteers or other volunteer organisations. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Headquarters Internship Programme</span><br /><br />This internship programme is for the UN Secretariat in New York only. It provides a framework by which graduate and postgraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to UN offices to help them enhance their educational experience through practical work assignments, to expose them to the work of the UN and to provide UN offices with the assistance of highly qualified students specialised in various professional fields. Applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English or french.<br /><br />For details, log on to www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/internsh/intern.htm.<br /><br />Other UN Offices, funds and programmes such as the UNDP, UNICEF (www.unicef.org), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) (www.unitar.org ), have separate internship arrangements.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Jobs at the UN</span><br /><br />The UN employs thousands serving in different parts of the world. Selection of staff is usually on a competitive basis. The UN normally recruits from the following occupational groups:<br /><br />Administration, economics, electronic data processing, finance, language and related work, legal and related work, library, public information, social development and statistics. The website http://jobs.un.org/release1/vacancy/vacancy.asp lists occupational groups that contain posts currently open for recruitment.<br /><br />Junior professionals (P1/ P2) and professionals (P3) are recruited through National Competitive Recruitment Examinations administered in a number of occupational groups (mentioned above). The Examinations aim to recruit people for career posts at the Secretariat. For P1/ P2 positions, a candidate must possess a first level university degree and be 32 years of age or younger. For P3 positions, a candidate must possess an advanced university degree, four years of professional experience, and be 39 years of age or younger. Fluency in either English or french is required for both P1/ P2s and P3s. Log on to www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/exam.htm.<br /><br />Information on currently vacant positions is available at United Nations Information Centres throughout the world [www.unic.org.in/<br /><br />In India, contact UNIC, 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi - 110003 [www.un.org/aroundworld/unics/directory/newdelhi.htm<br /><br />Specialised agencies like UNESCO (www.unesco.org), FAO (www.fao.org/VA/vac,htm) and ILO (www.ilo.org) conduct their own recruitment programmes. Visit www.undp.org/mainundp/jobs/index.html or contact UNDP Resident Representative, PO Box 3059, New Delhi 110003 for various UN recruitments. Visit www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/brochure.htm for employment opportunities with the UN. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Spread of opportunities</span><br /><br />There are many employment opportunities at the UN for highly qualified candidates. Staff members are recruited on as wide a geographical basis as possible. Starting salaries are based upon academic and professional qualifications, as well as the level of the post. There are various benefits like paid annual leave, sick leave and home leave; contributory health, dental and group life insurance coverage; and various shipping, travel and installation allowances related to appointments to and transfer between duty stations.</div> </div>