Where to start
International Organisations generally refers to organisations that work across countries or on issues that affect multiple countries. They can be regional – with all member states from the same continent, or completely global.
Well known examples include the UN, EU, and Development Banks, such as the World Bank. They can be very competitive and often have strict requirements for work experience, with most people entering mid-career. Options for new graduates include internships, which can be unpaid or only cover expenses, and some early entry schemes.
There’s a huge range of roles available- all of which require specific skills and of course, commonly valued transferrable skills like problem solving and communication are important here too. But a good sign that you’d be well suited to working in International Organisations will be if you’re good at and enjoy
- working in culturally diverse environments,
- negotiating and diplomacy
- managing complex environments and ambiguity
- have language skills
- value accountability, transparency and integrity
Because of the competitive nature of roles, a commitment to being an international civil servant will be very helpful!
Because of their commitments to equality of opportunity and transparency, requirements in International Organisations are usually very strict. (This is quite specific to international organisations, other industries and organisations usually have more flexibility). A common requirement is several years of work experience in a relevant field, and you may be competing against applicants who exceed those requirements almost sometimes by a significant amount. It is, therefore, essential that you seek relevant work experience.
International organisations tend to want specialists rather than generalists so developing a transferable skill in an NGO or the public or corporate sector is highly valuable. This could be in a field such as policy analysis, health, education, transport or economics.
Alternatively, you could gain expertise in a role that will support the internal functions of an organisation, for example human resources, accountancy, legal services, communications.
Language skills are sought after and whilst most organisations require English as one of the languages - which students and alumni of UK universities are likely to fulfil - additional languages are likely to be an asset.
For experienced hires you are very likely to need a master’s relevant to the job you are applying for. A PhD will be an asset in some roles, for example in research, policy or technical positions. However, there are some routes open to bachelor’s students, particularly internships.
Because of the work experience requirement for many roles, undergraduates might want to consider building work experience before applying for masters study- work experience is a requirement of some relevant masters degrees. Hear alumna Janina Schnick talking about her own decision here.
This field is often targeted by scam sites so most bodies will only post vacancies on their own website to avoid confusion- ensure you’re at the correct page. You will never be charged for making an application.
- The United Nations Careers site
- The World Bank
- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
- EPSO- the European Selection Office for the EU
- The International Labour Organisation (ILO)
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
A ‘consultancy’ is UN jargon for a short term contract where you’re not an official employee of the UN. You don’t necessarily need a ‘consultant’ level of experience. Consultancy opportunities can be found using reputable job sites like ImpactPool and Reliefweb. www.bestinbrussels.eu lists some private sector organisations working alongside the EU.
You must tailor your experience very explicitly to the specific organisation, team and role. Hard evidence to back up your claim that you have the skills is essential as you need to be able to prove that you are the best candidate – globally! As mentioned above, the recruitment criteria are very strict so be sure to provide evidence that you meet them all.
Our annual Policy, Charity and International Development festival includes speakers from international organisations and runs in Lent Term each year. You can catch up with previous festivals on our YouTube channel;
Policy, Charities and International Development Festival 2024. The International Development & International Organisations panel includes three panellists with PhDs (and some without!)
The secret is to find a niche - think laterally and find a few options of where your specific interests, skills and experience might fit in these vast organisations.
Now you have looked at this page, think about your next steps. Everyone's journey is different. There are many ways to move forward. Here are some actions you could take now:
- Look for roles using the resources above.
- Talk to alumni working in this field via Handshake or LinkedIn.
- Talk to a Careers Consultant - book a 1:1 appointment through Handshake.
- Attend events - watch for relevant events.
- Ready to apply? Use the CV and cover letter guide to draft a CV or an application. CareerSet is a tool you can use to review your CV and cover letter. Write a speculative application.