Getting the most out of International Organisations Day (IOD)

Transcription

1 Getting the most out of International Organisations Day (IOD) Shaun Harris Deputy Director, LSE Careers

2 What we will cover in this seminar The organisations attending IOD The schedule of presentations & logistics How do I prepare for IOD? Entry level jobs What recruiters are looking for Alternatives to International Organisations

3 International Organisations Day Organisations registered to attend Asian Development Bank (ADB) EU Careers (EPSO) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) European Central Bank European Investment Bank International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) United Nations Secretariat (UN) United Nations Volunteers (UNV) World Bank Group

4 This is the tip of the iceberg

5 Logistics of IOD Two registration slots: pm and 1-6pm All organisations present for 75 minutes throughout the day (some twice) Will have representatives available to talk to in lower Ground NAB Information giving rather than talent spotting!

6 Presentation Schedule (Please note this schedule may be subject to change.) Old Theatre (460) OT, Old Building Sheikh Zayed Theatre (400) LG.08, NAB Wolfson Theatre (130) LG.01, NAB Thai Theatre (61) LG.03, NAB Alumni Theatre (70) LG.09, NAB Michael Emery OECD EPSO EBRD ADB World Bank ICRC UNOPS EPSO UNFPA UN Secretariat ADB Michael Emery ECB UNDP UNDP UNV IMF EIB UNFPA UN Secretariat World Bank ICRC EBRD ECB OECD UNV EIB

7 How do I prepare for IOD? Research the organisation on the web What does the organisation do? What kind of jobs and career paths do they offer? Are you interested in these? What are the entry points? How much experience will you need? Does the organisation have (a) YP Programme, (b) JPO or JPA programmes, (c) internships or (d) any other opportunities (short-term RA jobs)? Check you are eligible to work for them (nationality!)

8 Nationality Normally, to join the staff of an international organisation, you need to be a national of one of the organisation s member countries At the UN, IMF and World Bank, almost all countries are members The staff of the regional development banks are restricted to nationals of regional country members and to nationals of donor countries For European Union institutions, you have to be a European national. Therefore, always check the international organisation s website to see if you are eligible to join.

9 Information to find out Have a look at the schedule of presentations and decide which to attend (remember: some presentations overlap) When visiting a stand, tell the IO representative (very succinctly!) which jobs you are interested in Ask questions to which you cannot easily find the answer online Bring your CV but only give it to the representative if he or she asks for it

10 Employment opportunities above administrative level Normally international organisations (IOs) recruit professional staff in their 30s to 40s, and sometimes older. Typically, therefore, employment in an IO is a second (or even a third or fourth) career. Many IO staff began their careers as: - Government civil servants Government development agency (e.g., DfID, USAID) Development consultants Working for an NGO Academics, think tank staff or in some expert capacity Private sector Employees of another international organisation

11 What are international organisations looking for when hiring professional staff? Their first recruitment priority: professional (technical) knowledge and skills Plus they usually require: at minimum, a Masters; PhD sometimes preferred (especially for entrants coming directly from university) Economists, Development Specialists, Financial Analysts, Engineers (infrastructure, transportation, water, etc.), Specialists in public health, education, environment, etc., Lawyers, IT specialists, HR, Controllers, Auditors etc.

12 and Relevant work experience Strong analytical skills Ability to write well in English Ability to speak other languages International work or study experience Excellent soft and people skills

13 However There are employment opportunities in the international organisations for people in their early to mid-20s but they are likely to be temporary, and in the case of UN internships, they may be unpaid. These opportunities provide excellent experience but, with the exception of the YP programmes, do not view them as a direct gateway to a professional career in that organisation.

14 Employment opportunities for candidates under age 30 Young Professional (YP) Programme -- entry between the ages of roughly 27 and 32, with a PhD, or with a Masters plus at least three years relevant professional-level work experience. YPs are hired initially on a 2 3 year fixed-term staff appointment, but may then be extended on a more stable employment basis. Junior Professional Officers (JPOs)/Junior Professional Associates (JPAs) -- a limited term appointment, with no right of extension

15 Employment Opportunities for candidates under 30 (continued) Junior consultant/contractual usually hired to meet some short-term need, e.g., a specific project in the field or a project/report/ piece of research at HQ. These contracts can be extended sometimes often be careful! Research Assistants/Analysts employed as paraprofessionals, usually with Masters degree Internships (graduate students; usually hired for 2 3 months But note that UN agencies usually do not provide a salary.)

16 Recap Make sure you do your research in advance See the event as a way of finding out about future career opportunities (rather than being recruited) There are lots of alternatives to International Organisations out there Stay positive LSE alumni do very well in this sector

17 Any Questions?