Presentation for UN Roadshow - UN Women

1. UN Women
Fiona Bourdin-Farrell
Director, HR

2. What will I cover?
What is UN Women?
Why should you consider UN Women as a career choice?
What skills are we looking for?

3. UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to achieving gender equality and
women’s empowerment worldwide. UN Women was established in July 2010 to be
the global advocate for women’s rights and to accelerate progress on achieving
gender equality.
What is UN Women?

4. Our vision
Our Vision
A world in which societies are free of
gender-based discrimination, where
women and men have equal
opportunities...

5. Global data

6. In what priority areas does
UN Women work?
• Increasing women’s leadership &
participation
• Enhancing women’s economic
empowerment
• Ending violence against women
• Engaging women in all aspects of
peace and security processes
• Making gender equality central to
national development planning and
budgeting
• Strengthening global norms and
standards

7. Workforce Distribution
Over 2000 employees
144 nationalities
74% female, 26% male
Average age is 42
80% of senior staff (P5 & above) are female. They come
from 53 different countries
UN Women is present in 93 countries

8. Finnish nationals in UN Women
14 Finns
5 of them are JPOs
All of them are
women
5 in HQ, 9 in the
field

9. Global UN Women campaigns:
HeForShe
• Launched on March 8, 2014
UN Women's Solidarity
Movement HeForShe has to
date been signed by 306,256
men all around the world
• In Finland 2095 men have
joined the movement
• The ambitious aim is to
bring together one half of
humanity in support of the
other half of humanity, for
the benefit of all

10. What type of profiles are we hiring?
Specialist in priority areas:
• Violence Against Women
• Peace and Security
• Leadership and Participation
• Economic Empowerment
• National Planning and
Budgeting
• Intergovernmental/Interagency
processes and coordination
Management:
• Regional Centre Directors
• Country Representatives
• Deputy Country Representatives
• Operations Managers
• Cluster Leaders
• Resource Mobilization
Operations:
• Communication
• Finance/Budget
• Procurement
• Human Resources
• ICT
• Facilities & Administration
• Vacancies
• Consultant assignments

11. What’s it like to work
for
UN Women?
https://vimeo.com/142558606
10

12. What’s my story?
10

13. Kiitos!
https://www.facebook.com/unwomen
https://twitter.com/un_women
https://www.flickr.com/photos/unwomen
https://plus.google.com/+unwomen/
https://www.youtube.com/user/UNWomen
http://www.unwomen.org/

14. The typical UN Recruitment Process
APPLICATION
•Personal History Form (P11)
•Motivational Paragraph
ASSESSMENT
•Technical Test
•Interview(s)
•Reference Checks
REVIEW &
APPROVAL
•Compliance Review
•Management Approvals

15. It all starts with an application!
We received 1158 applications for senior leadership
positions in 2014
- only 8 were from Finnish nationals.

16. The magic 6 for a successful application
• Passion for the organization’s mission
• A relevant educational background with relevant experience
• Languages
• Mobility and/or understanding of the international/multicultural world
• Proven ability as a problem-solver
• Courage to make a difference

17. In reviewing a vacancy:
→ DO YOU MEET THE MINIMUM CRITERIA?
→ DO YOU HAVE THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE?
→ DOES YOUR APPLICATION REALLY SHOWCASE
YOUR CAPABILITIES IN RELATION TO THE POSITION
& ITS LOCATION?
REMEMBER, YOU ARE COMPETING WITH SOME OF THE
BEST IN THE WORLD. DON’T BE SHY!

18. Application
PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11)
Description of Duties
 Duties - What you did in your job
 Describe your responsibilities with careful attention to the vacancy for which
you are applying
Summary of Achievements
 Achievements/Impact
 Provide specific examples
 Help us understand what is great about you!

19. Application
Make it easy for the recruiter to pre-select you
 Always tailor your paragraph to speak to the position
 Make your words count
 Link to your experience - back up your statements
 Use the terms used in job description if relevant
 Show your true motivation
 Don’t focus on your weaknesses
 You shouldn’t state any experience that is not recorded in your P-11
Describe how your knowledge, skills, experience, and qualifications
match the specific position – argue why you are a good match
MOTIVATIONAL PARAGRAPH (max. 1000 characters)

20. Applicant:
I travelled to
Africa with my
boss.
Was travelling
really for your
biggest
accomplishme
nt?
Applicant:
I haven’t ever been
outside Finland
Could this
person cope
with other
cultures?

21. Although I don’t speak any
Chinese, I speak English,
French, Spanish, and Arabic.
I am very interested in
working for UN Women
and I have all the
competencies required
for this position.
I have good social skills and I get
along with different people. I am
a fast learner and a flexible
colleague. I would be very good
at this job.

22. If you are long-listed, there may be
assessments.
TECHNICAL TESTS
Technical test is a test where you have the opportunity to demonstrate your
substantive knowledge:
- Written
- Video
- Create a related product
Focus on the clarity of your communication, demonstrate your technical
knowledge and show your innovativeness.

23. Additional Tips
 UN recruiters will first get to know you through your
application/P11
 Be truthful, accurate and specific
 Make your words count
 Write/edit in word processor
 Proofread
 Print application/P11 on screen or paper to check
 Save your applications

24. Where do I apply?

25. Kiitos!
https://www.facebook.com/unwomen
https://twitter.com/un_women
https://www.flickr.com/photos/unwomen
https://plus.google.com/+unwomen/
https://www.youtube.com/user/UNWomen
http://www.unwomen.org/