The people of the United Nations inspire me. Before I joined the Organization, I interned, while in law school, at the former Centre for Human Rights in the United Nations Office at Geneva. Working with people from all over the world in the common goal of peace, human rights and development appealed to me. I wanted my career to be dedicated to bettering the lives of people around the world.

My career has taken me from a human rights officer working in Haiti and Rwanda to serving as an advisor on legal and on policy matters to the Director of Logistics of the Department of Field Support in New York. I have also worked as a Legal Officer in the Office of Legal Affairs, and most recently, as well as a Policy Officer in the Office of the Assistant-Secretary-General of the Office of Human Resources Management. Currently, I serve as a Human Resources Officer in the Outreach Section of the Office of Human Resources.

During the course of my career and with each position at the United Nations, I grew personally and professionally. My first “field” experience was in 1993, where I worked in the northern province of Haiti monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation. I then went to South Africa to assist the United Nations in providing electoral assistance, before going to Rwanda to cover reports of the genocide. In Rwanda, I was one of the first nine human rights officers on the ground.

As a legal officer I worked with Member States and provided advice on Treaty Law. As a policy officer, I regularly drafted statements for senior officials and analyzed the legal implications of policies. My various jobs had one unifying aspect: unpredictability. This can be a challenge at times, however, it can also be a reward; you will often find opportunities to work with leaders who will ultimately shape the world.

Some of my most gratifying experiences came from my “field” work where I was able to have a direct impact on the lives of other people; I worked with individuals who had been abused and I told their story to show the importance of the protection of human rights. I also had many gratifying experiences from my stints with the United Nations Headquarters. In 2006, I worked as a Conduct and Discipline Officer as part on an assessment team that monitored the performance of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2007, I went to the Western Sahara as part of an assessment team to follow up on the conclusion of a legal agreement between the Mission and United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) pertaining to the provision of logistical support. These field visits gave me the opportunity to see how my work affected the people working in the United Nations field operations.

For individuals who wish to embark on a career in a dynamic and international organization who share common goals to better the world, experience and skills are two critical elements to success when seeking employment. It may be necessary to take a job you may not consider a “dream job” but will give you experience to build a sound reputation within the Organization. You should always look for new, challenging opportunities, take some risks, and be willing to work and develop your career by demonstrating your merit at every level. On your application, be specific, detailed and focused. Clarity is key.