Résumé (Check); Crisply ironed outfit (Check); Confidence (Check). Now you are ready to take that interview! As an Intern for the Human Resource Management Services (HRMS), I screen candidates for positions with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Habitat (UN Habitat), which both have their headquarters here in my hometown of Nairobi, Kenya. 

One of the most important qualities that a candidate should possess is the ability to work within a multicultural setting. I find myself interacting with over ten nationalities per day! We liaise with many other offices, which requires being respectful of people’s diverse backgrounds.

Before working for the United Nations, I moved to the United Kingdom to study human resource management. Like many other students, I was thrilled to start my studies away from home, to meet and interact with people who were different from me. This experience has helped me integrate with the many different cultures at the United Nations.

Although I am based in my hometown, I still experience a delightfully similar surge of diversity every time I walk through the doors of the United Nations. Day in and day out, I hear different languages, observe various communication styles and world views. This has given me a global mindset. It is like having an opportunity to travel the world, without actually boarding a plane.

My coworkers come from all around the globe and we work effectively together. When methods of administering human resource functions prove to be inadequate, team members brainstorm new and better methods of operating. Everyone comes on board to implement effective strategies. It’s gratifying to collaborate with so many unique individuals in the workplace. This teamwork is what I enjoy most about working for the United Nations.

A typical workday for me begins at 8 am. I arrive in the office and start working on each candidate’s file. I make certain that they have submitted all the requirements necessary to move to the next stage of the application process. I then check for new vacancies that have been posted. Next, I search the recruitment inbox for applicants within the respective job field. From time to time, I liaise with colleagues at UNEP or UN Habitat to collect other necessary information for a particular candidate’s application.

Through the screening of candidates based on academic qualifications and experience, I help to ensure that the United Nations selects highly competent staff. For example, when screening candidates for translation positions, I make sure they have the appropriate knowledge of the languages they will be working with. This is important because documents must be translated accurately to convey the message of the policies they may contain. Each translation must always reflect the original intended meaning. 

People spend much of their life at work; therefore, our job at HRMS is important. We play a matchmaking role between the candidate’s interests and talents and the job. For me, human resources at the United Nations is a personal career calling and a perfect fit!

It is not with every organization that you get to work with multiple nationalities and have that rich everyday learning experience. The United Nations has been a great platform in my hope of contributing to the lives of different people all across the globe.