Guest blog from Kirsten Fonager, Human Resources Business Partner and LSE graduate and Human Resources Analyst, Aditi Agrawalat the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) ahead of International Organisations Day (IOD) 2016:
Kirsten Fonager, Human Resources Business Partner
We at UNOPS are attending IOD in order to raise awareness amongst the best and the brightest about the possibilities and potential on offer in roles at one of the United Nations’ most dynamic and unique organisations.
UNOPS is a young organisation, only recently celebrating its 20th year. Our workforce, almost 10,000 strong worldwide, is made of up of many young professionals who are drawn to a working culture that is at the forefront of development, humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts.
Our vision is a world where people can live full lives supported by appropriate, sustainable and resilient infrastructure and by the efficient, transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management.
To maximise our ability to provide a range of solutions for our partners in governments, the UN system and the wider development system, as well as the private sector, UNOPS needs to continuously attract talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. That’s why we’re here.
For any graduates thinking of attending IOD, our advice would be to come and talk to UNOPS even if you have never before considered a career in international development.
We are always on the lookout for skilled professionals in our core business areas – infrastructure engineers, project managers, procurement and finance experts, HR professionals. However, the nature of our work worldwide on behalf of our partners requires the very best people from a range of other professional backgrounds as well – health, environmental policy, economics, advocacy, law – the list is long and continuously evolving in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
LSE graduate and Human Resources Analyst, Aditi Agrawal
I attended LSE IOD back in November 2012. At that time, I did not have any insight into the UN and this event was very helpful in terms of getting more information on the different UN agencies and their specialised work. I have been with the UN for almost three years now starting with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and then UNOPS. I have personally benefited from my degree and courses that I studied at LSE at both my jobs.
Working in this industry is sometimes challenging due to the complex nature of the work the UN does. However the end results make everything worth the effort. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone depending on their areas of interest and educational/professional background. No matter what your role in the organisation is, each and everyone is contributing towards the success of our projects in the field, directly or indirectly. One piece of advice I would have for all aspiring UN graduates is to have a lot of patience. The hiring process is very competitive and sometimes this can result in unforeseen delays, leading to frustration.
I really enjoy working with UNOPS and while everyday brings with it a new set of challenges, trying to find a solution is what makes it very exciting. No day is the same and the work atmosphere is very dynamic and stimulating. Keeping abreast with the latest developments globally, at the end of the day, I feel satisfied that I am helping to make a difference in my own little way.
