Careers

What kinds of language jobs are available at the United Nations?

The United Nations Secretariat recruits a variety of language staff, including translators, interpreters, editors, verbatim reporters and copy preparers/proofreaders/production editors. These specialist fields cover the Organization’s six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish).

Why work with us?

United Nations language staff come from all over the globe and make up a uniquely diverse multilingual community. What unites them is the pursuit of excellence in their respective areas, the excitement of being at the forefront of international affairs and the desire to contribute to the realization of the purposes of the United Nations, as outlined in the Charter, by facilitating communication among Member States.

United Nations language staff also draw their motivation from continuous learning opportunities — in terms of languages, subject areas and technologies — as the agenda of the United Nations expands, and information and communication technologies increasingly support language professions.

Over time, language staff may change roles, units or duty stations.

How to become a United Nations language professional?

Language staff are recruited mainly through competitive examinations for language positions, which are held on average once every two or three years in each language and occupational group (specialist field). The examination announcements are posted on the United Nations Careers portal a few months beforehand, together with information on eligibility requirements and how to apply.

The purpose of the examinations is to establish a roster of successful candidates from which to fill present and future vacancies for language positions at United Nations Headquarters in New York, its offices in Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, and the regional commissions in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut and Santiago.

For descriptions and tips, see exams for interpreters and exams for translators, verbatim reporters and editors.

For detailed information about the examination process, consult the competitive examinations for language positions page of the United Nations Careers portal.

In addition to competitive examinations for language positions, examinations for placement on the Secretariat’s global roster of language professionals eligible for contractual work or temporary appointments are arranged on an as-needed basis. These are not announced on the United Nations Careers portal, but are advertised in Inspira.