[arandem2@gmail.com]

I tried to, but I got no answer yet..

[arandem2@gmail.com]

Thank you very much, this is encouraging!

[arandem2@gmail.com]

Hi Sebastian thank you very much for your reply.

The step I did are:

1. some training in my country with two different NGO (not a lot, total 3/4 weeks)
2. 6 weeks unpaid training in the field (Sierra Leone) with one of these NGO
3. after that I had a contract with them (project administrator)
4. when I was close to the end of the contract I applied for the italian governmental agency and i was employed, again as project administrator, in Sudan where i still work and live. (no “lend out” is foreseen in my contract being a temporary contract)

That means that I totalized nearly one year of experience up to now, some unpaid but most of it contracted. To become one year and a half when my present contract will expire next September.

So in fews months (from April 2017 when i finished the unpaid training in the field to June 2017 when I was hired) I got two different paid positions. And this is positive and encouraging.

I have a working knowledge of French too, language that i could improve a lot by practicing it being very close to italian.

I could easily hope to grow in the organization I’m working with now (so nothing is urgent at the moment, except my age) but my actual aim is to be involved in the UN system, trying to, in a medium term perspective, come back to Europe for my last working years.

Normally I apply for G positions only when located in Europe (I could accept such a position in order to come back someway) and P2 positions anywhere.

I cannot imagine, at this step, any more unpaid experience as I already invested the whole 2016 (to transfer my clients) and half of 2017 on it.

This is my situation.

Thank you again for the reply and for this very useful blog!

Roger

[arandem2@gmail.com]

Hallo everybody, this is an interesting thread for me as I am in a similar position.

I keep applying for severals positions in severals Agencies (UNESCO included) at different levels. Let’s say from G5 (depending on the duty station) to P2, or equivalent.

I am 57, with a long professional experience in the private sector wich, unfortunetly, is limited to my country rules and laws (I was an accountant, certified by the Italian accountans body/State Exam, as well as auditor again certified by the Italian Ministry). For example I don’t know either these memberships could be considered as some kind of equivalent of ACCA or similar or are completely unuseful.

So:

1. I cannot apply for P3 and higher positions not having the requested “specific” experience
2. I apply for P2 but I am maybe a too aged professionaly junior
3. I apply for the last grades of the G scale as Fred Flint said, with his same doubts, hoping it was some way to enter the System

Anyway I did a big change leaving my clients to some collegues and starting this new challenge last year. In this way I could get some, but for now limited in terms of time, experience prior in an NGO and currently in a Governmental organisation. In both cases in the field (Africa).

I actually don’t have a precise question. Let’s say I’m afraid I’m losing my time applying here and there not having a definite profile.

My current situation is more than accettable in terms of professional growth and (maybe) perspectives but a little less in terms of salary and duty station. For these reasons I’m triyng some other chance.

Any suggestion? Thanks!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by arandem2@gmail.com.

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