The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative for talented, highly qualified professionals to start a career as an international civil servant with the United Nations Secretariat. It consists of an entrance examination and professional development programmes once successful candidates start their career with the UN. The examination will include two written papers (General and Specialized papers) and an oral examination. The deadline is on July 21st.
Depending on the staffing needs of the United Nations, applicants are invited to apply for different exam subjects. Descriptions of responsibilities, expected competencies and education requirements differ depending on the area.
Among their ranks you will find staff members who monitor elections, disarm child soldiers, coordinate relief in humanitarian crises and provide administrative as well as logistical support to carry out complex mandates. These are just a few examples amongst many other equally critical and necessary functions.
The wide array of jobs means that you may change functions, departments, geographic locations, and even organizations or fields of work throughout your career in the Organization.
Successful candidates will be placed on their respective rosters in July and will remain on the roster for the duration of three years. After three years the roster closes. Those not placed within these three years will no longer be considered for posts and will have to re-take the YPP examination if they wish to be reconsidered.
Candidates who are selected from the roster will be offered a two-year fixed term contract at the start of their Professional career with the Secretariat. After two years and subject to satisfactory performance, they may be granted a continuing contract.
Main criteria
- The YPP examination is held once a year and is open to nationals of countries participating in the annual recruitment exercise. The list of participating countries is published annually and varies from year to year;
- You must have the nationality of a participating country;
- You must hold at least a first-level university degree relevant for the exam subject you are applying for;
- You must be 32 or younger in the year of the examination;
- You must be fluent in either English or French.
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