Hair malfunction at the United Nations
My name is Darragh Murray, a resident of Brisbane, Australia and a guy with a fondness for music, writing, international politics and cultural history.
On this site, you will find my infrequently updated blog, a list of articles I have written for a variety of blogs and online publications, the odd ‘tip’ on MS Access born from my past life as a IT consultant, as well as a frequently asked questions page which sums up my experience interning at the United Nations back in 2010.
The UN Internship FAQ
The UN content is inspired by numerous comments I received on blog posts which detailed my experience at the United Nations and I wanted to put up a small and (hopefully) useful resource to answer some of the burning questions regarding the program.
If you have interned at the UN and have any further insights, you are welcome to contribute.
A bit more about me
I’ve had a long term passing interest in the fields of history, politics, international relations, and philosophy. I’ve completed an honours degree in history (including a LONG dissertation on phrenology and its cultural impact on doctors and scientists in nineteenth-century America) as well as a Masters degree in International Studies (International Relations). I also managed to fit a degree in information technology in there somehow.
I currently write for Rave Magazine and Collapse Board. I keep a separate page detailing my published works which you can peruse at your leisure.
I enjoy sports, particularly football. I’m am a fanatical Arsenal supporter. I’ve also been blessed with the opporutunity to travel some of this world, having visited Europe, the United States, South-East Asia and South America.
Presuming you’re a cyberstalker or looking to steal my identity, I was born in the Mariana Trench, my mother’s maiden name is ‘Murtagh’ and my first parrot was called ‘Oliver Cromwell’.
If you’re interesting in paying me to write words, you’re welcome to get in contact with me. Twitter is probably a good place to start.
Hey I am reading about you and your experience as a UN intern. I applying for the programme at the NY headquarters and before telling you more about myself I have BIG question about the application ….
They ask you to write on your cover letter what are your areas of interest/departments…do they mean the agencies you’d like to be appointed to (i.e. UNICEF, UNIFEM) or what do they mean by areas like “technology, or writing”? I mean I understand different things from the same question but Id like to know which one is the correct. PLEEEASE write me an email Id thank you a lot.
I am mexican 21 years old doing a double major in economics and political science..
Merci en avance
Hi Elena.
You’ll note I’ve posted up a FAQ that answers (hopefully) some of your questions. I’ll drop you an email as well.
Regards
Darragh
Hi Elena
I’m publishing a UN intern FAQ this week on this site and I’ll address your question. In the meantime, from what I understand if you want to get interest in a specific agency, you can put that down, but I would also put general interests as well.
Hi Darragh
Did they inform you that you had an unsuccessful application in the 1st time? or do they just approach short-listed people?
THANKS
Hi Nancy..I’ll be honest, I can’t exactly recall! I believe they did though in my case, but I’m not sure if its standard. The UN is a big beast of an organisation and sometimes these things fall to the side, I guess. I know, it’s annoying. Also keep in mind that they also sometimes take ages to reply individually.
Hi Darragh,
Can you tell me if there is an age limit on interning with the UN? Im graduating when Im 30 and am wondering if this is too old to be accepted?
I don’t believe there there is Cara. As long as you’re a postgrad student, you’re set.
Hi! Darragh
Please, do you have an idea when the UN Internship vacancy for Spring Session 2012 will be out and which website am i meant to see it.The date for applying for Spring Session 2012 starts mid May to September, 2011.I have been checking on UN careers website and have not seen any vacancy posting yet.I have sent email to the UN careers address but they have not responded.I observed that there was no posting for the fall session(mid-Sept to Mid-November,2011) on the UN Carrers website and i dont want to miss out applying for the spring session(mid-jan to mid-march,2012) due to this same problem .Pls reply in case you have an idea why am not seeing the Internship vacancy posting bcos am sure that i have been checking the correct website.
Thanks
I believe it sometime around end of August / September, if they’re consistent. I did a spring session and that’s when I applied.
I had to tell you what a life saver your “Quick Tip – Conditional Formatting on Ms Access Reports” was. I have been pulling my hair out for the last two hours and you solved my problem immediately.
Thank you!!
No worries Teja, glad to be of help!
Hi Darragh!
Thanks for all your information on this website!
I’m also interested in applying for the UN internship this year.
Can you give me any advice on how I should write the cover letter?
This is the hardest part of the application for me…
Hi Serena. I’m not sure if I can give you my specific cover letter, but here is what mine covered.
How I did it isn’t necessarily what is a ‘winning’ cover letter, but should give you ideas on how one writes a cover letter.
Thank you so much!