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UN competitive exams to be held

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): June 2000 - Would you like to work at the United Nations in New York?

The United Nations Secretariat has announced that its competitive examination will be held to recruit nationals of selected member nations at the junior professional level for employment in 10 occupational groups. These groups are administration, demography, economics, electronic data processing, finance, legal affairs, library, political affairs, social affairs, and statistics.

The Federated States of Micronesia is a member nation and as such its citizens are qualified to take the examination. Women are especially encouraged to apply because the Secretariat has been mandated by the General Assembly to increase participation of women in posts in the above groups.

To be eligible applicants should hold at least a first-level university degree in one of the above occupational groups and not be older than 32 years old on December 31, 2001.

Fluency in English or French is required.

In the event that more than 50 applicants in one occupational group apply to take the exam, the United Nations Board of Examiners will admit only the most qualified based on a review of the qualifications.

In accordance with United Nations rules, fathers, mothers, children, brothers, or sisters of United Nations Secretariat staff members are not eligible to take the examination, according to a United Nations Secretariat bulletin.

The written examination will be in two parts: The first is a four-hour exam testing analytical and drafting skills and knowledge of international relations.

The second part, also four hours long, tests substantive skills in the occupational group for which the applicant has applied.

An oral examination will, also, be conducted. It will be in English, or French if the applicant prefers. This exam will be followed by questions and a structured interview.

The United Nations will pay for travel to and from the location of the oral examination.

The examination will be held in February 2001.

For more information on how to apply, please contact Jane Chigiyal FSM Foreign Affairs in Palikir, Pohnpei, telephone number (691) 320-7666.