How can a high school student get an internship at United Nations?
You have a few years to wait before you can actually get in, so the two things you can do to prepare are to (1) build a resume reflecting the actions of a competitive candidate and (2) educate yourself about the system.
Here’s what I would do if I was in high school and was working towards a UN internship:
- I’d get curious. I’d start out by reading their website in excruciating detail. Latest news such as the need for increased donations to Palestine. Latest security council resolutions regarding the situation in Mali. Everything
- I’d define one cause. Then start finding a way to promote that cause by volunteering in my local community. The UN has several broad initiatives that I would build my volunteer time around:
- MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
- PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS
- DELIVER HUMANITARIAN AID
- PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
- UPHOLD INTERNATIONAL LAW
- I’d learn a second language. Besides English, the following are official languages of the UN:
- French
- Russian
- Mandarin
- Arabic
- Spanish
- I’d read An Insider’s Guide to the UN: Third Edition. Fasulo is a longtime independent reporter for NPR (National Public Radio) and is based at the United Nations. She has worked as a UN correspondent for NBC News, MSNBC, and U.S. News & World Report. She knows her stuff.
- I’d learn the dirt. Objectively familiarize myself with the organization by checking out its reviews on Glassdoor
Good luck changing the world, and never give up on your dreams!
