United Nations Reviews

Cons

posts can be all around the world, but this is also great if one is willing to travel and get to know new cultures, people and challenges

Cons

Things don't move fast enough - a BIG BIG bureaucracy

Cons

Very difficult to enter into the system without knowing anyone on the inside. Often times vacancies posted are done so because it is a HR requirement. The majority of the positions are already meant for a particular individual.

Cons

bureaucracy; not enough opportunities for admin level staff

Cons

- technology is completely outdated

Cons

Not just a 9-5 type job but worth it.

Cons

I don't have anything bad to say.

Cons

There's a lot of bureaucracy involved to appease the powers that be

Cons

Horrible bureacracy and no one cares.

Cons

The environment, like a government institution (but larger), can become very political. It's not always the healthiest working environment in certain offices if the management is not empowering or if there are power grabbers. This is so dependent on the management, unit and agency within the UN. But in general, I learned there are a lot of people who are working long hours - especially the higher you go in level - and have developed bad work/life balance. There are also rumors of many higher-ups having developed drinking problems, but that is really up to the individual, because the UN offers really great health insurance, opportunities to join sports clubs within the network and even short term therapy for those who seek it.

For being an international and diverse organization, there is very little training on cultural awareness and competency. There are many personnel conflicts as a result of miscommunication, cultural differences in understanding or expectations of norms... what you'd expect when people from all nations come together and try to work on the same project with completely different cultural attitudes and norms.

Americans have to figure out paying US taxes as the liaisons between the UN system and the IRS - it is the biggest pain in the butt you can imagine. And because the UN pays all federal and state taxes, any reimbursements go back to them - which works out okay, but they also get any reimbursements you get from deductions or credits you receive from spending your own money in certain programs, like educational expenses. You also need to submit your own quarterly estimated social security, medicare taxes to the IRS and figure out the balance during tax season - usually last-minute because the UN Tax office doesn't send you the paperwork until the last few weeks before the deadline to file and then physically drop off tax paperwork to them in person to get a reimbursement check through them to pay whatever you were short... basically, it sucks to be an American citizen working at the UN in NYC.

They could be better with their telecommuting and flex hours programs.