best cover letter for undp

Sample Cover Letter for UN (United Nations) Jobs

Are you interested in pursuing a career with the United Nations? A well-crafted cover letter can greatly enhance your chances of landing a position within this prestigious organization.

In this post, we provide you with two sample cover letters that you can use as a starting point to create your own winning UN cover letter.

UN cover letters come in various forms, so it’s essential to choose a style that aligns with your circumstances. Whether you opt for a formal or informal tone, it’s crucial to tailor your cover letter to the specific job requirements and showcase your relevant skills.

Sample Cover Letter 1 presents an example of an Administrative Assistant applying for a position at the United Nations’ Houston Office. The candidate emphasizes their exceptional clerical skills, hands-on experience, and ability to handle various administrative tasks. The letter showcases the candidate’s enthusiasm and includes a promise to follow up on the application.

Sample Cover Letter 2 demonstrates a more generalized approach, suitable for various positions within the United Nations. The candidate expresses their passion for international development and human rights and highlights their expertise in driving positive change. This letter emphasizes the candidate’s educational background, research skills, and cross-cultural communication abilities.

Feel free to modify these sample cover letters to suit your unique qualifications and job requirements. Remember to showcase your skills and experiences effectively, aligning them with the United Nations’ mission and values.

In addition to the sample cover letters, we also recommend checking out our United Nations (UN) Resume Format and Sample, UNDP Resume Sample, and UN Internship Cover Letter Sample for further guidance and inspiration.

Leverage the power of a well-written cover letter to make a strong impression and increase your chances of securing a rewarding career with the United Nations.

UN Job Cover Letter Sample 1

Mary Brown (000) 657-0101

November 8, 2023

Mr. Adam Doe Personnel Manager United Nations 323 Main Street Houston, TX 32101

Re: Administrative Assistant Position

Dear Mr. Doe:

As a passionate and dependable administrative professional. I am writing to apply for an Administrative Assistant position at the United Nation’s Houston Office. Owing to my exceptional clerical skills and hands-on experience in the administrative arena, I feel confident that I am a good candidate for this job.

Through my work as an Administrative Assistant for The University of Ontario, I have built a strong record of attaining progressively responsible management positions during my short career.

Specifically, I have a demonstrated ability to:

• Handle all aspects of general office coordination
• Maintain office calendar to organize workflow and meeting
• Answer telephones and transfer calls
• Perform general clerical duties such as bookkeeping, copying, faxing, mailing, and filing

The attached resume details my specific skills pertinent to your needs.

As an enthusiastic candidate, I would like the opportunity to meet with you in order to discuss your expectations in greater detail. I will call you next week to follow up on my job application. Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to call me at (000) 657-0101.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

(Sign here) Mary Brown

Attached: Resume and Reference Letters

UN Job Cover Letter Sample 2

[Your Name] [Phone Number] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Title] [Department] [Address] [City, State, ZIP Code]

Re: [Position Title]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to express my strong interest in applying for a [Position Title] position with the United Nations. As a highly motivated and dedicated individual with a passion for international development and human rights, I am confident that my skills and experience align perfectly with the mission and values of the United Nations.

With a [mention number of years] of experience working in the development sector, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by communities around the world. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to drive positive change through various projects and initiatives. From implementing sustainable development programs to advocating for gender equality, I have a proven track record of successfully tackling complex global issues.

My educational background in [mention relevant qualification] has equipped me with a strong foundation in [mention relevant skills or knowledge]. I am adept at conducting research, analyzing data, and developing innovative solutions to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. Additionally, my experience working in diverse cultural settings has honed my interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, enabling me to effectively collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders from different backgrounds.

I am particularly drawn to the United Nations’ commitment to promoting peace, security, and sustainable development. I believe that my expertise, combined with my passion for social justice and equality, would make valuable contributions to the organization’s efforts in achieving its goals. I am eager to leverage my skills and experience to contribute to the United Nations mission in [mention the specific area of interest or expertise].

Enclosed is my resume, which provides further details of my qualifications and accomplishments. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my candidacy with you in more detail and demonstrate my suitability for the position. Thank you for considering my application.

[Your Name]

Recommended Posts For You:

• United Nations (UN) Resume Format and Sample
• UNDP Resume Sample
• UN Internship Cover Letter Sample

9 thoughts on “ Sample Cover Letter for UN (United Nations) Jobs ”

Thank you very much for the sample Cover letter. It is simple and nice. I am mainly concerned with where you see an advert for a job in UN but you have never done such a job but you have picked experience that you can use in this job. It becomes difficult in coming up with a cover letter.

Hi Emily Thank you for your appreciation. In your cover letter, you can mention your relevant skills and knowledge obtained through your non-relevant jobs and education.

Thank you very much for the cover letter sample. I however have a question. 1. Is a cover letter the same as a motivational statement?

Thank you for your question.

The difference between a motivation letter and a cover letter is that a cover letter gives specific examples of how your experiences and skills match the job description provided by the employer. Whereas a motivation letter focuses more on your personality, career interests, passion to work for the employer and motives for applying.

If a job asks for a motivation letter, but not a cover letter, do you need to add a cover letter anyway? Perhaps in the attachment section? Resources online mention cover letters, but I haven’t seen a UN job ask for one yet.

Hi Sam No, you do not need to add a cover letter separately. A motivation letter is basically a cover letter that focuses on your personality, intentions, and reasons for applying for a specific job.

Do I need to write the subject or a reference in my cover letter for a un job?

Sample 2 is the best cover letter I have ever read. Thank you Sam

We are so glad to hear that Sample 2 was helpful to you! If you have any questions or need further assistance as you craft your cover letter for the UN, feel free to ask. Best of luck with your job application – We hope it opens doors to a fulfilling career with the UN!

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What should i include in my un jobs cover letter.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Do you know what a cover letter is? Have you ever had to make one but didn’t know how ? Well, usually, candidates are required to submit a cover letter as part of their application to jobs within the UN System.

The main goal of the UN Jobs cover letter is to give candidates a chance to introduce themselves and explain their motivation in applying to the desired job opportunity.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of writing and structuring a UN Jobs cover letter, as it is a very important part of your application. It’s just a small sample of all the information covered by our eBook “ Landing your dream job at the United Nations “. Get a copy today !

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has  developed a comprehensive eBook, as well as support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive selection processes.  These services include revising your UN Jobs application documents (Curriculum vitae/Resume, Cover Letter) and a mock interview, as per the original UN Jobs model.

We have already helped dozens of candidates become UN Professionals and we can also assist you in passing this competitive selection process!

For more info, access:

UN System Jobs: Products & Services

What is a cover letter?

As the name suggests, a cover letter serves as a “cover” for the documents you submit for a job or internship application. It should provide a summary of a candidate’s skills, professional experience, and qualifications that meet the needs of a job opening, emphasizing why the candidate should be selected.

Cover letters function as a personal marketing tool!

Typically, they are meant to “sell” the candidate by showing recruiters the qualities and skills that s/he possesses that are in line with the prospective position. This way, evaluators are able to gain a better perspective on the candidate’s attributes and their main motivation for applying.

The text should represent the candidate positively and objectively. It should be short, yet contain enough information to keep the reader interested in reading the rest of the application.

When well written, such a document immediately demonstrates the participant’s abilities in written communication and the organization of ideas, as well as their argumentative capacity.

Crafting your UN Jobs Cover Letter

In selection processes for jobs with the United Nations, the cover letter should contextualize your resume or CV and all its information in an objective fashion, highlighting the elements that are in line with your area of interest .

Its main objective is to reinforce the candidate’s positive qualities in order to arouse the evaluator’s interest and desire to know more about the individual.

Generally, in the first phase of the UN Jobs selection processes, you must fill out an online application form and upload documents (Curriculum Vitae/Resume, Cover Letter, etc.). However, some opportunities may require that candidates submit these documents by e-mail. In both cases, these documents are decisive for your success in these competitive selection processes. Therefore, it is of fundamental importance that your documents are carefully reviewed! This is exactly what our award-winning team will do for you.

At OpenIGO, we have analyzed documents from dozens of UN candidates.  This service is confidential and your files will be deleted from our systems when the service has been completed.

Would you like to know more about our application review service? Access:

UN Jobs Application Review

So, in order to write a strong UN Jobs cover letter, it is important to know what the recruiters will be looking for. Here are some of the aspects the recruiting team seeks to evaluate:

• Competencies: Competencies may be understood as the candidate’s set of knowledge, abilities, attitudes and values. It is important for the candidate to show that they have the main competencies the organization is seeking, such as Professionalism, Teamwork, and Planning & Organizing. Since the United Nations is indisputably a value-driven organization, your personal values and the manner in which they are linked to the organization’s should also be highlighted.
• Knowledge about the organization: It is expected that the candidate demonstrates knowledge about the UN fund, program or agency s/he is applying for, such as its mission, its operational approach, activities, and main objectives (knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals, for example).
• Cultural fit: Showing sound knowledge of the organization is not enough. The candidate should highlight that there is compatibility between their values, principles, objectives, and understanding of reality with those of the organization.
• Communicative capacity: The cover letter enables the recruiter to evaluate the candidate’s writing skills and their ability to structure ideas and coherently defend arguments.

When writing your cover letter, take all of the aforementioned aspects into consideration and make them evident throughout the document when expressing three main things:

• your interest in working for the organization;
• the reason you are interested in the vacancy (or in a specific field area);
• and why you are a strong candidate for the position.

Summarizing what a good UN Jobs Cover Letter is

To summarize our tips, here’s the overall content that a good UN Jobs cover letter should have:

• Introduce the candidate;
• Talk about the candidate’s motivation for applying;
• Contextualize the candidate’s Resume/CV (linking the information provided and prior experience with the working area of interest);
• Demonstrate the applicant’s knowledge of the United Nations, – mainly of the UN agency, fund or program s/he is applying to – its values, and the competencies required for the specific vacancy;
• Show the candidate’s enthusiasm, but in a professional manner;
• “Sell” the candidate;
• Be written in a formal style with no grammar mistakes.

By having access to this information and much more from our eBook, you will certainly have a head start over other candidates!

With that in mind, check out our eBook, “ Landing your dream job at the United Nations ”, which will help you land your dream job at the United Nations System. It will introduce you to the complex world of the United Nations and it will guide you through all the stages of the selection process. Access:

eBook – Landing your dream job at the United Nations

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Application writing handbook: How to write the perfect job application to the UN and to Impact oraganisations?

by Henrik Rydén COO and Co-founder of Impactpool

In 2008, I landed my first UN job at  UNDP , and ever since then, I have worked with UN recruitment in different capacities. Since 2016, I am one of three co-founders of Impactpool.

Back in 2008, I searched for cv writing tips tailored to Multilateral organizations . Very little was written.

Recently I took a new look. Several job sites had popped up, but as far as I could see none having founders with  relevant Impact sector background.

Still, the tips I found were generic, the only (non-official) job application tips valuable and correct and worth to recommend are the ones provided by my former UN colleague, Sebastian Rottmair, who runs the UNjoblist .

His tips are both reliable and insightful and he is especially good at questions related to a procurement-related career.

Given the lack of good application tips, I decided to compile an application writing handbook myself.

And this is the result, it can be used for UN applications as well as applications for IFIs or NGOs. 

Application writing tips for you who are applying for a job at a Multilateral organization, an International Financial Institution, or a Non-Governmental Organization. 

My handbook is written both for job seekers in the Impact sector and for those who wish to transition from the private or public sector into the sector.

In the guide, I share concrete advice on how to structure your application, what to include, and what to highlight to get the recruiter's attention.

I give you tips on how to write your cover letter, the resume, and three methods used to structure your work experience.

What could be better than learning how to write your applications from someone that have read thousands of UN applications?

My Application writing guide costs $15, but it is included free of charge in the Fellow membership . 

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