Introduction
The United Nations receives over 300,000 internship applications each year across its agencies — UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR, and dozens more. Competition is fierce, and your CV is the first (and sometimes only) document that determines whether you move forward. Most candidates are eliminated before a human ever reads their application.
Here is the hard truth: a brilliant academic record and genuine passion for development work are not enough. If your CV does not conform to what UN recruiters expect — in format, language, and emphasis — it will be filtered out, either by an automated system or by a screener spending 15 seconds on each application.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to write a CV that meets UN standards, impresses recruiters, and gives you the best possible chance of landing that internship. Whether you are a student in Kampala, Nairobi, or Accra, these principles apply to every UN agency worldwide.
Who is this guide for? University students and recent graduates in Africa who want to apply for UN internships. The advice also applies to Junior Professional Officer (JPO) and UNV positions.
What Makes UN CVs Different
A UN CV is not the same as a corporate resume or an academic CV. The United Nations has its own culture, its own vocabulary, and its own expectations. Understanding these differences is the first step to writing a competitive application.
| Aspect | Regular Corporate CV | UN Internship CV |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 page strictly | 2–3 pages acceptable |
| Photo | Often included | Never include a photo |
| Nationality | Rarely mentioned | Always state your nationality |
| Languages | Brief mention | Detailed section with proficiency levels |
| Volunteer work | Optional / footer | Given equal weight to paid work |
| Tone | Sales-oriented, bold claims | Factual, results-driven, development-focused |
| Keywords | Industry jargon | SDGs, mandate-aligned terminology |
| Date of birth | Not included | Often expected (for age verification) |
📌 Key Takeaway
The UN values multilingualism, volunteer experience, and development impact far more than most private-sector employers. Your CV must reflect these priorities explicitly, not implicitly.
Required Sections for a UN CV
Every UN CV should contain these sections, in roughly this order. Missing any of them signals to recruiters that you have not done your research — and that is an immediate red flag.
- Personal Information: Full name, nationality, date of birth, contact details (email, phone, city/country). No photo.
- Education: Degrees, institutions, dates, and relevant coursework. List most recent first.
- Work Experience: Paid positions with organization name, title, dates, and bullet-point accomplishments.
- Volunteer Experience: Treated with the same seriousness as paid work. Include organization, role, dates, and impact.
- Languages: List each language with a proficiency level (Mother tongue, Fluent, Intermediate, Basic).
- Skills: Technical skills (data analysis, GIS, project management) and software proficiency.
- Publications & Research (if applicable): Papers, conference presentations, or thesis work.
- References: "Available upon request" is acceptable, or list 2–3 professional/academic references.
Pro tip: If you are applying through Inspira (the UN's recruitment portal), the system will parse your uploaded CV. Use clear section headers that match the labels above — creative headers like "My Journey" will confuse the parser.
Formatting Your UN CV
Presentation matters more than you think. UN recruiters see thousands of CVs. A clean, well-structured document signals professionalism before they read a single word.
Choose a clean, conservative layout
Use a single-column format with clear headings. Avoid two-column designs, graphics, or colored sidebars. The UN is a formal institution — your CV should look like a professional document, not a marketing brochure. Use a standard font like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman at 10–11pt.
Set proper margins and spacing
Use 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides. Add consistent spacing between sections (12–14pt) and between bullet points (2–4pt). Dense walls of text are hard to scan — give the content room to breathe.
Use reverse chronological order
List your most recent education and experience first. This is the standard the UN expects. Functional or skills-based CVs are not common in the UN system and can confuse recruiters.
Be specific with dates
Use the format Month Year – Month Year (e.g., "January 2024 – June 2024"). Vague entries like "2024" raise questions. If a position is ongoing, write "Present" as the end date.
Save and submit as PDF
Always export your CV as a PDF to preserve formatting. Name the file professionally: FirstName_LastName_CV_UN.pdf. Avoid names like "my cv final FINAL (2).docx".
Warning: Some UN agencies (especially UNICEF and UNDP) use automated screening software. If your CV uses tables, text boxes, or unusual formatting, the parser may scramble your content. Stick to simple formatting.
Writing Strong Bullet Points
This is where most candidates fail. Your bullet points are not a job description — they are evidence of your impact. Every bullet should answer the question: "What did you do, and what happened because of it?"
The STAR formula for UN bullets
Use the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework, compressed into a single bullet point. Start with a strong action verb, describe what you did, and quantify the result whenever possible.
Research Intern, UNDP Uganda (June 2024 – August 2024)
- Conducted field research across 12 districts in Northern Uganda on post-conflict livelihood recovery, contributing to a policy brief reviewed by the Resident Coordinator's office
- Analyzed survey data from 450+ households using SPSS, identifying 3 key barriers to women's economic participation that informed the Country Programme Document revision
- Drafted weekly situation reports for the Governance & Peace Building unit, synthesizing inputs from 5 implementing partners
Intern, UNDP (2024)
- Assisted with various research activities
- Helped the team with data analysis
- Supported report writing and other administrative tasks
Notice the difference. The first version is specific, quantified, and demonstrates real contribution. The second is vague and could describe anyone doing anything. UN recruiters are trained to spot this difference instantly.
Power verbs for UN CVs
Use verbs that demonstrate initiative and results. Strong choices include: spearheaded, facilitated, coordinated, analyzed, drafted, convened, synthesized, implemented, monitored, evaluated, advocated. Avoid passive verbs like "helped," "assisted," or "was responsible for."
Pro tip: Read the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the internship you are applying to. Mirror the language from the ToR in your bullet points. If they mention "stakeholder engagement," use that exact phrase in your CV — not "working with people."
📌 Key Takeaway
Every bullet point should contain an action verb + specific task + measurable result. If you cannot quantify the result, describe the scope (number of stakeholders, countries, or documents involved).
Languages & Skills Section
The UN has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Proficiency in more than one UN language is a significant competitive advantage — and for many positions, it is a requirement.
How to present languages
List each language with a clear proficiency level. The UN uses these standard descriptors:
| Level | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mother tongue | Native speaker | Luganda – Mother tongue |
| Fluent | Professional working proficiency | English – Fluent |
| Intermediate | Can handle routine professional tasks | French – Intermediate |
| Basic | Elementary conversational ability | Swahili – Basic |
Pro tip for African applicants: List your local languages. Fluency in Swahili, Hausa, Amharic, or other widely spoken African languages is increasingly valued by UN agencies operating in Africa. Do not undersell your multilingualism.
Technical skills
Organize skills into categories for readability. Focus on tools and methods that are relevant to international development work:
- Data & Analysis: SPSS, Stata, R, Excel (advanced), Power BI, KoboToolbox
- Research: Qualitative data analysis, survey design, literature review, M&E frameworks
- Writing: Report writing, policy briefs, grant proposals, minutes-taking
- Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, SharePoint, SAP
- Design & Comms: Canva, Adobe Illustrator, social media management
Note: Do not list generic skills like "teamwork," "communication," or "Microsoft Word." These are assumed. Focus on specialized tools and methods that set you apart.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After reviewing hundreds of UN internship CVs from African applicants, these are the patterns that consistently lead to rejection.
Mistake #1: Including a photo or personal details like religion and marital status. The UN system explicitly discourages this. It can trigger unconscious bias and in some agencies, your CV will be automatically flagged and rejected. Include only: name, nationality, date of birth, contact details.
Mistake #2: Writing an objective statement. "I am a passionate and hardworking individual seeking to contribute..." — recruiters have read this sentence ten thousand times. Replace it with a 2–3 line professional summary that states your field, your relevant experience, and what you bring to the role.
Mistake #3: Ignoring the Terms of Reference. Each UN internship has a ToR that lists required qualifications, skills, and responsibilities. Your CV must directly mirror this language. If the ToR says "monitoring and evaluation," do not write "tracking projects." Use their words.
Mistake #4: Underselling volunteer work. Many African students have extensive volunteer experience but list it in a single line at the bottom. In the UN system, volunteer work demonstrates commitment to public service — a core value. Give it the same structure and detail as paid work.
Development studies graduate (Makerere University, 2024) with research experience in post-conflict livelihoods and gender-based violence programming across East Africa. Proficient in quantitative data analysis (SPSS, R) and qualitative field research. Fluent in English and Luganda; intermediate French. Seeking to contribute analytical and research skills to UNDP's Governance & Peace Building programme.
I am a passionate and motivated young African who is eager to learn and grow. I am looking for an opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills in a reputable international organization like the United Nations.
How Cedar AI Can Help
Writing a UN-standard CV from scratch is time-consuming, and knowing whether yours measures up is nearly impossible without feedback. That is where Cedar AI comes in.
What Cedar AI does for your UN CV
- Instant CV scoring: Upload your current CV and get a detailed score across formatting, content strength, keyword alignment, and completeness — calibrated to UN internship standards.
- AI-powered bullet rewriting: Paste your weak bullet points and our AI rewrites them using the action-verb + impact formula that UN recruiters look for.
- Section completeness check: Cedar AI scans your CV for missing sections (languages, volunteer work, nationality) and flags exactly what to add.
- ToR keyword matching: Paste the Terms of Reference for the internship you are applying to, and Cedar AI highlights which keywords are missing from your CV.
Pro tip: Use Cedar AI's chat feature to ask specific questions like "How should I describe my thesis research for a UNICEF M&E internship?" and get tailored advice in seconds.
"I applied to 8 UN internships before using Cedar AI to review my CV. After rewriting my bullet points with the AI suggestions, I got interviews at UNDP and UNHCR within the same recruitment cycle."
The difference between a good candidate and a selected candidate is often just the quality of the CV. Do not let formatting or wording be the reason you miss out.