Exactly what it looks like when I offer CV advice to an aspiring humanitarian aid worker.

So many of people post on the subreddit called UNPath and say,  

"I have xx years of work experience and I have a Master's in Whatever, why am I not being hired?"

And in that post I can see the answer to the question: because this is how these folks are representing themselves in applications, as someone with a certain number of years experience, but no specific experience. Where's your areas of expertise or particular interest? Where's your experience working with various groups that you might work with in the job you are applying for? Where's the examples of your work?

I have helped several people with their CVs. I do NOT offer this customized help anymore, because of a few very bad experiences, which I note at the end of this page. But below I offer some examples of how I used to edit CVs so that the person could create something better for possible humanitarian development work. I have stripped out all identifying info for the job seeker.

And it's worth noting that the last time I did CV consulting, most of which is represented below, once the person filled all this information in that I said was missing, I went from thinking he would never get a job with the UN to thinking, hey, this guy actually has the experience needed!

How the job applicant phrased something on a CV is in regular type, & my edits are in upper case:

• Monitored project progress USING WHAT? HOW DID YOU DO THIS?, created strategies to mitigate risks RISK OF WHAT? AND WHAT KIND OF STRATEGIES?, and provided measurements LIKE WHAT for success WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
   
• Managed administrative tasks, procured WHAT? and maintained financial records for the project, including monitoring behavioral change programs MONITORED HOW? REPORTED HOW? AND WHY DO YOU HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS AND PROJECT MONITORING IN ONE BULLET POINT?
   
• Developed partnerships HOW with stakeholders SUCH AS? to enhance project outcomes and success.
   
• Coordinated a community initiative on the significance of xxxxx for farmers HOW DID YOU ENCOURAGE FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE? ONLY MEN ? ANY WOMEN? RESULTS?
   
• Led a program on waste segregation in collaboration with Alpha Company and Beta Company WHO WAS TARGETED BY THE PROGRAM? WHY WAS THIS NEEDED? DID IT WORK?
   
• Initiated a community program promoting kitchen gardens in every household. WHAT DID INITIATING IT INVOLVE? AND DID YOU REALLY END UP IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD? DID YOU TARGET MEN? WOMEN? WAS THIS A RURAL COMMUNITY? AN URBAN COMMUNITY LOW LITERACY COMMUNITY?
   
• Performed a case study on beneficiaries in Gamma District SUCH AS WHAT KIND OF BENEFICIARIES AND FOR WHAT ACTIVITIES?.
   
• Developed television programs LIKE WHAT AND FOR WHOM? and ensured HOW their timely broadcast according to schedule. AND DID ANYONE WATCH?
   
• Supervised video geographers’ editors, anchors, reporters, and technicians HOW MANY?
   
• DID YOU DO ANY VIDEO EDITING? ANY EXAMPLES OF YOUR WORK ONLINE?
   
• Organized a conference focusing on xxxxx in xxCITYxx in xxMONTH&YEARxx HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE? HOW MANY SPEAKERS DID YOU HAVE AT THE CONFERENCE? HOW MANY SPEAKERS WERE FROM OUTSIDE YOUR ORGANIZATION? DID YOU HAVE TO ARRANGE VISAS? FLIGHTS? ACCOMMODATIONS?
  

Some have asked why I don't do CV consulting anymore. Because:

• My advice is almost always the same (hence why I put it all up for free on my web site).
   
• Some people were angry when my assessment was, "based on your CV and your answers to all my questions, you don't have the skills and experience for the jobs you want at the UN." And that was my advice for about half the people who wrote me and I did my initial assessment.
   
• Some people were angry after paying me and changing their CV that they still didn't get the jobs they wanted.
   
• Some people were angry when I told them they needed to use spell check and grammar check (and that I would not do so for them).
   

It just didn't bring me any joy whatsoever. And let me be blunt: if you can't read advice and then apply it to a document yourself, and if reading a lot of advice overwhelms you, and if you are looking for shortcuts, working in international development is NOT FOR YOU.

More advice from me regarding pursuing a career in international development (including the United Nations):

See my detailed advice for those that want to work professionally or as a volunteer abroad in humanitarian aid.

Résumé & Curriculum Vitae (CV) Advice: for people looking to work in aid, relief and development.

Exactly what it looks like when I offer CV advice to an aspiring humanitarian aid worker.

Webinar: Careers in International Development (I did this in August 2024).

Is it really *impossible* to break into humanitarian work?

Want to work internationally? Get involved locally.

Yes, you CAN get experience for entry level UN positions in your own community.

Abilities you need to work in humanitarian development successfully.

Jayne, how did you get to work for the UN?!.