Ensuring universal health coverage for underserved populations is the goal of the most prestigious organization in the public health sector – the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is responsible for managing global health issues, setting the health research agenda, establishing norms and standards, and developing evidence-based policies. Securing employment here is highly competitive and the organization receives hundreds of thousands of applications every year for less than 10,000 job openings. How can candidates stand out? Here are some tips from former WHO staff.
Key Takeaways:
- The WHO operates in over 150 locations around the globe, working closely with its 194 Member States across six regions.
- Persistence, proficiency in technology, understanding and interpreting complex issues, and project management abilities are among the top skills required to start a career there according to former WHO employees.
- A resume focusing on relevant skills and experiences, such as volunteering and internships, is one of a candidate’s strong points.
- Networking and gaining practical experience also play an important role in landing a job (CV and qualifications aside).
- The WHO is a highly hierarchical organization which is why sometimes introducing new ideas, especially those involving new technology, can be challenging.
DevelopmentAid: What major skills and attributes are necessary to start a career at the World Health Organization?
“The most important things are clarity and focus. My golden advice for young professionals is to start building their resume early and not wait until they finish university or higher education. Think beyond the glory of having a job with the most prestigious global health organization, which is the WHO. Those who take landing the job as a self-serving quest would not make the best professionals once on the job. Ask yourself, why do you want to join the WHO and think of the job to a greater end? Identify your motivation and build your goal accordingly. Are you looking for international exposure? A multi-cultural and diverse workforce? Or perhaps contributing to public health policy and programming in your part of the world and beyond! Take practical steps to accumulate knowledge and skills relevant to your career goal. Do not underestimate the power of volunteering while you are a student, or during your summer breaks. Choose a public health agency close to home or abroad and gain relevant skills in research, community health, HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19, or emergency response that will stand out on your resume. The sky’s the limit. Use the brilliant WHO academy (OpenWHO) to earn certification in your area of interest. There is a wealth of knowledge there, generated through great pedagogy and updated regularly. And best of all, WHO walks the talk in democratizing knowledge; all courses are free and self-paced. In terms of educational qualifications, a Master of Public Health would be ideal as a baseline. And for jobs requiring an epidemiological background, specialization in Epidemiology would set you on the right footing. Make sure your qualification is gained at a university that is recognized on the World Higher Education Database (WHED). If it interests you, check if you can join the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). And do not miss the opportunity to apply for an internship with WHO (or another relevant UN agency) while you are a student. Many people use their internship experience and time at WHO to shape the next step of their career and land their dream job. When out there, be authentic, exercise your scientific curiosity, maintain your integrity, and do not hesitate to show your personality. Who wouldn’t be happy to hire an energetic, lively, and competent professional who gets the job done?”
“The main skill required to work at WHO is persistence. The second major skill is technology. This ranges from smartphones to satellite imagery. Learn how to use these and interpret what you get from them. The World Health Organization deals with a myriad of complex issues. Many of them require simple solutions. Dig into yourself and figure out where and how you want to contribute. Once you figure that out, work your way up from field positions.”
DevelopmentAid: What challenges are to be faced when applying for an open position at WHO?
“Managing your expectations is one major challenge. Thousands of applicants from around the world apply to work with WHO. Do not lose hope if you do not get the opportunity that you are looking for. Keep building your career, keep your eyes on your original goal and keep the motivation alive.”
“The main challenge you will face is finding the right spot and the right person in that spot who will listen to you. Please keep in mind that WHO is a very hierarchical organization. Also keep in mind that WHO is not always up to par with technology. Walking by yourself into an office with an idea, especially one that deals with new technology or new ways of implementing that technology, does not always work. Find yourself a mentor or someone in the system who you trust and understand and who understands you and work your way up. But be patient.”
DevelopmentAid: How do you prepare for a WHO interview?
“Read, learn, and ask questions. Use your social media network such as LinkedIn to reach out to early-, mid-, and advance-career WHO staff and ask them for advice. There are lots of resources on the WHO website. Use these to learn about the department you are seeking to join. Search multiple sources for up-to-date information in the specific area of your intended interview, be it vaccine development, or the latest WHO definition and characterization of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Educate yourself about the geographical setting you will be deployed to if the job is at the field level. And do not hesitate to do some research to learn the office setup, the size of WHO’s presence and other relevant information so that you are not taken by surprise. If you are applying to work in the Public Health Emergencies program, educate yourself about the basic humanitarian principles, the Cluster Approach and other necessary definitions and functional competencies. And learn about the WHO competencies framework, because this is what you will be measured against.”
“Undertake a self-analysis before an interview. What are your strengths, your weaknesses, and your aspirations? Resist the temptation to paint yourself like the last lemonade stand in the desert. You may be that, but the person listening to you may not appreciate that you are the one highlighting it. Understand what the position entails, what their mission is, who is pulling the strings, and where do they want to get to with the project and your position. Prepare yourself for the inevitable question: “Why are you better than everybody else?” and “where do you see yourself in this position in five years?”
See also: A brief history of the WHO
DevelopmentAid: What are some mistakes that young professionals make when applying for a WHO position?
“Thinking that educational qualifications alone will land you a job with the WHO. I must say that in this day and age, networking plays a major role in landing your dream job, coupled with your qualifications and technical skills.”
“The major mistake young professionals make is expecting the corner office with a view over the city and all the other perks associated with that. As a hierarchical organization, WHO expects young professionals to “do their time.” You may have a good idea and a great disposition but unless you have someone inside who can place you in the spot you want, chances are you will have to do the time.”
DevelopmentAid: What are the main challenges and benefits of working for the WHO?
“As a former staff member and consultant, I have gained a wealth of experience and exposure from working with WHO in many countries and at regional and headquarter levels. Before joining the WHO, I worked for UNHCR in yet another list of countries. I am a humanitarian at heart, what I love about working for the UN is the diverse, multicultural, international experience and serving populations most in need. Looking back at my time with WHO, I encourage all young professionals to avidly pursue their dream of working with the most prestigious public health agency on a global scale.”
“Depending on your specialty and your location, you will have challenges that may not exist in other positions. One of the main challenges you will face includes bringing new ideas and technology that are not familiar to the people you’re talking to. Convincing them that they can be part of a solution is not always easy. Another challenge is being witness to troubling situations and not being able to do much to change them. This is especially palpable in emergency situations. You are there to do a job and find yourself in relatively decent conditions and eventually get to go home. The people you work with do not have that choice. If you find yourself in this situation, learn to live with it. An unsolicited recommendation from someone who has been around for 40 years is whatever you do, put your heart into it and enjoy it as much as you can.”
See also: Working with UNICEF. Tips for junior development professionals | Experts’ Opinions
To get ahead of the competition and increase the chances of being hired by the WHO, candidates can use DevelopmentAid’s resources and tools for job seekers in the health sector. Health is one of the sectors with the most job openings in the international development job market. On the DevelopmentAid website, experts can choose from over 650 open positions in the health sector. With the Individual Professional Membership, members can access all these opportunities and check for assignments on the WHO donor page. Additionally, members receive full access to tenders and grants for individuals, contact information for over 300,000 organizations in international development, and increased exposure on their profiles.
