Follow
Meta Description: My Journey into the United Nations (UN) System started after Peace Corps. I remember sending a cover letter and resume to the head of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in New York. It was during the 1990s when a hiring manager responded to the applicant’s resume with a personalized response. Mine was something like, thank you for your interest… you are welcome to reapply after obtaining more professional experience… I thought to myself, “Really! – Peace Corps, NYPD, my public and my corporate experience was not enough? Ok!”
United Nations Assessments and Interviews
Still excited about what the UN was doing around the world and encouraged to keep trying from an American-Burkinabe family I met in Ouga (Mrs. Diallo was an attorney from Alabama and Mr. Diallo was an experienced UN civil affairs officer), in March 1999, I sent a Letter of Interest to UNHQ for a security officer position. The UN invited me to take the GGST written assessment. I was successful. Next, I was invited to take written and oral psychological assessments. Passed. Then came the interviews. The first interview was with a 7-member panel and the final interview was with the Chief (a former NYPD Caption and John Jay College of Criminal Justice alumni) and the Assistant Chief, Security & Safety Section.
During the 7-member panel interview, I recall the question, if I would be willing to work in Rwanda since I had international experience? “No way” was my abrupt and unconscious response. You see, as the 1994 Rwanda genocide was happening, I read the New York Times’s coverage of the tragedy. I remember the photos and details and I was both saddened and horrified. Even with my NYPD experience, I was concerned about my safety if I was sent to Rwanda. Fortunately for me, the panel asked if I would be willing to work in Tanzania or Kenya if a security position became available? With a big smile on my face, I affirmed my willingness to work in East Africa.
