You may have heard that being a consultant can be a good first step into the UN system, only to dismiss the idea as you think of being a "Consultant" as something for more senior people, brought in to do some really important work, most likely dressed in a dark suit.

In the UN, only part of this is true - consultants are brought in to do some important work, or rather some "specific" work. Apart from that, it's basically a contract type, used for all kinds of work at all levels.

It goes by several different names and usually means that the organization purchases a service from you, rather than employs you as a staff member. There is one or more clear deliverables, rather than you performing ongoing tasks.

Consultancies are always time-limited, but may be full-time or part-time, as well as on location or remote.

A few things that are important to know is that as a consultant, usually, you are considered a vendor, which means that you:

• do not have job security, because technically, you do not have a "job" - you're not employed.
• do not have benefits & entitlements, such as vacation, sick leave, or insurance.
• are responsible for any tax liability in any and all countries that may claim taxes from you.

There is more to it, but those are a few important aspects that are often overlooked and may have huge consequences if you are not aware. And these aspects are why your pay as a consultant cannot be compared to someone's salary.

Consultancies are often a good first step because:

• due to changes in recent years to how UN activities are funded, there is an increased number of consultancies available
• the selection process is usually quicker and less rigorous compared to becoming employed as a staff member
• organizations are looking for an external resource person to fill a temporary need that they are not able to fill internally, which means;
• you're not competing with internal staff members who have all kinds of competitive advantages

Being open to starting your UN career as a consultant can provide you with valuable experience and insights, a chance to make a name for yourself as a strong contributor, and an opportunity to build your network.

Are you considering consultancies in your job search? Email me and tell me yes/no - and maybe why/why not, if you're in a sharing mood :-)

I look forward to hearing from you!

On a personal note, I started my UN career on a temporary contract (not a consultancy, but also no job security). That experience positioned me to compete for a staff position later on. It's a common story among UN staff. Do consider it if you're not already.