Expert: William A. McKelligott - 4/27/2008

Question
I am a Indian Army officer with 20 years work experience in the Army. I plan to quit the army by Aug 2009 and I am looking for a alternative carreer with the United Nations. I come from a rural background and I am aware about development processes involved in developing countries. Please apprise me about the opening which I may get and how I should go aboout it. I shall be ever grateful for your assistance. I shall bother you more if you do not mind as I did not come across the right guidance in my present job environment. Thanking you in anticipation. Warm regards. Bhawani Singh Nirwan

Answer
Hello, Bhawani

I hope all is well, and many thanks you for your e-mail.  While I am no guru for career changers, I think you would have a good chance of working at the United nations system.  The million dollar question is where to fit in.  While your national origin is an advantage, please focus on your skills.  Because you have been in the Indian Army for so many years, and I assume that you have been deployed in areas that are characteristic of developing nations-- poor infrastructure, no formal planning, scarcity and an overabundance of people with unmet basic needs-- I would suggest you consider a career in the UN Peace keeping mission which are located throughout the world and which could probably use your skills.  I would suggest that you give this some serious consideration.  Contact your colleagues at the Indian Ministry of Foreign Relations to see how, if at all, they can help you contact Indian citizens working in the UN in that same function.

Give it a try, and good luck

Cheers!