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Language related opportunities
Towards a career with the UN: Step six, working with languages
A microcosm of the world
The United Nations is an international organisation and as such must overcome language barriers effectively to avoid becoming a Tower of Babel. As almost all of the world’s countries are represented in the UN, people with language skills are needed to translate the organisations many documents, conferences and statements. The UN uses six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish while the Secretariat uses two working languages, English and French.
Statements made in an official language at a formal meeting are interpreted simultaneously into the other official languages of the body concerned by United Nations interpreters. If a delegation wishes to speak in a language that is not an official language, it must supply an interpreter to interpret the statement or translate it into one of the official languages. It is then rendered into the other languages by a relay system.
Documents are produced in the six official languages and are issued simultaneously when all the language versions are available.
Working as a translator or interpreter
Every year the UN launched a competitive examination for editors, translators and verbatim reporters to fill vacancies in New York and other duty stations (like Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Beirut and Bangkok).
Applicants must:
– Have the language they are translating in as their main language;
– Have a perfect command of English, French and one of the other official UN languages;
– Hold a relevant qualification or degree.
Successful candidates are expected to serve a minimum of 5 years in language posts.
To find out more: www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/languageexam.htm
Working as a language instructor
To find out more about teaching languages at the UN go to: www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/exam.htm
