When people talk about "getting a UN job," they usually picture an internationally recruited Professional posting in Geneva or New York. But nearly half of all UN staff are General Service employees — locally recruited professionals who keep the organization running at every duty station around the world. Understanding both categories, and what separates them, gives you a clearer picture of the full landscape of UN employment.
What Is General Service (G-Grade)?
General Service staff are recruited locally, meaning they're hired at and for a specific duty station. Grades run from G-1 (entry-level administrative support) to G-7 (senior technical or specialized roles). Common positions include administrative assistants, finance clerks, IT technicians, translators, and programme support staff.
Key characteristics of G-grade employment:
- Local salary scales: Pay is determined by the local labour market, not a global UN scale. A G-5 in Copenhagen earns significantly more in absolute terms than a G-5 in Kampala, because local market rates differ.
- Location-tied contracts: Your appointment is to a specific duty station. Transfers are possible but not automatic.
- No education grant: G-staff are not entitled to the education grant available to internationally recruited colleagues.
- Limited home leave entitlement: G-staff at headquarters duty stations generally do not receive funded home leave.
- Pension and medical: G-staff are fully covered by UNJSPF (pension) and the organization's medical insurance, the same as P-staff.
What Is Professional (P-Grade)?
Professional staff are internationally recruited. Their salaries follow the UN's global common system scale, set by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). Grades run from P-1 (rare entry-level) to P-5 (senior professional), with D-1 and D-2 for directors.
Key characteristics of P-grade employment:
- Global salary scale: A P-3 in Nairobi and a P-3 in New York earn the same base salary. Post adjustment modifies take-home pay to account for local cost of living — but the grade determines the base.
- Mobility: P-staff can — and are often expected to — rotate between duty stations across their careers. Many organizations require demonstrated field experience for promotion.
- Education grant: Annual grant to help cover children's schooling costs, with amounts varying by duty station and grade.
- Home leave: Funded home leave travel every two years for staff posted away from their home country.
- Removal grant: Financial support for relocating your household when transferring between duty stations.
The Recruitment Difference
This is where the practical gap becomes most visible. P-grade vacancies are advertised globally and draw applicants from around the world. For competitive P-3 posts, it's not unusual to receive hundreds of applications. Shortlisting is rigorous, and the process from application to offer can take six months to a year.
G-grade vacancies are advertised locally — sometimes only on the duty station's internal boards, local newspapers, or country-specific UN portals. The candidate pool is smaller, and the timeline is often faster. If you're based in a country where a UN agency operates, G-grade roles can be a meaningful and often-overlooked entry point.
Can You Move from G to P?
Yes — but it requires meeting the full requirements for a P-grade post and, in some UN organizations, going through the standard competitive recruitment process. Your G-grade experience absolutely counts and can make your application compelling. Some organizations have formal pathways (like the G-to-P programme at certain agencies), but in most cases, you apply for a P-grade vacancy just as any external candidate would. Many successful P-grade professionals began their UN careers in G positions.
Which Category Is Right for You?
The honest answer depends on where you are in your career and where you're based:
- If you're in a country with a UN presence and want to break into the system quickly, G-grade roles offer a real entry point with full benefits and a foot in the door.
- If you're an internationally mobile professional with a graduate degree and several years of specialized experience, P-grade roles offer the career trajectory, global mobility, and compensation package most people associate with a "UN career."
- If you're a national of a country where a UN programme operates, NPO (National Professional Officer) roles offer a middle path — professional-level work, locally recruited, often with less competition than international P-posts.
Key Takeaways
- G-grade staff are locally recruited with location-specific salaries; P-grade staff are internationally recruited on a global pay scale
- G-grade roles include full pension and medical benefits but not education grants or home leave
- Moving from G to P is possible but requires competing openly for P-grade vacancies
- G-grade roles are a legitimate and often faster entry into the UN system for locally based candidates
- NPO positions bridge the gap for nationals of programme countries seeking professional-level work
Both categories represent real, valuable careers in international service. The key is knowing which door to knock on — and being ready when it opens. Explore current UN openings at all grades on UNjobnet →
