Unlocking your potential with the UNSSC JPO Career Booster Programme

On a Friday afternoon in June, thirty-six strangers departed from the UNSSC 2024 JPO Career Booster Programme with a deep, shared sense of connection, purpose and alignment to their values ready to serve in the United Nations (UN) system.

They experienced transformational learning alongside other like-minded junior professional officers (JPOs). Together, they explored their visions, examined various career paths, and engaged in practice and collaborative learning all while fostering a supportive and thriving community amongst them.

Adopt a ‘Day One’ mindset

Every career journey is unique, and working at the UN presents its own challenges and opportunities. JPOs, you gain valuable experience and connections that build a strong career foundation. However, influencing others—a key skill for leadership—can be limited, and not everyone takes advantage of stretch assignments or rotations. Transitioning into regular posts is also highly competitive. So, what can your breakthrough be?

Embrace a “Day One” mindset. Approach your assignment with curiosity, take risks, and view setbacks as learning opportunities. Doing so will help you stand out and showcase your value to the UN. Your compelling story deserves to be told!

“The JPO Career Booster programme was a game-changer for me! It provided me with the knowledge, skills, tools, and networks crucial for building a meaningful and lasting career in the UN system. If you're aspiring to build a long-term career in the UN, this training is an invaluable investment in your professional future!”

Jordan Parker, Programme Analyst, UNDP South Africa, Australian JPO

Mastering soft skills and key competencies is vital

Upgrading skills for greater impact with UN 2.0 vision and other strategic soft skills for your career progression is essential (maybe even more important for your career progression as technical expertise and agility). This includes relationship management skills that drive high-quality connections, collaboration and impact, generating influence across generations, demonstrating emotional intelligence, communicating your personal superpowers, revealing cultural competence, mastering competency-based interview and coaching skills, elevating your networking skill and much more…

Take some time to reflect on the tapestry of skillsets you will need to accelerate your JPO contributions and career mobility within the UN system.  

“The Career Booster course was an incredibly insightful experience ... Tailored specifically for JPOs, the programme equipped us with invaluable knowledge and skills essential for pursuing a career in the UN system…I highly recommend this course to other JPOs aiming to advance their career within the UN.”

Nino Perreten, Programme Budget Analyst, WHO Geneva, Swiss JPO

No stretch, no growth

Know thyself, know what you want and know why you want it.

Work hard towards it, with conviction and discipline.

Align your career choices with your values and vision​, be intentional, have a laser focus, embrace new ways of thinking​ (change is inevitable), and invest in yourself​.​

Getting there won’t be easy, but it is worth it.​

You already start one step outside your comfort zone by taking part in the UNSSC Career Booster, which surrounds you with supportive JPO peers like you.

“I encourage all JPOs who have the means and time to participate in the UNSSC JPO Career Booster. You will gain insiders' perspectives on the latest trends and have the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals, but more importantly, become a member of a global network of JPOs and be inspired through diversity in all its expressions. It is more than a career booster; it is a truly transformative experience that you will remember and tap into in the future.”

Dean Chen, Education Planning and SDG4 Coordination, UNESCO Dakar Office, Chinese JPO 

You are not alone

With the incredible diversity of JPOs in the UNSSC Career Booster, you can overcome your differences and enhance your careers. As JPOs, you are seeking more opportunities to network and learn from your peers.

Our decades of experience with JPOs like you indicate that facilitating peer-to-peer learning—often lacking during JPO assignments—encourages the sharing of best practices, experiences, and mutual support. This approach fosters community building and enhances immersion.

“Through this training and through learning from 35 other young professionals navigating the sometimes-complicated waters of UN career progression, I came to the realization that 1, we are not alone, 2. many of us have the same concerns, and 3. many of us are going through the same things. When we are all together, we become a force to be reckoned with because we can leverage our skills and add to our individual toolkits. We are in fact, better together.”

Elke-Esmeralda Dikoume, UNICEF Cameroon, US JPO

We know from the stories of so many extraordinary JPOs like yourselves that life holds amazing career possibilities in the UN. We look forward to seeing you in our next JPO Career Booster to unlock those with you.