Why did you apply for an internship at the United Nations? What did the process involve?  

After graduating from my Economics BSc course in July 2023, I aimed to work abroad before studying for a Master’s. I had long been interested in working in an international setting and decided to apply for a UN internship after I heard of the Charles Covington Foundation’s generous offer of funding for Manx students successful in their applications. UN internships are unfortunately still unpaid, so the Foundation’s financial commitment was invaluable and enabled me to pursue this opportunity. 

The application process is formally carried out through Inspira, the UN’s job application portal. After filling out a personal history profile with your personal and educational details, as well as a general motivational statement, you will find out whether you have been selected for consideration for the internship. In my case, the next step involved submitting a writing sample, in this case my undergraduate dissertation and a mock UN report, for review by the team you are applying to. If successful in this stage, you will be invited to a short interview which often focuses on your key competencies, qualities, and motivations. If all goes well, you are likely to be sent an internship offer in the following week. It should be noted that there is no standardized structure or time period for the application process, with the routine often varying between 4 weeks and sometimes several months. 

Were you given a choice of country to work in? (If yes, what appealed about Bangkok?) How did you source accommodation? Is there help and advice available? 

UN internship applicants apply for posts in specific duty stations, meaning that the applicant always chooses their desired destination out of over 100 places. Internship applicants can, and often do, apply for several different internships simultaneously in duty stations across the globe. Although I did also apply to internships in other countries, I personally chose to focus my applications on Bangkok internships due to my love for Southeast Asia, having been privileged enough to visit with my family in the past.   Bangkok is a chaotic metropolis and could not be much further, both geographically and culturally, from the sanctuary of the Isle of Man! From a very young age it has been my life’s goal to explore the world we live in, and Bangkok seemed to be the perfect city to begin this journey for several reasons. 

Firstly: the cost of living. Prices for the vast majority of goods and services in Thailand are often a fraction of the price of their equivalent in the Western world. To put this into perspective, the monthly rent in Bangkok can often be compared to the weekly rate for a comparable property in the UK. Furthermore, for an average meal in a restaurant, you wouldn’t expect to pay more than £4 to £5, and street food can be found ubiquitously for rarely more than £1. With an abundance of day and night markets, almost any product can be found for significantly less than its Western price, and other living costs such as public and private transport are similarly cheap.

Secondly: the culture. Having been exposed to Thailand and its neighbouring countries whilst growing up, I have long been fascinated and drawn to the Southeast Asian way of life, and specifically the attitudes, customs, and traditions. Thailand is a notoriously happy country despite the adversity that a significant proportion of the population continues to face. Despite this, the city remains the most travelled to in the world, and there is a huge ‘expat’ presence, meaning the city is surprisingly liveable (despite the traffic) and western comforts are never too far away.

Thirdly: the climate and environment. Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand, the country typically experiences three seasons: the hot season, the rainy season, and the cool season. Monsoons and storms are frequent and make Bangkok an even more visceral place to live. Daily temperatures range almost always sits between 25 and 35 degrees all year around – this takes some getting used to! The country has a hugely diverse environment, with widespread tropical rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs which provide habitats for a variety of wildlife such as elephants, tigers. Having access to this aspect of the country just hours outside of Bangkok is a major advantage and I often find myself on weekend trips to national parks or islands when I particularly miss the scenery of the gem of God’s earth! 

What have you enjoyed most about the experience?

Cliches aside, the highlight of my internship is without a doubt the lifelong friends I have made. Moving to the other side of the world at the drop of a hat is not an easy thing for most to do, but in an environment as international as the UN, there are countless people in the same position and this community makes all members feel completely at home at all times. Being colleagues and friends with so many supremely kind-hearted and talented individuals from across the globe makes both the workplace and social scene incredibly inspiring and enriching in equal parts. I am proud to say that amongst countless other lessons, the friends I have made in Bangkok have taught me the ‘subtlety’ of typical German humour as well as the linguistic diversity of Vanuatu, and one even compelled me to learn Spanish. 

What have you learned about yourself?  

I have learnt that throwing myself into the deepest end of the pool possible has been my life's best decision, as it revealed a resilience I never knew I had. Before the internship, I already knew I wanted to see the world and live an international life, but my time in Bangkok ignited a fire which has led to a true understanding of how to achieve this ambition. On a personal level, I discovered that I have more in common with people who have seemingly lived lives opposite to mine, and in turn, I learned about the power of forming deep connections with friends, colleagues, and strangers alike. 

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of applying?

If you are hesitating on whether or not to apply – just do it. Have faith in your skills and motivations – it is valuable to show that you can distil your goals and relevant competencies in your application statement. I can assure any future applicants that I was just as surprised to receive an internship offer as they may be, so advertise yourself confidently and the rest will fall in place.