World Health Organization (WHO) jobs are highly competitive. This internationally renowned NGO receives hundreds of thousands of applications every year for less than 10,000 job openings. How can candidates stand out? Here are four tips for getting hired by the WHO.
Learn a New Language
The WHO works in countries around the world. That’s why it’s called the World Health Organization. Any language can give candidates a boost on their applications, but in-demand and widely spoken languages are the most useful for getting hired by the WHO. Languages used by the United Nations are the best; these include French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. Before choosing a language to study, it’s important to consider several factors. First, where is the language spoken? A health worker who wants to work in Africa would benefit from learning French, which is spoken in many West African countries, more than Spanish. Second, how long does it take to gain working proficiency in the language? Arabic and Chinese are substantially harder for native English speakers to learn than Russian or French.
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Earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree
Although the WHO coordinates some clinical efforts, it is primarily a public health organization. A strong understanding of the public health field, especially epidemiology and behavioral science, is required for many WHO job openings. Even medical providers with training in nursing or medicine can enhance their applications by adding some public health classes. According to the World Health Organization’s website, internships are available for public health students. Although WHO internships are highly competitive, they can be an excellent first step to finding a job with WHO.
Join the Peace Corps
There’s a Catch-22 for finding work in the international development sector: NGOs are reluctant to hire new graduates without any international experience, but it’s hard to get experience when no one is hiring. The Peace Corps is the best solution to this problem. It’s a 2-year program for American citizens that places college graduates in international communities. Peace Corps provides 3 months of language and cultural training, arranges housing and transportation and hosts many trainings for its volunteers. While conditions can be tough, it is a well-regarded way for Americans to learn about life in the developing world. Peace Corps pays volunteers a living allowance and covers any medical expenses they incur, so it’s more affordable than other study-abroad options.
Complete an Advanced Degree
Given how competitive the WHO hiring process is, candidates often need a doctoral degree to make it through the process. A Ph.D. in biomedical science is helpful, especially for applicants who want to work in European or American postings. A medical doctorate or a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) are the best options for clinical work. However, nursing students should do their research; many countries don’t recognize advanced practice nurses. It’s possible for a nurse practitioner to be limited to working as a registered nurse while overseas.
It’s a long path from undergraduate college student to public health or medical expert on the global stage. With the right planning, you can snatch up one of the coveted World Health Organization jobs.
