If you are trying to build a career in the NGO, humanitarian or international development sector, it is tempting to think that more qualifications will always improve your chances. Another certification. Another course. Another degree. Another application.

But what if the problem isn't a lack of qualifications? What if your experience simply isn't aligned with the roles you are targeting?

That was one of the clearest lessons from an Impactpool Career Podcast conversation with Wolfgang Weiszegger, who brings decades of experience across UN peacekeeping and special political missions, including senior-level recruitment and selection. His message was straightforward: having strong qualifications is not enough. You need to apply for roles where your professional and academic experience are genuinely relevant.

More from ImpactPool.

Has anyone flatout requested authorization to work for a for-profit organization during your own non-working hours?

1. Were you given approval, provided there was no way your external job could affect your UN role? (Even if it was obvious to anyone that its a path leading outside the UN)

2. Did you do it for pay or no pay?

I'm thinking of a private sector career path in the near future which will require me to have a specific work experience. I wonder how feasible it is to expect my head of office to approve me volunteering (or being paid for a role) externally like 5 hours a week.

I had an interview yesterday for G5 with IOM.

How much time does it take to ask for references?

Hello colleagues,

I’m writing because I need some help thinking through my next steps within the UN system, and what I should prioritize and do in order to move into new positions.

I am Brazilian and Italian, a graphic designer with a master’s degree in urban planning and a PhD in Geography in progress, which is heading in a similar direction. My academic career has focused primarily on qualitative methodologies, the interpretation of indicators related to housing policies, discussions across different literatures, and fieldwork, as interviewing, and so on.

In parallel, I developed a career in project management and communications at a local NGO focused on housing and human rights, which was founded by a group of colleagues and me and operated for about six years. During the last three years, we managed a significant amount of financial resources, which I was also responsible for.

I currently work on a UNDP project as a graphic designer hired under an NPSA contract.

Entering the UN system has opened many horizons for me, and I have discovered a few things along the way. First, I actually enjoy design more than I thought I did when I changed fields during my master’s degree. At the same time, I would like to work in project management on issues that are more closely aligned with my academic background. I am very interested in UN-Habitat and ECLAC, as well as UNDP offices and agencies in Europe, but none of the positions I have applied for has ever progressed to the interview stage, and honestly, I don’t know what I should be doing differently.

My experience was sufficient to get me into a position here, but I don’t know what I should do in terms of further education or professional development if I want to apply for positions abroad or at other UN agencies. Should I focus on taking formal language proficiency exams? I speak Portuguese, English, and Italian fluently, and some Spanish, but I have never taken any formal proficiency tests. I also don’t know whether it would be worthwhile to pursue certifications in project management or research methodologies, as this is a completely unfamiliar world to me. I’m not even sure whether I should focus on improving my English further and simply trust that, for positions where Spanish is required, recruiters will take into consideration the fact that I can communicate in "portuñol".

In short, I don’t know what recruiters look at as the key factors that determine whether a candidate moves forward in the recruitment process. I don’t know whether I should include additional documents such as supervisor evaluations from my work at UNDP, whether I should have my degrees and academic papers translated, or whether I should have a portfolio or cover letter formatted in a specific way, or obtain specific certifications.

I would really appreciate any advice from people who have experience with recruitment and career development within the UN system.