Skip to contentSkip to footer
employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

United Nations

Is this your company?

United Nations reviews

4.0

78% would recommend to a friend

(2,248 total reviews)

António Guterres

76% approve of CEO

58% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.3

Diversity & inclusion

4.0

Culture & values

3.9

Work/Life balance

3.9

Compensation and benefits

3.7

Senior management

3.6

Career opportunities

United Nations has an employee rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 2,248 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The United Nations employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Government & Public Administration industry (3.6 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
1.0
Jun 20, 2013

Professional dead end

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Until the most recent hiring freezes and cuts, a relatively stable job.

Cons

The organization is run as a giant patronage mill. There is no accountability, especially of management, whom are free to be abusive to staff and hire cronies without any risk of reprisal. These same managers often hire people of below average intelligence because they'll do what they're told and are just happy to have a job. If you went to graduate school, don't expect to use your education. Do expect any number of menial tasks. Oh, and if you dare suggest a better way to do things, such as how the rest of the world actually has done things within the past 20 years, you'll be shunned professionally.

5.0
Mar 10, 2011

Good, smart, well-meaning people in a complex beauracracy

Professional staff
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

--Benefits are very good. -- Vacations are generous -- Excellent mix of colleagues from around the world -- Good treatment of women -- Quality work/life balance -- A good cause, obviously

Cons

--You must be a master of working the beauracracy. --Salary is decent but you surely could use more disposable cash to live in Gotham.

3.0
Oct 1, 2008

There is good, there is great, and there is horrid

senior programmer officer
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Vacation and benefit packages far exceed the norm in the United States. Every staff member, regardless of rank or tenure, receives 30 paid vacation days per year plus holidays. The only limitation is that you cannot stockpile and carry more than 60 days from one year to the next. But, seriously, if you can be away from the office for 3 months, which is more irrelevant: your job or you? Additionally, the pension system is first rate: 100% match after 10 years of service. Also not to be underestimated is the education and awareness you receive by working with and learning about the cultures of people from over 190 countries. If you are a non-US citizen (or if you are a US Citizen posted abroad), you will receive a very generous education grant for your children (until they reach the age of 25 or complete their first degree - whichever comes first)

Cons

The snail's pace and red tape rampant in all bureaucracies, croneyism and the fact that mediocrity is frequently preferred over meritocracy. Because of mandated quotas, geographical concerns can sometimes trump merit as well. Also not uncommon is finding loud and troublesome colleagues - who intimidate afraid-to-take-a-stand-and-deal-with-what-will-be-non-stop letters of appeal managers - receiving glowing performance evaluations and faster than normal promotions. Some of the fastest ways to get promoted are to never rock the boat and always demur rather than decide.

Viewing 19 - 21 of 2,248 Reviews
Related searches: United Nations jobs | United Nations salaries | United Nations benefits | United Nations interviews
ReviewsUnited Nations reviews

Glassdoor has 3,969 United Nations reviews submitted anonymously by United Nations employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if United Nations is right for you.