Why Your CV is Getting Rejected by UN Agencies: 5 Common Mistakes

 Why Your CV is Getting Rejected by UN Agencies: 5 Common Mistakes

You have the degree. You have the experience. But you never get the call. Why?

Recruiting for the UN and large NGOs in East Africa is mostly automated today. Before a human sees your CV, it passes through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). If your CV isn't optimized, you are rejected instantly.

Here are the top mistakes candidates in the Horn of Africa make:

1. Using "Fancy" Designs Graphics, columns, and photos often confuse the ATS software.

Fix: Use a clean, simple text format. Remove your photo unless explicitly asked for (it's not standard for international organizations).

2. Generic Personal Statements Writing "I is a hard worker looking for a job" kills your chances.

Fix: Tailor your summary. "Logistics Officer with 5 years of experience managing supply chains in volatile regions of Somalia."

3. Ignoring Keywords If the Job Description says "Stakeholder Management" and your CV says "Talking to people," the system won't match you.

Fix: Mirror the language used in the job post.

4. Sending Word Documents Always send a PDF unless told otherwise. Word docs can lose formatting when opened on different computers.

Next Step: Open your CV right now. If it has a photo or colorful columns, delete them. Keep it professional, Keep it simple.