BBS Webinar | Building an International Career. Insights from the United Nation

11 February 2025

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, students from the Professional Master programs at BBS participated in a webinar dedicated to developing an international and non-profit career. Alumna Lucrezia Pala, Talent Management Specialist at the United Nations World Food Programme, discussed with Claudia Manca and Ludovico Bullini, Directors of the Professional Master in Human Resources and Organization at Bologna Business School.

 

After graduating in psychology and a period of internship in the clinical field, Lucrezia Pala decided to enhance her background by applying it to human resources management. She enrolled in the HR & Organization Master at Bologna Business School. After an internship at the United Nations, Lucrezia moved to several different job locations and agencies – UN is an umbrella organization for many entities working worldwide in various sectors. She moved to Europe and later returned to Rome permanently.

Her memories of her time at BBS are very positive: acquiring knowledge and managerial skills was fundamental for her career development. The most important lesson? To be flexible: to learn to get out of the comfort zone and work day by day in an open system subject to constant change. You need to be always open-minded, Lucrezia said, if you want to work at UN agencies. It’s a cosmopolitan environment, rich in diverse backgrounds and cultures that must be able to communicate effectively with each other.

Studying at Bologna Business School, in such an international and diverse environment, was a great starting point for entering the job market.

The most important skills for starting a career at the United Nations are undoubtedly soft skills. While some very technical areas require specialized training, most UN agencies prioritize communication skills. One might find themselves managing complex projects that require interaction with people from diverse professions and positions, engaging with colleagues, donors, politicians, and ambassadors. It’s crucial to connect quickly and effectively with everyone.

But how can one enter a UN agency?
The first opportunity is an internship. Each BBS Master’s program concludes with this type of opportunity. From there, with consistent and high-level work, one might secure a position or continue working on other projects.
Another possibility is the UNV experience, United Nations Volunteers, which allows you to participate as a volunteer in the activities of some agencies with room and board provided.
Another route is through applications, but caution is necessary: each agency has its own mission and interests. It’s a grave mistake to copy and paste your CV when applying to multiple positions. You should dedicate time and attention to this task, first studying the organization you’re applying to.

It’s important to have an updated and dedicated CV, and a cover letter highlighting your strengths and aspirations can make a difference.
Being well-prepared for interviews, should you be selected, is a minimum requirement: research the agencies, and the projects, and understand the competencies required. Also, it’s essential to seize opportunities: every interview ends with the chance for candidates to ask questions. Not asking questions means missing the chance to deepen your contact and show genuine interest.

Preparing before applying for a position is essential. The network can help a lot; fluent English is mandatory, and knowledge of a second language is appreciated.

It’s also important to be open to instability: agencies work on projects, budgets change, and international scenarios evolve. Opportunities are plentiful, but is necessary to stay alert to understand when to switch departments or propose oneself for a different role.

Lucrezia then interacted with students, answering their questions and recalling how some teachings from her Master’s in BBS were crucial for her career. Among them, understanding the importance of teamwork. Working with a team means getting to know each other, and forging bonds: only then does the group become truly efficient and capable of overcoming difficulties.

One must always have a “Plan B” and a “Plan C,” but sometimes situations force you to improvise. That’s exactly what happened to Lucrezia, who recalled a particular moment during her Master’s at Bologna Business School: on the morning of a presentation, a technical issue prevented her team from displaying the project slides. However, thanks to the intense teamwork and mutual support, she managed to complete the presentation without the prepared materials. Learning to adapt and react to unforeseen events was a key lesson.

Among the final questions for Lucrezia Pala was about the importance of the right “attitude” in shaping a career. The BBS alumna shared an inspiring example from a manager who began every meeting by asking the team, “What do you need from me, and what can I learn from you today?”

Giving and receiving feedback is crucial: it’s not easy, and often it isn’t appreciated at the moment, but over time, it becomes material that shapes your personality. A good attitude stays open, attentive, and ready to absorb new stimuli.

In conclusion, here is some advice on how to make the most of the BBS training: get to know your classmates and work closely with them. Always balance studying with human relationships, because these relationships generate well-being and elevate your crucial team-working abilities.