- Your resume sells; it doesn't record: A P11 records everything that happened. A resume shows the results that matter for your targeted job.
- Keep the layout simple: Maximum two pages, with only one column. No tables, no UN logos, no complex graphics, because many screening systems can't read them.
- Write results, not duties: Turn formal UN job descriptions into short bullets with real numbers.
Your P11 or Inspira PHP lists everything you've ever done. A recruiter only wants to know one thing: can you do this job? Here's how to turn the first into the second, in two pages.
A Record Isn't a Marketing Document
The UN Personal History Profile (PHP / P11) and Inspira profiles are administrative records. They document every contract, every grade change and every duty station, which is exactly what a record should do. But employers outside the UN, including foundations and international NGOs, read a resume fast. In a 2018 eye-tracking study by Ladders, recruiters spent an average of 7.4 seconds on a first look. So brevity is critical. Start with a blank page and think about one target job.
Structure and Layout
Keep to these modern resume standards for ATS (Applicant Tracking System):
- Length: Two pages for experienced professionals.
- Format: One column, a standard font (Calibri, Arial or Helvetica), and the same bold style for every heading.
- Order: Newest first. Give the most space to your last 10 years, try not to go beyond 15 years.
- Words: Use the same keywords as the job description.
A Before and After Example
Here's how UN duty language becomes a resume bullet that shows impact. (The numbers in this example are made up, so use your own real ones.)
BEFORE (UN PHP Style): 'Programme Officer, P-3, UNHCR, Amman. Responsible for implementation of livelihoods programme in accordance with the country operations plan and monitoring reporting guidelines.'
AFTER (Modern Resume Style): 'Programme Manager | UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Amman, Jordan. Directed a $4M emergency livelihoods initiative serving 6,000 refugee households. Supervised 5 partner NGOs, cutting grant disbursement delays by 35%.'
Note: You can and should AI to help, but never let it be the final decisionmaker in what goes on your CV. It makes things up and can also leave you with a document that sounds generic. The more positively you can stand out the better off you’ll be.
Pick your current UN job on your CV and rewrite the first three sentences with your duties as achievements. Start each one with a strong action verb, and add numbers to quantify your experiences if you can.