TEDxUW - Tanya De Mello - Here's how you get a job at the UN

Whether acting as a United Nations Field Officer or as a local student volunteer, Tanya De Mello's work has always been focused on building communities. Whether it's through creating community service initiatives at universities, managing humanitarian aid donations in Senegal or assisting with refugee relocation planning, Tanya excels at bringing people together around shared ideas to build vibrant communities.
Her commitment and zeal for enacting change has earned her several distinctions, including McGill's prestigious Scarlet Key Award and Princeton's esteemed Donald E. Stokes Award for leadership and academic excellence. Between co-founding two Non-Governmental Organizations and working for the United Nations, Tanya finds the time to kick-start new initiatives such as the Community Action -- a community-led group that organizes charity fundraisers for legal aid and student to work not just in the community, but with the community.One recent project called "Community Captured", was a photo display that addressed the complex dimensions of pressing social issues, while inviting community members and organizations alike to participate in the process of creating change.
And what's the common denominator that underlies all of her achievements? Tanya firmly believes that efforts taken to bring about change, even at a very local level, can be as transformative as the largest of international development projects.
Start small, but start now -- that is what will make the greatest difference tomorrow.
www.tedxuw.com/speakers/tanya-...
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In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@hyssketchbook8745]

"Because we can't do everything, we do nothing at all." This sentence really moved my heart.

[@junebug2349]

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good!

[@crystalmartinez4279]

I always say that I want to do everything but because I want to do everything I end up doing nothing 😕

[@praiseg9013]

@@junebug2349 wow! appreciate this comment!

[@xbozon6712]

this is one of the reasons I have procrastrinated imporatnt tasks many times ... very meaningful, little steps are the key

[@matildecorreiadasilva8878]

agree

[@oekmama]

This video is basically upsetting people who want to study x,y and z to get to the UN. She gave the answer, without saying that was the answer: work on the ground to help people and develop the practical skills that will make the UN OFFER you a job.

[@NESH4A]

LOL but thats not the problem, people just wanna know WHERE and HOW to get this find of experience because they wanna help!

[@ishaans.prasad8937]

@@NESH4A I think ya'll are both saying the same thing just differently. People want a certain path to follow to achieve the desired end. But... that path doesn't exist; you need to chart it out. The video is trying to guide you towards charting out that path.

[@Andrea-fm5hp]

"Do something. Something small and meaningful, and I promise you it will turn into something bigger." Love this and so true

[@abayaful]

Two years later i'm coming back to say that I've just understand what she meant by saying ''do it on your own way''. Till now i didn't get into the UN but i have meaningful life, i'm with peacekeeping once again, as policeman in Central African Republic. We help the refugee in the UN camps. in Bria and we extremely effective because these refugees are in a very big Ordeal. And we do it in our way.

[@Priyanka-tl8nj]

Thank you for coming back to say this, We all perfectly fit somewhere, it need not be the centerpiece but our value equally lies by the fact that our absence will make the picture incomplete and unpresentable. We all can contribute to the society in our own crude and innovative ways, just need to figure out what we're good at! Our skills may even not be yet recognised, but we have the responsibility to discover it and work to develop it! - to prepare selves to serve!

[@imaniali8090]

This is amazing and motivational❤

[@horravel]

I work for the UN and believe me it is not a big deal, the trick is to work for NGOs first, somehow get into humanitarian sector and then jump into UN. HQ locations are harder to get in at first place and field experience is vital. If you sacrifice from your luxury you can easily end up in the UN. Most importantly a relevant work experience with a university degree is precondition. You need to have a perfect English and preferably other UN languages are asset. good luck

[@anniebaek3593]

Hi, I’m very interested in becoming a human rights officer possibly in the UN. What is your job in the UN and what university degree did you earn to get there? Thank you!

[@lindagatwiri869]

Are they concerned about the grades you got in undergrad (first class, second class upper,second class lower,pass etc)?

[@anniedumont2967]

@@lindagatwiri869 no. I also worked for the UN, 10 years. No one is concerned about your grades, not even your degree, as long as you have one, even in a different field. What matters are your skills.

[@kennethyoung7564]

@@anniedumont2967 how much impact do you have with local communities? I mean is it mostly office work, or do you work I'm the field. Because office work sounds comfortable but not that rewarding in terms of social impact. Plan to move to the third world to devote my life to the poor with or without a job.

[@anniedumont2967]

@@kennethyoung7564 UN jobs are mostly office jobs. It depends perhaps if you are a technician or engeneer, perhaps you spend more time in the field but for most people working for the UN means bean chained to a a desk 10 hours per day. Entry level positions will have some responsibilities to interact with local communities or refugees but the higher you progress within the UN, the less contact you have with local populations.

[@cubanita365]

All of you who are complaining or saying this is a "waste of time" completely missed the point! sure, this won't help you actually get into the UN, but if you take her actual MESSAGE to heart you can still do great things! maybe not at the UN level, but you can still live a meaningful life and make an actual difference in the world. I can't believe so many people are missing the point.

[@jeuen6933]

totally agree with you!

[@destinyrobertson5589]

Also if you are helping your community the best you can that will most likely be recognized, most working at the UN have tons of humanitarian successes in their careers and personal lives.

[@jklop7841]

I agree. It's about helping anywhere and everywhere you go. Not just the UN

[@vivekns6488]

The title says how you can get a job in UN. Was there one sentence about recruiting in it. And the cold weather story and how she had that spiritual moment, Ive seen that in 1000s of movies. Nothing to learn.

[@mohammedsinan6320]

And especially that kicked me was do it even if it doesnt fill up your resume or make up the front page of newspaper😪. When will people TRULY value humanity not for any material benefit??

[@dreamgirl7933]

“Do not try to do great things , just do small things with great love” ❤️

[@kaptainkrampus2856]

Great quote! Love it, thanks!

[@blue---monday]

One of the most inspiring talks I've encountered on TED. This has successfully affect me so deeply.. Truly widens my horizon a lot farther.. Thank you Tanya De Mello.

[@queenideas]

“Do not try to do great things, just do small things with great love.” -Mother Theresa

[@khishasingh9159]

Watching this in 2021, and so glad that I found it. Spoke to my heart.

[@onenutmonster]

"It may not end up on the newspaper, but I promise you it WILL matter." I want to be someone like her wherein your words will influence people for the better. Well articulate, and a Great speech!

[@lumi30000]

Im not here to tell you how to work in UN, Im here to tell you how to have meaningfull life

[@KatieLee235]

I have been wanting to work for the UN and this lovely lady has helped me figure out a game plan!! YESSSS

[@annalindaorosz2968]

Thank you for sharing this motivating, sincere message and your example!

[@poshmalteser123]

Brilliant speech with great compassion and clarity and also good advice, well done Tanya.

[@leonardkabongo5158]

Do not do small things ,just do great things with love!! This is amazing

[@dpkrj123]

O my God ! Her heart is so beautiful !!😭😭 It's a push in the direction I am going. God bless her.

[@TaniaDeSa]

Fantastic talk Tanya! Inspirational stories of personal journey and growth, heartfelt advice and a challenge that we can all take on to amplify our impact in the world. Thank you! Rock on girl!

[@101crazysam]

I have felt like I have lost my way for a while, lost my passion for starting a career in the third sector because it seems so difficult. Thank you for reigniting my passion, though our contributions may seem small, the ripples that are felt as a result of our kindness and actions will be felt far and wide. It doesn't matter if we help one person or 100, it doesn't matter if you work for the UN or not. Our legacies consitent of the kindness we leave behind. Thank you.

[@nataliekhoaz]

Just came across this whilst browsing for something else, very inspiring talk. Thank you Tanya.

[@KC-ls4ko]

The fact that I could see passion in her eyes and how much she loves helping people . I’m amazed and inspired , clicked in because I wanted to be in The UN but now I guess I actually just want to help people .

[@alaabeshir2218]

2021 and still listening to this every morning

[@Saladkharab]

Today (January 28th, 2021) is when I watched this Tedx talk for the very first time, and I feel motivated to truly pursue my passion for helping people instead of mindlessly working towards a "stable" life. I have always been hesitant to go into the unknown but my yearning for wanting to be a part of something bigger than myself has always been a stronger voice. I hope to come back in a couple years and reply to this comment when I feel like I have accomplished something I am proud of you. This is my motivation.

[@allysghoul4102]

Hey! This is exactly how I feel. Any updates ?

[@Majabea]

She is amazing! I totally agree with what she said. I also came to work for an international environmental organization...not knowing how I got here. I just did, what I was passionate about!

[@matyasolga]

What an amazing, inspiring, authentic character. Loved this Ted talk!

[@starkdream806]

this is what I've been thinking for a long time! her speech helped my thoughts organized. thank you for sharing!

[@SusmitaBarua_mita]

This is one of the most inspiring talks I heard in Tedx. I also liked how you delivered it from small notes. Thanks Tanya.

[@ikhmilfarisz]

Very inspiring stories. Touched my heart

[@mralbert1030]

wow she just deposited something in me today. i usually think of being this great person in the future and doing great things while there are very much small important things to do. Wow! i wish to be able to do small things as such that will impact the lives of the unprivileged. Thanks.

[@coldsummersky69]

Meaning over money. This is a testimony that giving is not a one way road. I was afraid to walk the road of international affairs fearing that money will be the issue.. but this was shocking reality check. I'm glad I came by. Thank you

[@Ssbaruska]

Amazing !!! So inspirational Tanya, Thank you :) and best of luck to you!

[@TheDarkBrethren]

Brilliant video, the more people there are like her the more we can get done in this world :)

[@Himani_inamiH]

Man I really needed to hear those words. Thanks

[@laughlife7728]

What words?

[@trinisuprazee]

enjoyed you talk. humanity starts at the grass roots level help locally, and help immediately. it will come

[@natashabonner3868]

I love love love her, doing this job for all the right reasons

[@stilgottheblues]

She graduated from University of Waterloo and landed on UN. But what I can do? I am from Bangladesh and graduated from local university. So I see very little hope to get a job in UN. Ted talk is good good but reality is different (my opinion).

[@leithmcguire7995]

Change the reality there. For you and for those to come.

[@o8Utopia8o]

Do you really want to help people or just get a job in UN? Because you can give your help every where...

[@stilgottheblues]

o8Utopia8o I want a job in UN. Precisely, I want a job in UN and Help people.

[@leithmcguire7995]

You can volunteer. That is a start. They also have a university.

[@brontewcat]

+stilgottheblues. Follow what she is suggesting. You are from the developing world and thus have far more opportunities to work where it is needed than us in the developed world. You can be part of the capacity building that development work requires.

[@Priyanka-tl8nj]

Thank you for coming back to say this, We all perfectly fit somewhere, it need not be the centerpiece but our value equally lies by the fact that our absence will make the picture incomplete and unpresentable. We all can contribute to the society in our own crude and innovative ways, just need to figure out what we're good at! Our skills may even not be yet recognised, but we have the responsibility to discover it and work to develop it! - to prepare selves to serve!

[@DenizBadeAkkoyun]

this was amazing I'm really moved and motivated now

[@pamyuhnke8143]

Best Tedtalk I've heard so far.

[@theboradory]

that was really inspiring. thank you

[@faisal7828247910]

What an amazing lecture !!! Thank You :)

[@bluehoney6]

how can I contact this powerful woman? I need to talk to her, I feel so moved! If you ever stop by please reply this message, Tanya!

[@freddycapo-chichi3443]

It amazing and I am full of emotion. Humanitarian assistance and a committement to eradicate poverty must be the mains requirements when one is looking for UN vacancies jobs and not any recipe that can be earned. Thanks.

[@mcstrovintinotenda4497]

Truly inspiring speech!!!

[@TusharPatel-ke3kb]

Fab!! Thank you.

[@Paradigm2012Shift]

Nice video on working at the U.N. Thanks for sharing.

[@laurazimmerman2089]

Let's make this a hell of a lot shorter. "How did I make it to the UN?" answer: 1. Give a shit about the thing you're doing because otherwise you come off as a fraud 2. Volunteer (Habitat for Humanity, helping the homeless: coming up with cute stories) 3. Do well in school and get a Master's Degree (high GPA and advanced degree) 4. Know someone who will recommend you (from your Uni) 5. Apply online at the UN website

[@iiAngelic]

While this is concise, I recommend to listen to entire speech. It is very inspiring and worth taking the time.

[@rockstarrist-1947]

+Vivi33 It's a stupid, pretentious talk. It doesn't even deserve to be called a "speech". Grow up!

[@davetravels9273]

Just a note, the UN doesn't care about your GPA, only that you studied. Also, you do not need to have a Masters, but it generally helps better prepare applicants.

[@safa9408]

ted talks are about people’s stories if u want a goddamn tutorial go somewhere else hun

[@nadineevans2647]

Bad mine

[@olga8303]

Great speech. Wonderful personality

[@Jetwildli7]

FANTASTIC talk Tanya

[@ayasarsour2860]

Amazing, thank you very much 😊

[@KatelynDawn]

Fantastic. I'm 31 and feeling like my life doesn't have any meaning, and I am a failure and what I do does not matter. I feel a big struggle because I always thought I would make a difference and my life would be important somehow. It feels like drowning. I watched this after spending an afternoon researching "how does someone get a job in human rights activism?" and what you said was really poignant. I like playing music, and I love movies. Maybe I could somehow do a movie and music night somewhere with at risk youth or something. I love watching movies and talking about them, and playing music and singing. Unfortunately, there is a pandemic, but I think after this is over I will take steps to do this.

[@hugocox4995]

Do it no fear ! God bless you

[@neha-yw7zz]

I didn't even know when I got lost in it, so much interest came in me to help someone

[@7paco]

very strong and engaging speaker

[@monasane7143]

Love it! That's the spirit!! I too believe in the mission of lifetime service to the underprivileged!!!

[@aliismaili4609]

One of the best TALKS

[@apollosbby]

People need to understand that this isn't a "how to" video regardless of what the title says. This is a Ted Talk and it's meant to insipre us to be better and if you actually listened you would know that she's trying to explain that making it into the U.N shouldn't be your motivation, it should be what happens after you make your difference no matter how small and in what way and even if you don't end up in the U.N it shouldn't matter.

[@dynamiqueverte4467]

I enjoy with more pleasure the TANYA DE MELLO's exposure explaining how to get the job at UN facts examples were at stake to justify her milestone passage

[@seethetruth7427]

1. do something even if it is small 2. contribute in your own way, instead of some calculated recipe 3. make sincere connection to the people, the community and Earth

[@anasaudeh1064]

Her advice is very simple, get US passport, so you can visit any conflict area to volunteer for few weeks, then go back study in Waterloo and Princeton. You end up a UN officer. Most important don't be fooled with humanitarian ideals.

[@kittyblossom7342]

This is the best Ted Talk I've ever heard.

[@Nawaz__alig]

Hats off for such an inspiring story

[@qv3ncrazy]

This is the best speach I have ever heard thank you xx

[@preetiparomita1259]

The only thing I do that I can't add in my resume is PROCRASTINATION 😊

[@0918claire]

This was the best Tedtalk ever!!!

[@tatendakaponda8976]

soo inspirational

[@TeMrN1]

Great speech.

[@luisgmoreno5525]

Wow!!! Amazing talk!!!

[@alain6793]

Wow, amazing words👏

[@anamtehreem790]

It made me cry

[@folasadeosibodu7119]

Wow Amazing thank you. :) So very true. Real true :)

[@capitalreckless5516]

Thank you!

[@RowanAhmed1]

This is so inspiring on so many levels, thank you so much for giving this amazing talk.

[@darina_diary]

Best words 👏🏽

[@LoveForeverTaylor]

What a beautiful heart

[@abdirahmanwarmogeh5996]

Great speech Tanya.

[@fahmabile1806]

adna ma dhegeysaneysey

[@MARDISAHENDRA]

tips work in UN: something to do, doing with your own ways, and making sincere connection with people. tks

[@michellecervantes1496]

how beautiful and inspiring :)

[@blahblah9388]

God must be proud of her

[@hawasan]

great speech

[@jgb1214]

And so my bucket list grows

[@FETCHBILLIONBARBIE]

this was amazing.

[@youmnafathi6749]

Today I saw this video. I know now why I got a job at the UN. I did what she said :)

[@pennfitness]

What a great person!!!

[@amadoudiallo1437]

contributions to humanity

[@fatimaabdullah3657]

She is amazing

[@EddieStyle]

Amazing talk

[@zazopink6449]

I want a job that consist with helping the Syrian people but I'm so lost as to where to start and what degree to get. Ive spent the past year studying the situation but considering that there are so many wars I dont know if I could go there. I'm going to college in a few months and I have no idea what to do. i want to help medically or maybe politically but how?? I wish I had someone to communicate with

[@maissaelobeid856]

“You will never be less busy than you are today.”

[@moonal6998]

These r exceptional examples ,

[@annandiaye964]

Some times its not about 'just wanting', you need a good education and good money - and u went to Princeton - so that says a lot about your UN journey.

[@aniteshmukherjee]

TANYA LOVE YOU

[@Ssherpaaa]

I LOVED YOUR SPEECH :) #peace

[@michaelbelay1]

So can I refer your name in my resume ? I need a monster like you ! help.

[@prafullakumar2379]

The concept is really amazing.mainstreaming women and gender equality is the need of hour.I am seriously interested to join UN Women in the traditional state Rajasthan in India. Please let me know how can I join you.

[@vaijinaths2691]

Seriously!! Come on. How do I join UN???????? How does this connect?????

[@cdmn5194]

Hi, i need to be part of this organisation , what to do next ?

[@abayaful]

For me she is a model, but i think our reality are very different

[@dambardiprawal7129]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Love from Nepal 🇳🇵. We are not want your on UN.

[@Jagoancobex]

the start with WHY by Simon Sinek

[@kattetivikram1862]

Thank you mam