Pros
Mission Benefits Salary Vacation days Not much work to do as office is huge and lots of employees so some days you can do online courses Work life balance Don’t need to be in the actual office most days Health insurance
Cons
I had the misfortune to join UNHCR Budapest when my wife got a job in Hungary. The work environment lacks any value or ethics. Majority of employees are lazy and insulated, showing no interest in working or welcoming outsiders who are not Hungarian. There is stagnation and inefficiency everywhere. Any attempts I made to change things resulted in apathy, hostility and resistance. International manages are scared of locals so don’t say anything while they pass their tour of duty. What is more alarming is the pervasive racism in the GSC. It’s a known issue and while as a white European I was spared, I did get some questions on why I got the job as my job normally goes to Hungarians. Many African and Indian employees deal with really appalling behavior. Senior management in Switzerland ignores this issues because Hungary is a cheap location to run. I joined because I love what the UN stands for. My experience at the UNHCR has been nothing short of a disillusionment . I left to join a private company in Budapest even if the pay is less, it’s more inclusive.
