This cultural anthropological paper investigates the career starts of young highly skilled migrants - many of them coming from Southern Europe - who aspire to establish themselves as international civil servants in United Nations affiliated organizations in Geneva and Vienna. Especially in the moment of economic insecurity this career path seems to be a promising possibility to 'escape the local work market' and to 'discover the big wide world'. What are the pre-conditions to enter the UN labor market? Who affords a non-payed internship and possibly gets hold of a short contract as a consultant in one of the many UN organizations? How sustainable is this work situation?  And how does it influence the biographies of the young highly skilled labor migrants?Qualitative research about (young) highly skilled employees in the context of the United Nations is still at a developing stage. This paper focusses on highly skilled migrants who eventually establish themselves as international civil servants. It ultimately aims to describe the ‘habitus of transnational life and work’ in the context of transnational biographies and careers.

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