united nations competency based interview questions and answers

The United Nations is an international organization that works to promote and maintain peace and security around the world. One way the UN does this is by hiring competent and qualified individuals to staff its many offices and programs.
If you are interested in working for the UN, you will likely have to go through a competency-based interview. This type of interview is designed to assess your skills and abilities in relation to the job you are applying for.
To help you prepare for a competency-based interview, we have compiled a list of common UN interview questions and answers. By familiarizing yourself with these questions and preparing thoughtful responses, you can increase your chances of being hired by the UN.

How to pass the United Nations competency-based interview

United Nations Interview Competencies

We advise you to focus on the pertinent skills that are pertinent to the job, position, or role you have applied for as you prepare for your United Nations interview.

What is a competency?

A competency is a “behavior” necessary to carry out a particular task, duty, or responsibility associated with a role. For instance, “communicating effectively” is one of the more prevalent competencies and behaviors assessed in the majority of organizations that need specific capabilities.

How do I demonstrate competencies during my UN interview?

Giving a specific example in response to the competency interview question is the best way to show that you meet the requirement at the UN interview. For instance, if you are evaluated for the competency “teamworking,” you might be asked a question like this:

Describe a situation you were in where you worked as part of a team to complete a task or project?

You would need to give a specific instance of when you have already demonstrated the essential skills required surrounding the competency of teamwork when responding to this competency-based interview question.

What skills are most likely to be evaluated during my interview with the UN?

This heavily depends on the position for which you are being interviewed. However, the following competencies and values are the ones we advise you to focus on while preparing for interviews:

Communicating effectively;

Planning, prioritizing and organizing workloads;

Demonstrating a commitment to excellence;

Professionalism;

Respect for diversity and integrity;

Leadership and management capabilities;

Continuous professional development;

Effective decision-making skills;

Problem solving capabilities;

Building and maintain relationships;

Taking ownership and accountability;

Working as part of a team;

Client focus and orientation.

3 TIPS FOR PASSING YOUR UNITED NATIONS JOB INTERVIEW

TIP #1 – In preparation for your United Nations (UN) interview, we advise you to learn about the organization’s history, the admirable work it accomplishes, and to study the mission and vision statements so you have a clear understanding of their goals. Therefore, you will be able to respond confidently and clearly to the interviewer’s question, “What can you tell us about the work we do here at the United Nations,”

TIP #2 – During your United Nations interview, you’ll probably be asked a series of competency-based interview questions. On this page, we’ve given you a few competency examples so you can get ready to respond to them. However, we also urge you to research the relevant core competencies and values for the position you are applying for and to prepare concrete examples of how you have already met each one in a previous employment-related role.

TIP #3: You will have the chance to question the panel at the conclusion of your UN interview. We advise you to prepare three questions to ask at the conclusion of your interview that will show you are genuinely interested in the work the UN does as well as its long-term goals and plans.

Download a copy of our interview questions and answers guide on this page to fully prepare for your United Nations interview. All sales and proceeds from this guide are donated to UNICEF on a quarterly basis.

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