I recently tried to monitor the hits on this blog. Not surprisingly, there are those, like me who have sat the United Nations NCRE exams out there who scour the web looking for any clues, any information they can find on that may enlighten them on the latest happening.
I have come to learn that patience is the name of the game. People say its bureaucracy, others may mistakenly believe that the United Nations may have forgotten all about them. But lets face it; they may be slow in responding but they are well aware of everything. As the 2009 NCRE exams have concluded, I thought I might share more of my tips for those candidates still waiting on word from the United Nations.
After your exams, wait patiently
After your exams go get a nice cup of coffee, relax and refocus all your energy on whatever it is that you are currently doing. Be sure to regularly check the examination page on http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/ncrepage.htm to monitor the progress of the exams. The UN will almost always try to meet the deadlines it posts on this site and if it is not able to meet it, it will post an updated date. I do not know what factors force them to change dates, but changes are expected and your patience is important.
When convoked, be prepared
The successful candidates after the written exams are listed on the NCRE website and contacted at least a week later by email. In this email, the UN will send information you would need such as the date, time and venue of your interview. Included will be a file on UN Competencies, a very important document.
When convoked, do not attempt to will the UN into action by trying to contact them. It is always often met with silence. They will contact you and if you are like me, you will be assigned a very helpful contact who will assist you all the way until you arrive for your interview either in New York, Geneva or any location that they will interview you in. Sometimes, the interview may be conducted via video conference or phone; I am of the opinion that this option is often available to candidates with close proximity to a UN office and where the technology is available. I was initially convoked to Geneva but visa delays forced me to New York instead. Because my assigned contact was based in New York, I was glad to meet her in person, thank her for her hard work and she took me to the interview room.
The wait between when you are advised and when you leave can be long. I was advised of my convocation early in November of 2008 and was interviewed in January of 2009. Liaise closely with your UN contact on all issues regarding your travel. My authorization for travel and e-tickets were provided 3 days before I left for New York.
During the interview
As I have mentioned, be prepared to talk a lot about yourself. For me it was a bit of an unnerving experience because I personally find it very difficult to talk about myself. But study the UN competencies really well and try to think of real examples of where you may have applied some or all of the competencies. Stay positive, avoid flattery and be honest. Practical examples are important. At the end of my interview, we spent 15 minutes on questions about the United Nations. 4 open ended questions will be asked you may pass on only one without being penalized. I missed 2 of those 4 questions. I passed on the first, did not know the answer to the second but answered the last two questions really well.
Join the NCREFORUM
This is a yahoo group on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ncreforum, was formed in 2005 by candidates who were on the roster. The stories you read here will surely give hope; most of us are not alone. Aside from that those on this forum are quick to let others know when opportunities arise or take time to explain in great detail issues that affect candidates who have made it on the roster and are waiting for placement from the United Nations. I surely found some very inspiring stories on this forum. It’s membership is, however, only open to those who are currently on the roster. You will gain valuable insight interacting with its members who have been in this situation before.
But basically my message is, the wait can be long; quite long at times. So patience is the name of the game.
UK – where do you see a list of recommended books? When you say the questions they gave last year, you mean the sample questions? Thanks!
UK et al, I think just as a hunch. The UN is not an educational institution so I think there will be very little deviation from the current questions and themes (not the same questions but similar). So focus on those first then deviate to other areas that you think may be applicable to the work of the UN. The exam is created as a selection tool so it is how you answer the questions that will impress and set you apart. The UN consolidates it choices by then testing you against its core competencies during the interview exam and makes the final selection on who gets on the roster. Cheers, Lynnold
PS: Will be glad to discuss issues regarding the roster when people start getting placed.
Hey Enki,
We’re rocking in the same boat here, still waiting for the status change, won’t be long now god willing. I’m got some books from my local library, i couldn’t find any of the books from their recommedation list, i might just start from the questions they gave last year… what about yourself?
Hi! Join the facebook group of the NCRE exam 2010:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=149830108392552
Hi UK,
I’m taking the Human Rights exam in London hopefuly. Like everyone else, my application says ‘Under Consideration’. How are you preparing for it?
Are “under consideration status” already changing IK?
Has anyone been called to take the exam in Spain?
I can wait to know if I’m in or out.
This people is going to kill me, how am I supposed to work in defense of human rights with this tension?
Hi kdogg, I am taking the exam in london.
By the way many thanks to Lynnold for helping and encouraging us through this hard moment.
Best Luck everyone!!!!
Hi, my status is also “Under Consideration”. I applied from Turkey for “Administration”. Good luck every one!
I just signed up to the yahoo group as well. Would like to say thank you to you, Lynnold, for sharing your experiences with us and providing a platform for us desperate souls to meet. Hope we all never forget how we are currently feeling so we can do same thing for other people some day.
Good luck with everything.
Best Wishes
Kdogg and everyone, it has been my pleasure to provide you with some of my thoughts on the process and also give you all a head start into preparing for the NCRE. Please accept my best wishes and I hope many of you will return for advice from time to time about the process after the exams.
Kdogg, indeed my “ambitionz as a ridah” did work out in the end and I am enjoying every minute of working with the UN. Understandably, there are times when I cannot comment on questions or share information that may impinge on my responsibilities to the UN. But many of you are heading in the right direction anyway.
Again all the best for the future. Regards, Lynnold
Ooops! The dreaded double post. X the last one out for me will ya Lynnold? Thanks buddy, and looks like we are slowly migrating to the newly formed groups in yahoo and fb. Thanks for dealing with us 🙂
Later man, and good luck. PS I hope your “ambitionz as a ridah” work out for ya 😉
Hey ik, It means the same thing to me short list = under consideration does it not? Ahhh the joys and wonders of red tape. Are you taking the exam in NYC?
I just joined the facebook group (NCRE UN exam December 2010) and yahoo group (UNNCRE 2010). Thanks guys.
Hi kdogg
I also applied for admin. But don’t know what to do as my status is under consideration since yesterday, I thought that I was short listed before.
This might also help:http://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AP#Selectionnotification
If you have submitted your job application successfully, you will promptly receive an automated acknowledgment by e-mail. All applications you have submitted are listed under My Applications page with the appropriate status i.e. “Applied”, “Under consideration”, “Rostered” etc.
KG,
I think the sample test gives an idea of what we can expect. Understanding of the institutional structure is fundamental. But I don’t think anyone expects us to cite the precise articles of the Charter or treaties, unless of course they are handed out at the test. So, I don’t think memorizing the Charter in detail will help. Compared sample test Legal Affairs with sample test Human Rights. It looks in Human Rights they were actually handed out additional material. Not sure whether that makes anything easier though…..
NY – I do remember your inquiry and because I knew about as much then as I do now, which is nothing, I refrained from commenting.
kh – I am an American and I think that while being American isn’t really and advantage as we are not often eligible to sit for the exam, our legal education is beneficial. The requirement is a first level degree (4 years) with a masters (1-2 years) being an advantage, however to be a lawyer in the American system, one must go to school for 3 additional years (total of 7) making our degree one that is at a doctoral level.
Anyways, I saw another P3 spot that looked interesting and applied yesterday (so a total of 3 applications now because they say you can apply for as many as you want as long as you think you realistically meet the qualifications) – um yeah, they were quite fast. That one is also now “under consideration” which makes me wonder what that status truly means.
I too applied to take the 2010 NCRE and created a Yahoo Group for all of us who are in the same boat and have hijacked Lynnold’s blog. The Yahoo Group is called UNNCRE2010.
Alright, I created one called NCRE UN exam 2010, hope to see many of you there…
And, P.S. I am also still “Under Consideration” for UN jobs I applied to in 2009, so… Why don’t we create a facebook (or other??) page for this discussion/forum? Instead of taking over this poor persons blog for the next 2 months! any ideas?