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.
Saz – I reckon you ought to go with Lynnold’s fantastic advice http://asimplemind.grafixfarm.com/?p=598: concepts, concepts, concepts. And get Legal Affairs’ strategic plan.
Lynnold – an excellent series of posts and an inspiring story. I’ve spent a large chunk if this year focused on Solomon Islands politics for work, so your story has a special resonance. I’m heading off to do the Human Rights exam in Oxford on Wednesday and very much hope I’ll be able to put your wise counsel into practice.
Congratulations on Geneva: I hope you and your family enjoy your new life.
Tanggio tumas!
M
PS: You know, I reckon the Solomon Times would do a story on this blog. You should e-mail them.
Hi lynnold
This blog is really great, setting is up was a great idea.
Sez
Travel is a major concern for me too at the moment! I’m from the midlands so I’m staying over after the exam but just wondering if I’ll even get there what with the snow and all… I was thinking of driving but getting quite worried now…
For everyone else’s benefit on this blog – Just incase you didn’t hear, England is not good at dealing with snow!
DB, i’m currently in South East Asia, though would be great to catch up online.
Hello,
Long-time listener, first-time caller here. Thanks Lynnold for giving us an insight into the process, much appreciated.
I’m taking the Legal Affairs exam in London(Oxford) next week and am just wondering whether I am on the wrong track completely. I seem to be taking the sample exam as gospel at the moment…and dusting off the old books is proving somewhat depressing…what materials is everyone else using?
Also a little concerned at the prospect of finding the exam centre…according to google maps it’s in the middle of a field/prep school…and the notification on the NCRE website has misspelled the venue name.
Any advice from others doing the exam in Oxford regarding getting to the exam centre by public transport?
I suppose transport should be the least of my concerns right now…
John, thank you so much for your tip regarding the security exam! And Lynnold, there are probably hundreds of us thankful for your solidarity and telling us from your experiences and tips! 🙂
Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly about that-I thought that was the case but the info on the NCRE website confused me a bit. Your blog is so helpful and is great to hear about you being successful-I hope you are enjoying your job in Geneva.
Hi El. You are only convoked to the oral exam if you are successful in the written exam. No oral segment on Dec 1st. Candidates normally get advice if they have been convoked to the oral exams, 6 months after the written exams; when the papers have been assessed. At this point, the UN pays for all expenses to sit for the oral exam usually in Geneva or New York. Hope that clears up the confusion. All the best in your preparations for the exams.
Lynnold
Hi-thanks for this really useful resource. I have been convoked for human rights in London (Oxford)and am a tiny bit confused about what to expect from the exams on Dec 1st. I was hoping someone would be able to give me some clarity. The NCRE website says there is a written and an oral exam. Are both of these administered at the first exam or is the oral exam the interview that follows if you are successful at the first exam? Essentially I am wondered whether to expect an oral segment to the exam on Dec 1st?
I’m doing Admin in San Francisco…any one has any info on study materials??
For those who are qualified for the NCRE in security, I strongly advise you to find two books:
UN field security hand book and UN security operations manual. Both books are available for general public can be obtained via open sources.
Btw, like Lau above I have requested membership in the Facebook group but haven´t heard back. Any suggestions?
Hi all!
Have convoked for legal affairs. Ana or others testing in the same subject, please contact me at akravik@hotmail.com. Lets strategize on approach, reading material etc. Good luck to all!
Hi pankaj, ya, it’ll be a good idea to meetup and discuss in KTM. check out http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=149830108392552 . Lets meet this week..
I had applied for the legal affairs one in US and haven’t heard anything and then I emailed them and they said I have to email them my submission email to them. does that mean they lost my application? This was my last year I turn 32 next year 🙁 Whats the alternative? Begging/Pleading?
Hello everyone!
Thank you Lynnold for this helpful blog! I was convoked for Economics in Madrid. Does anyone know how
long should the essays for the Economics Paper be ? Any hints to best prepare for the exam? Thanks!
DC, you have to look on the page with the words ‘under’ consideration’, ‘view’ etc. of the application page.
There you hav a number and then you can look to the exam centres page if your number is noted there.
Success.
Hey A SK, how do you know you’ve been convoked by looking at the website if you were never notified? My understanding is that you only got a number after you got the convokation letter.
I also am still waiting to hear back and if there’s a way to know if I’ve been convoked by looking at the numbers on that website, that would be great.
Hey there,
I am taking the security exam in NY Dec 1st. If anyone would like to share study tips please contact me at dov.gardin@gmail.com.
Thank you fleurdunil. I contacted them and it seemed that they could not find my application first and told me that I should have gotten email from them earlier. To begin with, I never received confirmation letter when I submitted NCRE application. Anyway, one hour after I spoke with them, I got rejection letter right away. I really don’t understand their ranking for the applicants.
WHOMEVER RECEIVED CONVOCATION LETTER, please email me (acercompu@yahoo.com) briefly about your profile like educations and experiences (leave the name blank) so that I can make myself a better candidate next time.
Thanks in advance to all sending me the email. Good luck and congrats to everyone taking the test.
oh no! Sorry for a second post, but I just checked the website VM posted above and I realize that I’ve been convoked but for the wrong city 15 time zones away, and the page says test centers can’t be changed after Oct 30! The still never wrote me to inform me of my status….. Waiting to call my contact person, but that would suck if I have to miss out b/c they assigned me the wrong city!