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.
Lynnold,
thank you so much for the quick reply! That’s what I thought too, but as there was mention somewhere of a transitional online recruitment system, I got a wee confused. Cheers!
Hi Amandine, thank you for visiting the blog. If I remember correctly, you submit the P11 form in an email to OHRM-NCE. All the best.
Hi Lynnold,
Your comments on the NCRE are extremely interesting, if not useful. May I wish you all the best with your professional projects.
I’d like to ask a question on this forum. Regarding the application procedure for the written exam, I read it “must be submitted through the website”. Does it refer to the UN Career’s Portal, or rather to the P11 form, attached to an e-mail to OHRM-NCE? I’m sorry my question may sound naive, but a li’l answer would be immensely appreciated 🙂 Thank you.
A.
I think Ana, its a personal decision. True, you might get an offer that is not suitable and you may not have the time to achieve all that you may aspire by starting that late or at P-2 at this point in time. From what I can gather from the UN and from some within, there is an ongoing effort to clear the roster. I’d like to believe that they are indeed doing that but as you rightfully alluded to, it may take time and perhaps not everyone will be satisfied with what the UN has to offer eventually. I suggest you carry on with your current plans and work hard at it, you may eventually gather enough experience and find fulfillment in your present career path or even attain qualification/experience to apply directly for a P-3 position. If the latter is true, keep in close contact with the OHRM, persistence may also get you through.
For some of us, opportunities like this (considering where we are now) is like a fairytale come true, so we are prepared to wait for as long as it takes.
Hi Lynnold,
I sat for the NCRE 2009 in 2009 and I was just recently notified -about two months ago- that I’m on the roster. I was also told in the notification letter that I should expect to be placed within a year. However, after reading this forum, I am left hopeless and very much in the dark once again about the whole process.
It has been mentioned more than a couple of times that being on the roster does not guarantee anybody a job with the UN, and that, furthermore, even if you are contacted and given the opportunity to take a job interview, chances are you will not make it either…
So, my question is the following: Are chances so high that roster candidates might not be contacted at all? Or that they might be left waiting for more than a year? I’m 28 and I cannot afford to waste my time waiting for something that might not happen. I would like to have my eyes wide open so that I can start pursuing new opportunities elsewhere if the UN is just an illusion.
Thanks!
Hi Sharon, Let me put it this way. The NCRE is specifically for positions at the UN secretariat and recently field mission positions under the United Nations Peacekeeping Department, UNPKD. So the UN invites applications for specific occupational groups which meet its needs. And in normal circumstances, these would not necessarily include medicine. However, there is no rule that says someone with the MBBS should not apply so I believe you can apply and see if they will invite you to an exam. Otherwise, I believe the best thing to do is to apply for a similar program with WHO or UNDP who conduct their own similar exams for recruitment. Of course, the process may not be the same as the UN NCRE.
hi Lynnold,
i finished bachelors in medicine.and im planning for ncre but i want to know is my degree acceptable for ncre.
Hi, This is Reza again. I am so glad to tell you that I am convoked for an interview which will be held in 2 weeks in Bangkok. I really can’t wait till then! My major is Admin. I would be thankful if you give me more hints on how to get better prepared for the open-ended questions about the UN and related programs.
Thanks and cheers
R
Hi lynnold
Your blog really helped me a lot in the interview. I am now a successful roster candidate for 2009.
Special thanks for your wonderful initiative.
AP
HiAP,
I am from BD as well. You can contact me at the following
address :
jobs[D0T]joy[AT]gmail[D0T]C0m
see u
Hi AP,
You can email me at trimita AT jobs-ict.com
🙂
Hi TC
Yes I have received the Visa. You can provide me you email address or cell number so that I can communicate with you.
Regards
AP
Hi AP,
I am from Bangladesh I have been convoked to the IT interview in Geneva too, on the 21st 3pm, what about you? Have you sorted out the VISA yet?
Cheers,
TC
Hi Joy
I am also attending interview on the same date on IT from Bangladesh. Are you from Bangladesh?
My interview will take place in Geneva. Where is yours?
Best of luck for the interview.
AP
Joy et al. Thanks for commenting on the blog. I wrote a more detailed version of my IT oral interview exam on this post. http://asimplemind.grafixfarm.com/?p=382
Please read and post questions, comments specific to IT there. All the best to all candidates.
It is October for both admn and Public info.
May God give us lots and lots of patience!
Definitely jealous of those who already know if they convocated or not. For Public Information, two weeks ago they finally announced that the exam results should be expected in October – checked today and it’s gone back to ‘To Be Announced’. They really must loose a lot of good candidates with this inefficient system – right now I’m working for NATO and am doing communications for the Senior Civilian Representative in Kabul. Not saying that other international organisation’s bureaucracies are better, but the inefficienct of this process is quite exagerrated.
By the way, there is an audit paper available on the NCRE that is worth the read – it very clearly explains the pitfalls of the process and where the UN intends to improve it. http://www.unjiu.org/data/reports/2007/en2007_09.pdf
Cheers,
Alex
thanks David;
And good luck for the interview!
Hi,
I have been invited for the ORAL interview for NCRE2009 on 22nd of October. My area is IT. Those guys who have attended the NCRE oral from IT, can you please share your experience regarding the technical questions? how should i prepare for the technical part. Nevertheless, you can give me overall advice for the exam from IT point of view.
Thanks
Joy
Hi Neda, I can’t imagine how nervous you must be! Best wishes to you.
I have heard from other guys from Asia and the Pacific that their regular interview location is Geneva, but, I also read, that if any problem like a visa delay occurs then UN can change your interview location to another city, like NY or Santiago, depends on the proximity and the costs.