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.
Hi everybody,
glad I found some people in the same situation. I had the status “052 short list” as well. That was about beginning of September. But pretty much right after the deadline passed it disappeared. It hasn’t reoccured yet. Wonder what it means. Looked into the statistics. They are not exactly encouraging.
Anyone knows when we get the definite notifications for the written exam?
Have a good weekend
kh
DC, does your status reads as “short-listed” or “052 short list”? Mine just shows as “052 short list” and I was wondering if people here are referring to the same thing or have different status showing up on their app page.
I am also shortlisted! I applied to admin. Hope this is a positive thing..!
KG,
You can find the notion ‘shortlisted’ on the page with your application.
I’m also human rights and it currently reads ‘short list.’ Guess we’ll find out for certain soon.
KG, you won’t get a notification that your status has changed. You just have to log in into your profile and check the status column.
I am also “short-listed” for Legal Affairs in the US. And no, you can’t study international law in a couple of months but that is exactly what I’m going to do! 🙂
Hi Pras, nice to know that you are also from admin field. Any clue on books and reading materials?
Is anyone able to suggest anything that will provide me more info on the written exam, the interview, the whole process, etc. Any study or similar guides, other helpful websites, more detailed explanations of the process, etc. The only info I’ve been able to find is on this website, or the NCRE site, which doesn’t contain much. Besides the small info pamphlet and one or two sample questions on the ncre site, I would think there has to be something more out there than that. Even a discussion group or something. The yahoo forum suggested above is only open to people who have already taken and passed the exam. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!
Hi there! I’m also “short-listed” for the Legal Affairs field in Spain. So I guess it’s a matter of the number of applicants… Anyway, you CAN’T possibly study International Law in one month and a half so I’ve started in July-August…
Good luck and cheers to everybody!!
I registered for the Legal NCRE and did get a confirmation email but have not heard anything else from them. Where is everyone finding the information that they are shortlisted? thanks!
Well, Grass, I wouldn’t be surprised if 052 was an internal code but that document doesn’t seem to prove it or explain why we see “short list” next to our names.
But thanks anyway! Hopefully the wait won’t be too long.
I am also seeking suggestions on study materials and types of questions for admin.
MR:
Blank status does not mean failed app. If u r eligible, soon it will display “shortist”. App num is not given in the confirmation email. Rather it is sent later if u r convoked for the test. You may want to go through past posts in this entire forum to get more idea.
About “052”, hope it helps!
I guess it is just an internal code:
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/glossary.htm
I have submitted application for admin. Can some one share admin questions of past which could be guidelines for us to study.
R
After a long patience, I am also shortlisted. The status says 052 shortlist. I duno what it means but I shd start preparing. Anyone for admin??
Hello everybody, specially Lynnold for his helpful initiative.
I applied for the UN NCRE 2010 (the 17th Sept.), Administration field, and did not get any application number in the confirmation email. My status is blank.
Two short and frequently asked questions:
– Do you consider a blank status as a “failed” application?
– Could anybody, having suceed the Adm. exam, help us by recomending bibliography or materials?
Many thanks beforehand.
Good luck.
LB, I know what you mean! It’s a bit hard dealing with the suspense. I have some UN contacts who have told me to go ahead and start preparing the exam, as Lynold said they will most likely ask us to sit the exam as they prefer to have more qualified candidates to pick from. Unless, say 40 or more qualified candidates applied last minute after you, which all things considered is possible. I’m also about to interview for MSF, I have to say their recruitment process is much less opaque.
Thanks DC! I mean, I know what short listed means but I’m not sure if that’s what it means in this context. Let’s hope!
I’m just skeptical because so many people on this board are shortlisted. Well, hopefully they tell us soon and end the suspense.
In hiring procedures, a short list means basically a list of applicants who are qualified for the job. The successful applicant is selected from this list.
To apply that to this case, being shortlist means you have the minimum requirements to take the exam. I imagine that, assuming the number of those shortlisted doesn’t exceed 40 applicants from one country for one particular field, that you would be convoked to take the written exam.
That is my two cents and positive spin on how being shortlisted applies in this process. 🙂
Does anyone know when we find out if we have been selected? Or what “short list” means?