UNDP Communications Manager Interview Questions
& Process

There were 3 steps in the interview process, but I didn't make it past the first round. In that first round, they asked for a real-life example and how I dealt with it. Since I don't have much experience, I didn't know what to do next.

The job ad states that candidates with advanced university degrees (Master's or equivalent) in a relevant field don't need professional experience. However, competency-based interviews typically ask for examples like, 'Tell me about a time you led a team to solve a complex problem.' If a candidate has never formally worked, they won't have a practical example, and academic experience alone doesn't develop many skills and competencies. Many universities or research centers don't promote or require experiences related to team leadership, crisis management, negotiations, or inter-institutional work. Also, I don't think it's necessary for the skills and competencies of someone who has worked for years in the formal job market to necessarily align with the project scope. This excludes the possibility of evaluating potential, learning ability, and adaptation to new contexts. Anyway, I found the experience quite stressful and unnecessary for these and other reasons.

I heard back about 3 weeks after the application deadline and the interview was scheduled for a couple of days later. It was a 45-minute Skype call, without video, with three interviewers: one from the Country Office, one from the Regional Office, and one from Head Quarters. They used a competence-based approach, asking for specific examples from my past work experience.