UNHCR Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 335 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
30 roles · 335 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at UNHCR.
UNHCR
Intern
Intern Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call
Interview formats
Behavioral
The interview is competence based. It lasts about 30 minutes. The important thing is to explain why you want to work there and then there will be questions to test your skills (for example client orientation: has it ever happened that you could not completely satisfy a client's request? How did you behave?)
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Why do you want to work here?
- Who do you think are our clients, with whom do we interact?
- Has it ever happened that you could not completely satisfy a client's request? How did you behave?
UNHCR
HR Associate
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Group Presentation
It was a virtual panel interview with 4 people, including HR, the hiring department, and people from other departments. They asked me competency-based questions about leadership, conflict resolution, working culture, communication, flexibility, and problem-solving. The interview was about 30 minutes. I felt good about it, but unfortunately didn't get the job.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Describe the process of advertising a vacancy, including all steps from start to onboarding.
UNHCR
Protection Officer
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The process was straightforward. After applying through the system, I was invited for an interview. As is typical with the UN, the recruitment process can be quite lengthy. My application was in November, the interview took place in February, and I eventually started in June.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What role did you apply for, and what contributions can you make?
- What are the difficulties faced by refugees in Lebanon?
- Describe a situation where you encountered conflict within a team. What actions did you take, and how did you achieve a resolution?
UNHCR
Protection Associate
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Panel Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
You'll have a panel interview with three people. Two will be from the department you're applying to (likely the head and a supervisor or associate), and one will be from another department. It's competency-based. They might ask one technical question, so brush up on the department's work. Competencies are listed in the job description, and they'll test those. Prepare situational examples for about 3-4 competencies.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Could you share an experience of working as part of a team?
- How do you approach managing competing priorities?
UNHCR Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from UNHCR interview reports.
“Can you explain which groups are classified as Persons with Specific Needs under Italian and EU law?”
Read reports →“How can we increase awareness about refugees in this country, considering the limited YouTube views and Facebook followers?”
Read reports →“What are your thoughts on the Colombian police system and how it relates to migrant policies?”
Read reports →“Is getting contacted for an interview the first indicator that you're being considered for a position when applying for a job?”
Read reports →“In your opinion, what communication tool or strategy could make public opinion more favorable towards refugees?”
Read report →“Given a limited budget, how would you allocate it across 4-5 protection activities for refugees, and why?”
Read report →“Given an asylum seeker calls your assigned work phone requesting help because border agents denied them entry and asylum access, what are the legal phases of your protection intervention?”
Read report →“Besides English, what other languages do you know, and how well do you speak them?”
Read report →“How would you strategize engaging high performers to relocate to less desirable or sought-after new locations?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 335 UNHCR interview reports.