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Are you applying to the UN YPP in 2024? Our Insider Insights Series will help you succeed!
IO Ready the privilege of speaking with Marcio Carvalho - UN YPP in Global Communications 2020 success story.
Going through all steps of the recruitment process, Marcio succeeded in getting onto a YPP roster list, and in our interview, he shares his 4-year journey.
What were the different UN YPP recruitment steps?
How did he prepare for different stages of the UN YPP recrutiment process?
How did he manage to succeed?
Who are you and what is your background?
I come from Brazil, which was a participating country in the 2020 UN YPP, and I have a background in international affairs and public management. I applied for the YPP in 2020, relatively fresh after graduating with my Master’s degree, but I did have a couple of years of experience before pursuing my latest degree. Over the past years, I have gained communications experience on an international level and in international organizations, for example when working as a temporary staff member at the OECD.
Before we move on to speaking about the details of the YPP Programme, I would like to share one piece of advice:
Don’t let the YPP be your only professional objective.
Why were you interested in applying for the UN Young Professionals Programme?
The possibility of jumping into the UN system on a P2 position on an open-ended appointment was a major attraction for me.
My interest in the UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) stemmed from my long-held ambition to join the UN system as an official. I believed that getting into the YPP would provide a stable and lifelong career opportunity within the UN, which is why I pursued it with such dedication.
How long did the recruitment process take?
The whole process, from submitting my application to successfully passing through all recruitment steps, took 2 years - 24 months. There have been around 6 months in between each step of the process, with 3-4 weeks from the panel interview to the final announcement of the results.
What did the recruitment process look like? How many stages did you pass and how did you prepare for them?
There are five phases to the recruitment process. Each of the steps is designed to rigorously evaluate the candidates' suitability for the UN system, ensuring they possess the necessary skills, experience, and behavioral traits required for success in international roles.
Phase 1 Application Submission: I started by submitting my application on Inspira, which included my qualifications, experience, and motivation.
Preparation: I made sure that I created a profile that represented a thorough idea of my qualifications. At this stage, since the application was for many global communications jobs, I presented myself in a more generic way, rather than focusing on a particular job. I followed the exact UN guidance on the formats required for the application.
Phase 2 Multiple choice questions: 2-3 hours of multiple-choice tests, comprising two parts. The first one was more personality-related and included behavioral questions. They tested responses to work-related scenarios, focusing on personality traits, multicultural tolerance, and decision-making abilities. The second part of the exam was dedicated to communications, with some more technical questions asked.
Preparation: On the YPP portal you receive some reading recommendations that could help you in your prep. I thoroughly read the materials provided, about the UN in general and also about my specific field - Global Communications.
Phase 3 Written exams related to Global Communications: There were a couple of questions to answer in writing within a given time frame. At this stage, I could have ‘specialized’ my profile a bit more, because I could choose which questions I would answer out of the 2-3 proposed in each section. In a way, this is a moment where you can align your profile a little bit more with a potential job you would be performing.
Preparation: To be honest, I found that the preparation materials provided on the YPP platform were less helpful than my actual experience on the job - without understanding the day-to-day requirements and activities of a communications professional in an international organization, I definitely would not have been able to answer the questions as precisely. So actually, the biggest part of my preparation for this step was having the right work experience.
Phase 4 Panel Interview: I had a panel interview with 4 people - 3 working in different communications roles and 1 from the YPP Recruitment Team. At this stage, my technical competencies had already been verified throughout the first phases, so the interview focused on analyzing my behavior and situational responses.
Preparation: The key tool in preparing for the panel interview was a STAR(+E) method - describing a Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Evaluation of the situation. I practiced my examples from a “story toolbox” I had prepared ahead of time. I watched some interview preparation videos (the Self Made Millennial YouTube channel is a great resource!) and I applied their advice to my preparation. You should always rehearse and repeat your answers to these questions – practice, practice, practice!
Phase 5 Roster Placement: After successfully going through all the stages of the recruitment process, you receive an email that you are now officially on the YPP Roster list.
What does it mean and what to do next?
Stay tuned to Part 2 of the interview with Marcio through our Newsletter!
*The views expressed here are entirely personal and do not purport to represent any official positions or recommendations from the United Nations YPP Examination Board.
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