20 UN Women Interview Questions and Answers

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.

If you’re hoping to land a job at UN Women, you can expect the interview process to be pretty competitive. To give yourself the best chance of success, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions.

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of sample UN Women interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

UN Women Interview Process

The interview process at UN Women can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require a written test, followed by an interview. The interview may be conducted in person or over Skype, and will usually be with a panel of 4-5 members. The questions asked will be mostly competency based, so it is important to prepare examples in advance. The whole process from application to offer can take up to 3 months.

1. Why do you want to work with UN Women?

This question can help the interviewer determine your passion for this role. Your answer should include a few reasons why you want to work with UN Women and what makes it unique from other organizations.

Example: “I have always been passionate about gender equality, so when I saw that there was an opportunity to work with UN Women, I knew I had to apply. I think working here would be a great way to make a difference in the world by helping women achieve their full potential. I also love how diverse this organization is, which gives me hope that we will see more diversity in the future.”

2. What is your experience in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the organization and its mission. Your answer should include a brief overview of your experience, including any relevant education or training you have completed.

Example: “I’ve been working in the field of gender equality for five years now. I started out as a volunteer at my local women’s shelter where I helped with fundraising events and worked on their social media accounts. After that, I was hired by a non-profit organization to help them create a more inclusive workplace culture. There, I developed a program to educate employees about unconscious bias and how it affects hiring practices.”

3. Do you have any specific knowledge about a certain country that would be relevant for this position?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of international affairs and how you can apply it to this role. Use examples from your experience that show you have an in-depth understanding of global issues, as well as how you would use that information to help UN Women achieve its goals.

Example: “I studied abroad in France during my undergraduate degree, so I am familiar with the culture there. In my current position, I’ve used my French language skills to translate documents into French when needed. This has helped me understand the nuances of different cultures and how they affect women’s rights.”

4. How will your skills help you succeed in this role?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer how your skills and abilities align with the job description. Use this time to highlight any specific skills you have that are relevant to the role, such as communication, problem-solving or leadership skills.

Example: “I am a strong communicator who can work well in a team setting. I also have experience working on projects independently and managing my own time. These skills will help me succeed in this role because they allow me to collaborate with others while still being able to complete tasks efficiently.”

5. Describe a time where you had to use problem solving skills to complete a project, how did you approach it?

This question is a great way to show your ability to use critical thinking skills and apply them in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe how you used problem solving skills to complete a project or task that was important to your previous employer.

Example: “When I worked at my last job, we had an issue with our budgeting process. We were spending too much money on certain projects, while others weren’t getting enough funding. My manager asked me to look into the issue and find ways to improve our budgeting process. After looking through all of our financial records, I found that there was a simple solution to the problem. We just needed to create a more organized system for tracking expenses.”

6. Are you comfortable working independently on projects?

This question can help the interviewer determine how independent you are and whether you would be able to work independently on projects at UN Women. Use your answer to highlight your ability to complete tasks without much supervision, as well as your problem-solving skills.

Example: “I am comfortable working independently on projects because I have experience doing so in my current role. At my previous job, I was responsible for creating a marketing plan that increased our company’s online presence by 20%. I did this alone, but I also met with my supervisor weekly to discuss my progress and get feedback.”

7. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a decision made by your manager/supervisor, what did you do?

This question can help interviewers learn more about your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you disagreed with a decision but still followed through with the manager’s instructions or recommendations.

Example: “In my last role as an event planner, I was working on a large project that required me to plan several events at once. My supervisor asked me to take on another event planning job for a client who needed our services immediately. I told her I would do my best to accommodate both clients, but I wasn’t sure if I could meet their deadlines. She understood my concerns and helped me find additional staff members to assist me.”

8. What is your experience working with different nationalities?

The United Nations is made up of many different countries, and the interviewer may want to know if you have experience working with people from other cultures. Showcase your ability to work with others by describing a time when you had to collaborate with someone who was different than you.

Example: “In my current role as an assistant manager at a restaurant, I often work with servers and bartenders from all over the world. It’s important that we can communicate effectively so we can provide excellent service to our customers. In my last position as a server, I worked with a bartender from France, and it was sometimes challenging to understand each other. We would write down what we wanted to say on paper or use Google Translate to help us communicate.”

9. Have you ever worked with or been involved in an NGO before?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and experience. If you have, talk about what you did and how it helped you develop skills that are beneficial in this role. If you haven’t worked with an NGO before, you can talk about any volunteer work or community involvement you’ve had.

Example: “I was involved in my college’s women’s rights club where I learned about gender equality issues. We would hold events on campus to raise awareness of these issues and encourage people to get involved. It was through this organization that I became interested in working at UN Women.”

10. What are some of the most important things to keep in mind when writing press releases?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your writing skills and how well you can communicate with the media. Your answer should include a few tips for writing effective press releases, such as using active voice, avoiding jargon and including important facts in the first paragraph.

Example: “I find that it’s best to write press releases in an engaging way so they’re easy to read. I also try to avoid jargon or acronyms when possible because not everyone will understand them. Another thing I do is make sure all of my facts are accurate before sending out a release. If there’s ever any doubt about something I’ve written, I’ll hold off on sending it until I have more information.”

11. What are some ways that you can improve communication within a team?

Teamwork is an important skill to have when working for the United Nations. The organization relies on its employees to work together and communicate effectively in order to achieve their goals. A hiring manager may ask this question to see if you can apply your communication skills to a team setting. In your answer, explain how you would encourage collaboration among your colleagues. Share some strategies that you use to improve teamwork and collaboration.

Example: “I believe that effective communication is one of the most important aspects of teamwork. I always make sure to listen carefully to my teammates so that I understand what they are saying. This helps me avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications. I also try to be as clear as possible with my own communication style. When I am speaking with others, I try to use active listening techniques like paraphrasing and asking questions to ensure that everyone understands.”

12. If hired, how would you promote gender equality through social media channels?

Social media is a powerful tool for spreading awareness about important issues. Employers want to know that you understand the power of social media and how it can be used to promote gender equality. In your answer, explain how you would use social media to spread information about UN Women’s initiatives and campaigns.

Example: “I have been active on social media for many years now, so I am very familiar with the best ways to share content online. I would use my personal accounts to share UN Women news and updates as well as relevant articles and videos from other sources. I also think it’s important to engage in discussions with others who are interested in these topics. By doing this, we can learn more about each other’s experiences and opinions.”

13. In your opinion, what is one of the biggest challenges facing women today?

This question can help interviewers understand your knowledge of the issues facing women today. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific challenge and how you would work to overcome it.

Example: “One of the biggest challenges I see for women is gender-based violence. In my last role as an advocate for victims of domestic abuse, I saw firsthand how many women are affected by this issue. My goal was always to ensure that these women had access to resources they needed to get out of their situations safely. If hired, I would like to continue working toward ending gender-based violence.”

14. As a communications specialist, how would you create a strategy for promoting awareness about gender issues?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to create and implement strategies that promote awareness about important issues. Use examples from past experience to highlight your creativity, problem-solving skills and communication abilities.

Example: “I would first conduct research on the target audience and develop an effective strategy for reaching them. In my last role, I worked with a nonprofit organization that was trying to raise awareness about gender equality among young people. We created a social media campaign where we used popular hashtags to reach our target audience. The campaign was very successful because it allowed us to engage with thousands of young people who were interested in learning more about gender equality.”

15. What are some ways that we could increase participation from men in our programs?

This question can give you the opportunity to show your knowledge of how to engage men in gender equality initiatives. You may also be asked about ways that we could increase participation from women, so it’s important to have a few ideas for each group.

Example: “I think one way we could encourage more men to participate is by making our programs more inclusive. For example, if we had male-only spaces where they could discuss their feelings and experiences without fear of judgment or ridicule, I think many would feel comfortable participating. Another idea is to create events that are fun and engaging rather than purely educational. This might make them more appealing to men who don’t typically enjoy these types of events.”

16. Can you tell us about a time when you were faced with a difficult situation and how you handled it?

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you faced a challenge at work or in your personal life and how you overcame that challenge.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager for a retail store, we were having some issues with employee turnover. We had several employees leave within the first few months of employment, which made it difficult to keep up with customer demand. I met with my team to discuss what we could do to help retain our employees. After discussing their concerns, I realized that many of them felt they weren’t being properly trained on their jobs. So, I created training manuals for each position and scheduled weekly meetings where employees could ask questions about their job duties.”

17. What is your greatest weakness?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their team. They want to know that you are honest, humble and willing to improve yourself. When answering this question, try to think of a weakness that is not too serious or negative. Try to find something that you have already improved upon or plan to work on improving.

Example: “I am very passionate about my work, which can sometimes lead me to overwork myself. I’ve learned to set better boundaries for myself so that I don’t burn out. I also make sure to take breaks throughout the day to give myself time to recharge.”

18. How would you handle conflict between two employees?

This question can help interviewers assess your conflict resolution skills. Use examples from past experiences to show how you would handle the situation and encourage collaboration between employees.

Example: “In my last role, two of my coworkers had a disagreement about an important project. I met with both employees separately to understand their perspectives on the issue. After hearing both sides, I helped them come up with a compromise that satisfied both parties. This allowed everyone to move forward and focus on the rest of the project.”

19. Have you ever managed a team of people? What was your leadership style?

This question can help the interviewer understand your leadership style and how you managed a team of people. Use examples from previous work experiences to explain what type of leader you are, including any specific strategies or techniques that helped you lead effectively.

Example: “I have led teams in my past positions, where I was responsible for managing a group of employees who worked on different projects. My leadership style is one of collaboration, as I believe it’s important to involve everyone in the decision-making process. This helps me get input from all members of the team so we can make decisions together. It also allows us to support each other when making tough decisions.”

20. Who is your favorite female leader? Why?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of women in leadership positions. You can name any woman who has inspired you, and explain why she was influential.

Example: “My favorite female leader is Michelle Obama. She’s an incredible role model for young girls everywhere. I admire her intelligence, grace and compassion. Her ability to be both strong and compassionate makes me think that if she can do it, so can I. I also love how she uses fashion as a form of expression and activism. It’s inspiring to see someone use their platform to make the world a better place.”