20 UNOPS Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re interviewing for a position with UNOPS, it’s especially important to be prepared to answer questions about the company, its work, and your own qualifications.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of sample UNOPS interview questions and answers that you can use to develop your own responses. With these questions and answers in hand, you’ll be ready to impress in your UNOPS interview.

UNOPS Interview Process

The interview process at UNOPS is competency-based, meaning that candidates are asked to describe specific relevant experiences concerning the preferred competencies of the organization. The interviews usually last for 30-40 minutes and have an international panel.

Some reviewers found the interview process to be difficult, especially the competency-based questions which can be difficult to answer spontaneously. However, others found the interviewers to be friendly and professional. Overall, the interview process seems to be efficient and fair.

1. Describe your experience working with the UN or for a humanitarian organization.

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience working in a similar environment. You can use this question as an opportunity to discuss your previous work and how it prepared you for this role.

Example: “I worked at a nonprofit organization where I was responsible for managing our finances, including payroll and budgeting. This experience has given me valuable insight into how organizations like UNOPS manage their resources and helped prepare me for this role.”

2. What is your approach to project management?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and what strategies you use to complete projects on time. Use examples from past experience to describe your process for managing a project, including how you plan ahead, communicate with team members and manage deadlines.

Example: “I believe that effective communication is one of the most important aspects of project management. I always make sure my team knows exactly what their responsibilities are and when they need to be completed by. I also hold regular meetings with my team to discuss any challenges or concerns so we can find solutions together. This helps me ensure everyone understands their role in the project and provides an opportunity to address any issues before they become major problems.”

3. Provide an example of when you had to work on a tight budget, how did you manage it?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to work with a limited budget and how you managed it. Use examples from previous jobs or experiences that show your skills in managing money, time and resources effectively.

Example: “In my last position as an operations manager for a construction company, I had to manage projects on tight budgets. One project we worked on was building a new hospital wing. The client wanted us to complete the project within a certain amount of time and a specific budget. We were able to meet all three requirements by working efficiently and communicating with the client about any issues that arose.”

4. Do you have any experience managing teams in developing countries?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience working in a remote location. If you have no experience, you can talk about how you would handle this situation if it arose.

Example: “I’ve never worked in a developing country, but I am very comfortable with technology and know that communication is key to success. I also believe that my ability to communicate effectively will allow me to work well with team members who are not native English speakers.”

5. Why do you think you would be a good fit at UNOPS?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the organization and how you can contribute. When answering, it’s important to highlight any specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.

Example: “I think I would be a good fit at UNOPS because of my experience working in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders. In my last role, I managed a team of five people who were responsible for managing projects across the globe. I also have extensive project management experience, which includes budgeting, scheduling and reporting.”

6. How do you handle conflict between team members?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflict. Use examples from past experiences where you helped resolve conflict between team members or resolved conflicts within yourself.

Example: “In my last role, I had two coworkers who disagreed on how we should complete our work. One of them wanted to do things one way while the other preferred another method. They started arguing in front of everyone, which made it difficult for others to focus on their own tasks. I asked both of them to meet with me privately so that they could discuss their differences without distracting others. After talking through their disagreements, they found a compromise.”

7. Tell me about a time when a deadline was approaching and the project wasn’t going as planned. What did you do?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to solve the issue and how they helped you meet the deadline.

Example: “In my last role as an operations manager for a construction company, we were working on a project that was behind schedule. I met with the team to discuss what could be done to get back on track. We decided to hire more workers to help us complete the project by the deadline. This decision allowed us to finish the project in time.”

8. Can you tell us about a project that didn’t go well, what went wrong?

This question is a great way to see how you handle failure. It’s important that you show your interviewer that you can learn from mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth.

Example: “I once worked on a project where we were tasked with building a new school in an area of the country that was experiencing civil unrest. The local government had already hired us, so there wasn’t much we could do about it. We did our best to ensure the safety of our team members by hiring security guards and installing alarms and cameras. Unfortunately, one night someone broke into the construction site and stole some tools. I learned from this experience that sometimes you just have to accept things and move forward.”

9. We are looking for someone who can work well in a fast-paced environment. How would you describe your ability to work in a fast-paced environment?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment. You can describe how you have adapted to similar environments in the past, or you can talk about your willingness to learn new processes quickly.

Example: “In my previous role as a project manager, I was responsible for managing multiple projects at once. This required me to be flexible and able to work under pressure. I am used to working with tight deadlines and prioritizing tasks effectively.”

10. How do you feel about traveling for work? Are you comfortable spending weeks away from home?

Travel is a common part of working for the UN. The interviewer wants to know if you’re comfortable with this aspect of the job and how it might affect your performance. If you have any concerns about traveling, be honest about them and discuss what steps you can take to overcome these challenges.

Example: “I’m excited to travel for work because I love experiencing new places. However, I understand that there are times when we need to stay in one place for an extended period of time. In those situations, I am committed to making sure my team has everything they need to complete their tasks.”

11. Give an example of a successful fundraising campaign you worked on?

This question is an opportunity to show your communication and leadership skills. It’s important to highlight the results of your fundraising efforts, such as how much money you raised or how many people you reached with your campaign.

Example: “In my last role, I worked on a team that was tasked with raising $100,000 for our organization. We decided to create a crowdfunding campaign where we could reach more donors. I volunteered to lead the campaign, which involved creating a marketing plan, writing copy for the website and social media channels, developing graphics and videos, setting up email campaigns and other tasks. The campaign was successful, and we raised over $200,000.”

12. How many languages do you speak?

The United Nations is a global organization, and it’s important that you can communicate with your colleagues in other countries. The interviewer may ask this question to make sure you have the language skills necessary for the job. If you speak multiple languages, share which ones. If you only speak one language, explain what steps you would take to learn another language if hired.

Example: “I speak English fluently, but I also know some Spanish from high school. I’m always interested in learning new languages, so I’d be open to taking classes or using an online program to learn more.”

13. Have you ever worked with staff from different cultural backgrounds before?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you might adapt to working in a global environment. You can use your answer to highlight any experience you have with international work environments and discuss how you overcame challenges or adapted to different cultures.

Example: “I’ve worked with staff from different cultural backgrounds before, but I find that it’s important to be open-minded when working with people who are different than me. In my last role, I had a coworker who was from another country. She spoke English well, but sometimes her accent made it difficult for others to understand her. I learned to slow down my speech and speak more clearly so she could understand what I was saying.”

14. How do you deal with change?

Change is a constant in the workplace, and employers want to know how you’ll adapt to their company’s culture. Use examples from your past experience of change management or adapting to new situations.

Example: “In my last position as an operations manager for a construction company, I had to deal with many changes on a daily basis. For example, if we were running behind schedule, I would have to find ways to get our team back on track. If there was a problem with one of our subcontractors, I would need to find a replacement. In these instances, I always tried to remain calm and focused so that I could make the best decisions for the project.”

15. What do you know about UNOPS?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of the organization and how you might fit in. You can use this opportunity to show that you have done some research on the company, its mission and values, and what it does.

Example: “I know UNOPS was founded in 2001 as an operational arm of the United Nations. It’s headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has offices all over the world. The organization works with governments, private companies and NGOs to provide technical assistance and support to developing countries. I also know that UNOPS provides services such as project management, procurement, financial management and human resources.”

16. Here at UNOPS we value our employees’ personal growth. How do you like to grow professionally?

This question is an opportunity to show your interest in the company’s values and how you can contribute to them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill or quality that you would like to develop and explain why you chose it.

Example: “I am always looking for ways to grow professionally. I recently read about the importance of communication skills in business, so I have been taking online courses on public speaking and presentation techniques. I think these skills will help me communicate more clearly with my team members and clients.”

17. How would you compare UNOPS to other organizations you’ve worked for?

This question helps the interviewer understand how you view your current or past employer and whether you would fit in with UNOPS. Use this opportunity to show that you value teamwork, collaboration and innovation.

Example: “I’ve worked for a small construction company where I was responsible for managing projects from start to finish. This experience taught me how to work as part of a team and manage multiple tasks at once. Working for a large corporation like UNOPS will allow me to learn new skills and collaborate with other professionals.”

18. If you were given two job offers, one here and one elsewhere, why should we pick you over the other candidate?

This question is a great way to test your confidence and ability to sell yourself. It’s important to be honest, but also highlight the skills you have that would make you an asset to UNOPS.

Example: “I’m confident in my abilities as a project manager, and I know I can do this job well. However, if I were given two offers for similar positions, I’d choose this one because of the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of people. I thrive on collaboration and learning from others, so I think working here would give me more opportunities to grow.”

19. What type of projects interest you most?

This question helps the interviewer understand your interests and how they align with the job. It also shows them what type of work you’ve done in the past. When answering this question, try to focus on projects that are similar to those UNOPS works on.

Example: “I’m most interested in infrastructure projects because I enjoy working outdoors and seeing a project from start to finish. In my last role, I worked on several different types of projects including building new roads, repairing existing ones and improving public transportation systems.”

20. In one word, how would you describe yourself?

This question is a way for the interviewer to get to know you as a person. They want to see if your personality matches their company culture and values. When answering this question, be honest about yourself while also showing that you are someone who can work well with others.

Example: “I would describe myself as hardworking, dedicated and passionate. I am always looking for ways to improve my skills and help those around me.”