UN’s YPP Program: An Interview with its newest recruit, Alexandra Hoenscheid
Alexandra Hoenscheid after over a year of process including exam, application and interview cleared UN’s YPP program. She will soon be serving in her dream role at one of the UN locations. In this interview, she talks at length about her motivation, excitement, and practical tips to become a YPP recruit.
1) What is the UN YPP program?
Thank you very much Mihir for this opportunity! Please note that the views expressed here are entirely my own and do not represent or reflect the views of the United Nations or YPP.
The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative for young professionals from underrepresented countries to begin their career with the UN! To be eligible, you need to be age 32 or younger, come from a country underrepresented in the UN, and hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. The list of eligible countries and the exam areas are updated every year. To be selected, you must pass a four-part exam process in one of their specialized exam areas, which can take up to 2 years! However, if you do manage to pass and receive a job offer, you’re able to receive unique benefits such as a continuing contract with the UN.
2) When did you first hear about it and were you attracted to it the first time you heard about it?
I actually first heard about this program when I was first graduating college back in 2016! I was very excited about the opportunity, but ended up choosing to begin a career in DC first instead. Although you’re eligible to apply just out of college, I recommend building up a few years of relevant experience first. During these years, the UN YPP program had always been a dream in the back of my mind, and I’m so happy it was able to work out.
3) What does excite you about this program?
This program had been a dream for many reasons! First, I had always wanted to work for the UN itself. The idea of collaborative diplomacy, where rather than representing the interests of one nation, I’m collaborating openly on solutions with all member nations, always drew me in. I have also increasingly gravitated towards building international understanding through communications in particular.
Second, this specific program presented a very unique opportunity. It’s essentially the only program that can allow you to begin a lasting career with the UN without a Master’s degree. Most importantly, it is also the only program that will provide you with a continuing contract as a young professional, as long as you satisfactorily complete your first 2-year contract. Even if you otherwise manage to obtain a UN job externally, typically these are temporary positions and it’s normally difficult to stay in the UN system.
4) Getting into YPP is very competitive, why is it so competitive?
Since the process of getting a UN job is very competitive in the first place, this naturally makes the UN YPP process incredibly competitive as well. Especially for those with less than 5 years of work experience, this program is the main way to get into the UN system. In previous years, I read that there were over 40,000 applications received, but roughly only 100 are selected! If someone is not selected, therefore I advise not to get disheartened or believe you’re not a compelling candidate. Your nationality may also affect your chances, as only 40 candidates are selected to take the exam from each nationality. If you have dual citizenship, perhaps consider which nationality sends in fewer applications! Despite the highly competitive nature, I still believe the program is well worth trying.
5) Why does UN need a YPP program?
The UN launched the YPP to improve the geographic representation of staff. This program is open only to candidates from underrepresented countries, which ultimately will help the UN to achieve more balanced representation and perspectives. It’s also a way to bring talented young perspectives into the system in the programmatic areas that the UN needs most.
6) Tell us your experience of going through different stages of application.
I applied back in October 2020 and did not receive my decision until August 2022, so bear in mind it’s a long process! The first stage was my initial application in the Global Communications area. My impression based on friends’ experiences is that it’s actually hardest to pass this stage and I recommend tailoring your application very specifically to the job description. I recommend spelling out exactly how you’re qualified for each of the duties listed and how you exemplify each of the core values they list.
The next stage is a multiple choice exam and I had to do a lot of studying in my exam area! For me this took place online in July 2021. The UN provides you with practice questions and a reading list, which I supplemented with additional readings. For example, part of my Global Communications exam area included library management and cataloging, with which I had no previous experience. I therefore spent part of the summer reading two introductory cataloging textbooks and even chatting with a librarian friend. This exam stage came with some unique challenges for me, including my being in the midst of the Middlebury German immersion program and having to refresh my English and even a full power outage in the middle of my exam, where I had to take it by flashlight! Therefore I advise being prepared for anything, including a flashlight, a backup mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, and battery packs.
The next stage was the online written exam, which for me was a little less eventful but involved more intensive prep. This took place in January 2022. In addition to the UN reading list and new practice questions, I again took on additional readings, especially in my weakest areas. I even went back through examples of my own communications work. This portion of the exam was free response-based with time limits, so I also took time to practice answering questions in this format. You’re given a practice exam portal and it was very important for me to familiarize myself with answering questions within the portal and learn all the available tools.
The final stage was the online interview, which took place in July 2022! This was a competency-based interview, meaning you’ll be asked to tell stories of times you’ve exemplified the values listed in your exam area’s job description. While I found this preparation to be far easier, it’s a very different kind of prep – you’re essentially studying your own life. I found it helpful to write out sample stories, read them out loud, and then practice telling them naturally. I also recommend checking out UN guides on how to format your answer. What I also recommend is getting comfortable speaking into your webcam and even finding a friend who you can calmly and informally practice sample questions with over video. By having these pleasant calls (shout-out to my amazing friend Maggie, who was indispensable!), I became very comfortable answering interview questions and built a positive association, which helped me to feel good and do well in the interview. Very surprisingly, it only took me a few weeks after the interview to hear that I had been selected!
7) What are the different areas of the YPP program and why did you choose Global Communications?
The areas actually rotate every year. Typically there are three areas, but this year for example the only two areas are Legal Affairs and Library Management. When I applied in 2020, the three areas were Management and Administration, Political Affairs and Human Rights, and Global Communications. If you don’t see an area that you have experience in, I recommend potentially looking at previous years’ areas and waiting for a more fitting one to open up.
In my case I really lucked out! The same year I looked into the program again was the only recent year they’ve had the Global Communications exam area. Everything felt perfectly aligned, as if my entire international exchange and communications career to-date had led up to this opportunity.
8) How does knowledge of different foreign languages help?
Knowledge of foreign languages can help but it really depends on the language. You’re able to take the exam in either English or French. Knowledge of one is a must and I think it reflects really well to have knowledge of the other. I had previous A1 knowledge of French and refreshed it a bit, and even this introductory knowledge may have helped. Knowledge of the other UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) can also help. As for knowledge of other languages, such as my fluency in German, I’m honestly not sure!
9) What is your current status with the YPP program and what will happen next?
By passing the exam, I’ve now ended up on the UN YPP roster. Essentially, at any point I can be selected from this list for an initial 2-year contract at any of the UN duty stations – most likely at one of the UN headquarters. The selection can involve an “informal discussion” with a hiring manager, or simply be an email one morning telling you where you’ve been assigned. You can be on the roster for up to 3 years, and although it’s not guaranteed you’ll be assigned a position in that time, it’s highly likely. Having a lot of flexibility is key for this program – you’re required to accept your placement anywhere in the world and also don’t know when exactly that will be! For me however, I also find that mystery exciting.
10) Where do you see yourself after you complete the YPP program?
After my initial 2-year contract, the amazing benefit of the YPP is that you receive a continuing contract, and I’d look forward to exploring more positions in the UN system! After your first contract, you’re given more choice in where you go and the YPP also gives you the opportunity to do a Managed Reassignment Programme. Basically, they’ll assist you in moving to a new department or duty station to gather more diverse experience. The wonderful thing about the UN is that there are so many departments and areas to work in all over the world. I’d plan to stay in Global Communications for some time and, especially given my Afford Your Travel startup that expands access to travel to underprivileged groups, I’d also love to work for the UN’s World Tourism Organization to promote the value of travel and exchange!
11) What is your background/training that helped you succeed?
I was very fortunate to have built up roughly 5 years of experience in my Global Communications exam area. In my case, I had built up experience working in German-American research exchange and citizen diplomacy, with an increased emphasis on international communications. For example, I planned and implemented a German-American communications campaign from the ground up as a Germany Grant Consultant for Sister Cities International, and I drew on this experience frequently. My Afford Your Travel startup also gave me experience managing communications, designing a business model, and pivoting my initiatives when needed. In addition to my communications skills, I found my experience in problem-solving, teamwork, and launching and evaluating initiatives to be most helpful.
Finally, I also found it helpful to familiarize myself and gain experience with the UN system. By attending the 2018 UNCTAD Youth Forum in Geneva and later co-organizing a COVID-19 webinar series in coordination with this alumni network and UNCTAD Youth, I gained an inside knowledge of UN workings. This also gave me invaluable experience in working with team members from all over the world and considering new cultural viewpoints in planning global solutions. Especially in the interview stage, I definitely believe that demonstrating my knowledge of UN procedures and considerations helped my application.
12) What advice would you give to someone considering the YPP program?
I think my success ultimately boiled down to gaining relevant experience, very hard work, and building confidence. I recommend working for a few years before applying, while also tracking which exam areas the YPP has each year. Once they launch a relevant area, you’ll be prepared to apply! I also recommend getting involved with the UN system, even as a volunteer. For example, UNCTAD has launched Youth Action Hubs across the world that can be a great place to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals and how to support them locally!
Second, I honestly put everything I had into this process. I blocked off a lot of time to study, spending at least a month studying for each stage of the exam. I made sure to take extra opportunities to learn more about my exam area, such as doing additional readings, speaking with friends in the field, and watching YouTube tutorials. I also made sure to take lots of organized notes to study, with over 40 pages in the end! Since that ended up quite lengthy, I also made a couple shorter “guides” to glance over closer to the exam. In addition to gaining more knowledge of your weakest areas, I still recommend practicing your strongest areas too, especially for the written exam. If you happen to know anyone who’s also applying, I also recommend finding people to study with! Even just for the emotional support through this extended process, it’s easier to find a group than to go it alone. Again I also highly recommend practicing with a friend for the interview stage, as for me it really made a difference!
For me confidence was also key! I found that both building my confidence helped me to do well in the exam and also that the act of studying itself helped me to build confidence in my field. In knowing that you’re competing with so many highly qualified candidates, you may begin to feel some imposter syndrome. Sometimes it can actually be helpful to look through and study examples of your own previous work. For example, in preparing for the written exam, I remember feeling daunted when studying communications plans – only to remind myself that I’d created one before! Going through my own previous projects and the practical experience of implementing them for me was sometimes more helpful than just reading through textbook definitions.
Finally, I also want to say not to get discouraged – it can be nerve-wracking to put so much effort into a process where it’s far from guaranteed you’ll succeed. However, I had to remind myself to just do my best and to enjoy the process for what it is. Also keep in mind that even if you don’t succeed at first, not only will you be better prepared to take the exam in a future year, but the amount of knowledge and confidence you gained while studying will also help you in your career. And who knows, you may just make it! In the end, I really believe the opportunity is worth the risk.
