United NationsCore Competency

Creativity — UN competency

Actively seeking to improve programmes or services and offering new and different options to solve problems.

What this competency means

Creativity in the UN framework is practical rather than artistic: it is about questioning established ways of doing things, taking an interest in new ideas, and being willing to take calculated risks on untested approaches where the current approach is not working.

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Common interview question patterns

Tell us about an improvement you introduced in your work.
Describe a time you solved a problem in an unconventional way.
Give an example of when you persuaded others to try a new approach.

These are illustrative, general questions. Questions asked in an actual interview will depend on the nature and level of the position. PanelPrep · IO can generate questions tailored to the specific vacancy you are applying for, so you can practise against the competencies that matter for your interview.

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Based on the UN Competency Framework

Behavioural indicators

Actively seeks to improve programmes or services
Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs
Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas
Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks 'outside the box'
Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches

Our interpretation for interview preparation

Behaviours that weaken an answer

Defends the existing process because it is the existing process
Proposes ideas without assessing feasibility or risk
Abandons an idea at the first objection

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What a strong example might demonstrate

Candidates preparing for competency-based interviews can use this competency to think about a process or product they changed rather than simply operated. A strong behavioural example would demonstrate the limitation identified, the alternative proposed, how resistance was handled, and the measurable improvement.

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How to prepare for questions on this competency

Creativity examples usually involve an improvement you initiated yourself, and the work of persuading others to accept it.

STAR preparation

Situation — set the context in two sentences: where, when, who was involved.
Task — state precisely what you were responsible for, not what the team was responsible for.
Action — spend most of the answer here, in the first person, showing the indicators above in practice.
Result — quantify the outcome and add what you learned or changed afterwards.

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Common mistakes

Presenting someone else's initiative as your own
No evidence that the new approach worked
Ignoring the risk assessment behind the idea

Real interview questions and model answers

Questions panels use to assess Creativity, with what they look for and a worked STAR example.

Intermediate · P3

“Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly to a major change in your working environment.”

Why panels ask it

WHO's competency model includes "Moving forward in a changing environment"; emergency response roles test this heavily.

How to answer it

Pick a change you did not control. Show what you re-planned, how you brought others with you, and the result.

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Source and attribution

The competency name, category and behavioural concepts on this page are based on United Nations, "UN Competency Development – A Practical Guide". Summaries, interview guidance, question patterns and preparation advice are original PanelPrep · IO content.

Framework version: UN Competency Development – A Practical Guide. Source date: 2010-01-01. Last verified: 2026-08-09.

PanelPrep · IO is an independent interview-preparation service. It is not an official website of UN and is not endorsed by or affiliated with UN.