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United NationsCore Value

Professionalism — UN competency

Showing pride in one's work, technical mastery of the subject matter, and the persistence and composure needed to deliver under pressure.

What this competency means

Professionalism combines substantive competence with the way that competence is applied: conscientiousness, efficiency, calm under pressure, and responsiveness to the needs of the Organization rather than personal preference. It is the competency most frequently listed in UN vacancy announcements.

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Common interview question patterns

  • Describe the most technically demanding piece of work you have delivered.
  • Tell us about a time you had to maintain quality under a very tight deadline.
  • Give an example of when you persisted with a difficult problem.

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

  • Shows pride in work and in achievements, and demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter
  • Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
  • Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns
  • Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
  • Remains calm in stressful situations
  • Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work

Our interpretation for interview preparation

Behaviours that weaken an answer

  • Delivers work that is late, incomplete or below the required standard
  • Loses composure or blames others when under pressure
  • Relies on assertion rather than analysis or evidence

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What a strong example might demonstrate

Candidates preparing for competency-based interviews can use this competency to think about a piece of work that required real subject-matter depth and was delivered despite obstacles. A strong behavioural example would demonstrate the technical judgement applied, how quality was safeguarded, and how composure was maintained.

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How to prepare for questions on this competency

Professionalism is normally assessed through examples of complex technical work delivered under deadline, pressure or scrutiny.

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

  • Describing routine tasks instead of demanding work
  • Claiming expertise without evidence of analysis or results
  • Using 'we' throughout so the panel cannot see your contribution

Real interview questions and model answers

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

Intermediate · P2

“Give an example of how you delivered results for children or beneficiaries under significant resource constraints.”

Why panels ask it

UNICEF assesses "Drives to achieve results" alongside its core values of care and accountability.

How to answer it

Quantify the constraint and the result. Show the trade-offs you made and how you protected quality for beneficiaries.

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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.