The strategy for preparing for a project coordinator interview at UNHCR, particularly without prior experience, revolves around leveraging transferable skills, demonstrating knowledge of UNHCR’s mission, and showcasing proactive learning. Start by identifying skills from your past experiences that align with project coordination, such as leadership and teamwork. For instance, managing a community event can exemplify your coordination abilities. Practice articulating how your background relates to the role, using examples to highlight your problem-solving skills.
Next, immerse yourself in UNHCR’s mission by studying their values and recent projects. Reading case studies will help you understand their impact and challenges. This knowledge, combined with a clear articulation of your passion for their work, will demonstrate your alignment with their goals and values.
Lastly, emphasize your commitment to learning by compiling a reading list on project coordination and engaging in relevant online courses. Share practical applications of your theoretical knowledge and any certifications obtained. This approach showcases your proactive learning efforts, reinforcing your readiness for the role.
The strategies
⛳️ Strategy 1: Leverage transferable skills
- Identify skills from past experiences that are relevant to project coordination
- Prepare examples that showcase leadership, teamwork, and communication abilities
- Understand the key responsibilities of a UNHCR project coordinator and match your skills accordingly
- Practice explaining the relevance of your background to the role
- Research common project management methodologies and relate them to your experiences
- Highlight problem-solving skills with tangible examples
- Create a list of soft skills such as adaptability and cultural awareness to discuss
- Prepare a narrative on how your diverse experience is an asset
- Emphasise continuous learning and development as your strength
- Role-play answering questions using the STAR method to structure your responses
⛳️ Strategy 2: Demonstrate knowledge and passion for the UNHCR mission
- Familiarise yourself with UNHCR's mission, values, and recent projects
- Read case studies or reports by UNHCR to understand their work areas
- Prepare to articulate why you are passionate about UNHCR's mission
- Learn about the key challenges faced by UNHCR globally
- Identify how the role of project coordinator supports the overall mission
- Prepare to discuss how your personal values align with UNHCR's values
- Research the impact of UNHCR's projects on communities
- Understand the types of projects UNHCR coordinates and prepare questions
- Practice answering how you plan to contribute to UNHCR's goals
- Join or participate in UNHCR's virtual events or webinars to gain insights
⛳️ Strategy 3: Build and present evidence of proactive learning
- Compile a reading list of books and articles on project coordination
- Set a goal to read key literature on project management methodologies before the interview
- Enrol in online courses or workshops relevant to project coordination
- Prepare a portfolio with notes and ideas from your readings and courses
- Create a summary of what you've learned and how it applies to the role
- Discuss how you've been implementing theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios
- Highlight any certifications or achievements in learning new skills
- Prepare to discuss ongoing professional development activities
- Stay updated on the latest project management trends and tools
- Join project management forums or groups to network and learn
Bringing accountability to your strategy
It's one thing to have a plan, it's another to stick to it. We hope that the examples above will help you get started with your own strategy, but we also know that it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day effort.
That's why we built Tability: to help you track your progress, keep your team aligned, and make sure you're always moving in the right direction.
Give it a try and see how it can help you bring accountability to your strategy.
