UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT AT NATO UNCLASSIFIED

UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT AT NATO UNCLASSIFIED 1

PART 1 INTRODUCTION NATO UNCLASSIFIED 2

FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT n n PERMANENT q Freelance q Seconded VNC (Voluntary National Contribution) TEMPORARY STAFF INTERNS q NATO-funded q Grant-funded NATO UNCLASSIFIED 3

GRADES NATO UNCLASSIFIED 5

GRADES n A - Grades A 7 q. A 6 q. A 5 (A 4/5) q. A 4 (A 3/4) q. A 3 (A 2/3) q. A 2 (A 1/2) q. A 1 n L - Grades n B - Grades n. C - Grades q LI 5/LT 5 q. LI 4/LT 4 q. LI 3/LT 3 q. LI 2/LT 2 q B 6 (B 5/6) q. B 5 (B 4/5) q. B 4 (B 3/4) q. B 3 (B 2/3) q. B 2 q NATO UNCLASSIFIED C 6 q. C 5 q. C 4 q. C 3 (C 2/3) q. C 2 q 6

PACKAGE Salaries n. A 7 10, 441. 28 n. A 6 9, 538. 77 n. A 5 8, 071. 11 n. A 4 6, 969. 13 Allowances NATO UNCLASSIFIED 7

PROFILES NATO UNCLASSIFIED 8

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP n n n Grades A 5 to Unclassified Min. 10 years of relevant professional experience Significant management experience Some subject-matter expertise Good writing/drafting skills Advanced level in one of the official NATO languages (EN/FR) and a beginner’s level of the other – possibility to hire below requirements NATO UNCLASSIFIED 9

MANAGEMENT Sub-families Executive Leadership Line Management and Resource Coordination Roles in this sub-family achieve results through the management of allocated resources, devoting more than 50% of their time and/or effort to planning, allocating, monitoring and measuring the work of others. Resources are managed directly and indirectly (managing managers or project structures). Roles in this sub-family devote more than 50% of their time and/or effort to coordinating, allocating and monitoring the work of others. Resources are managed directly. NATO UNCLASSIFIED 13

COMPETENCIES NATO UNCLASSIFIED 14

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP n Competencie s n. Achievement n. Change Leadership n. Conceptual Thinking n. Developing Others n. Impact and Influence n. Initiative n. Leadership n. Organizational Awareness n. Self-Control NATO UNCLASSIFIED 15

PART 2 NATO UNCLASSIFIED 16

RECRUITMENT n CANDIDATES FROM MEMBER STATES n NO QUOTA SYSTEM n MERIT BASED SELECTION n DESIRED DIVERSITY NATO UNCLASSIFIED 28 NATO 17

MISSION STATEMENT Attract, select and hire the best qualified candidates to ensure proper staffing of the NATO International Staff permanent posts NATO UNCLASSIFIED 18

Average Indicators n n 11000 Applications 700 Tests n 500 Interviews n 100 Posts NATO UNCLASSIFIED 19

WORKFLOW A three-phase process: 1. Advertisement q Describe post reality q Advertise post on relevant recruitment channels 2. Selection q Shortlist candidates q Select candidates (test/interview/AC/group exercise) 3. On boarding q Nomination process q Completion of security and medical file q Offer process NATO UNCLASSIFIED 20

UNDERSTANDING VACANCY NOTICES NATO UNCLASSIFIED 21

ADVERTISEMENT Structure of a vacancy notice: Post information 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Summary of post Qualifications and Experience Main Accountabilities Interrelationships Competencies Contract clause Details on how to apply NATO UNCLASSIFIED 22

VACANCY NOTICE Example NATO UNCLASSIFIED 23

VACANCY NOTICE Example NATO UNCLASSIFIED 24

SELECTION TOOLS Standard process n Written test (online/onsite) n Language test (up to and including A. 7) n Interview panel Targeted tools: n Presentation/briefing n Assessment Centre (A. 5 and above) n Essay on key challenges (A. 6 and above) NATO UNCLASSIFIED 25

WRITTEN TEST EXAMPLES - 1 n n n What role does arms control play in achieving NATO’s strategic objectives? Develop a checklist for a speech by the ASG on how the Alliance contributes to international efforts to eradicate illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons? Attached is an article from the Financial Times entitled “Europe better prepared to weather gas supply storm”. Please prepare a summary of this article. NATO UNCLASSIFIED 26

WRITTEN TEST EXAMPLES - 2 n n You are asked to give a speech to a public audience explaining how NATO is resources and how those resources are employed. Please provide an outline of your remarks, of not more than 2 pages. Imagine that the NATO Secretary General will visit Kabul next week. Provide a “scene setter” explaining to the Secretary General for his information and background the key issues and challenges facing NATO in Afghanistan. NATO UNCLASSIFIED 27

PRESENTATION/ BRIEFING n n n For posts requiring the ability to frequently speak in public and represent NATO in front of public audiences Candidates get 15 minutes to prepare and have to brief the panel before the interview starts Example: Brief a group of European and US journalists on NATO’s enlargement policy, including the Membership Action Plan. NATO UNCLASSIFIED 28

INTERVIEWS n n PANEL COMPOSITION VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION PANEL EXPECTATIONS QUESTIONS q INTRODUCTORY q COMPETENCY BASED q TECHNICAL/ JOB - RELATED NATO UNCLASSIFIED 29

ASSESSMENT CENTRES n One-day session with all candidates for a post Focused primarily on behaviour and management competencies Variety of exercises (cognitive testing, group exercise, briefing, case study, etc. ) Conducted by an external provider (HUDSON) n No specific preparation n NATO UNCLASSIFIED 30

ROLE OF THE DELEGATION NATO UNCLASSIFIED 31

1 - ADVERTISEMENT Role of the delegation: n n n Advertise widely to the public and to individuals or offices Help potential candidates assess themselves against the post requirements Screen candidates before recommending them NATO UNCLASSIFIED 32

2 - SELECTION Role of the delegation: n n Support candidates in their preparation Make it clear if a candidate has national support NATO UNCLASSIFIED 33

PREPARING YOURSELF NATO UNCLASSIFIED 34

THE RIGHT MINDSET n n n Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes Prepare, prepare Sell yourself but be yourself! NATO UNCLASSIFIED 35

APPLICATION FORM Positive elements n Complete n Relevant history n Meets all requirements n Key questions n Relevant motivation letter NATO UNCLASSIFIED 36

APPLICATION FORM Negative elements n Wrong or multiple vacancy numbers n Incomplete fields q Not answering questions n “Please see CV” Unknown acronyms n Too much (unrelated) content n References n Unprofessional writing: e. g. ; -) NATO UNCLASSIFIED 37

TIPS FOR INTERVIEWS n n n Be rested Prepare/rehearse your introduction Prepare examples Connect your profile with to the post requirements Clarify your motivation Close well NATO UNCLASSIFIED 38

COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES n n n Poor preparation Poor time management Candidate does not “read” the panel Candidate assumes we know Candidate is not concrete enough Poor closure NATO UNCLASSIFIED 39

PREPARATIONS n n n NATO WEBSITE USE YOUR DELEGATION USE YOUR NETWORK STUDY THE VACANCY NOTICE KNOW YOURSELF NATO UNCLASSIFIED 40

EXERCISE ON COMPETENCIES n n PICK 2 COMPETENCIES AND ELABORATE ON 1 -2 EXAMPLES FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT DEMONSTRATE YOU POSSESS THE COMPETENCY USE THE STAR METHOD (Situation-Task-Action -Result) NATO UNCLASSIFIED 41

TRAINING TOPICS n n n LANGUAGES: FRENCH/ENGLISH COMPETENCY-BASED INTERVIEWS WRITING/DRAFTING SKILLS PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS MANAGEMENT TRAINING NATO UNCLASSIFIED 42

NATO UNCLASSIFIED 43