My application was for a sponsored JPO role in New York. Pre-Interview -Applied online, at the end of February, just before their stated application deadline. -The JPO HR team in Copenhagen got back to me in April !!! -A whole 2 months after they got my application. -They then asked me to take part in an interview (within the following 10 days). -Interesting, the sudden sense of urgency! -Stressed that interview would be heavily based on competency questions -Provided (FOUR separate) and highly-elaborate guides to competency based questions (online links). -Studied material and applied the learnings to the letter - at the interview and in simulated preparation Interview -The interview took place towards the end of April. -Interview was 50 minutes long. -There were only two competency based questions (Lasting 8-9 minutes in total). I know!!! -Had "great command" of other non-competency based questions (They stated this in final feedback) -Posed one of the panel interviewers a question at the end -She answered so poorly with a high degree of inarticulacy, and with no discernible point, had to summarise by conjuring up something to serve as a remotely sensible guess, when she finished. -They mentioned at the end of interview: Could take between "one to six weeks" for them to respond. -Yes, you read that correctly. Post-Interview -Heard NOTHING from week one to five -Tried to call in Week 6: HR contact (used direct phone line listed in signature of her prior emails) -She would hang-up once voice-recognition confirmed. -Week 7: Had to call UNDP JPO Copenhagen via reception desk/circuit board (Google is your friend) -Asked to speak to the manager, of my HR contact, who had identified herself during the interview -HR contact still doesn't respond, till end of that day, but then sends "rejection note" (via email) -Feedback was that I didn't have knowledge of a somewhat technical area -That technical area is not expected of JPOs (the whole point of the JPO scheme is to 'gain' exposure -It was also not listed in the official UN job description as an "essential" part of the desired criteria -Stating that as reason for rejection could have been grounds for legal action (if not in the UN world) -Second point of feedback: Competencies were not "well structured" and were hard to understand -Won't dignify that last one with a response. What do you (the reader) think? -Talk about not being structured: remember the question I asked one of the panellists? -Very unprofessional all-round handling by both the UNDP JPO office and staff in UNDP BERA NY