ENGLISH INTERPRETERS (Recruitment for Global Language Register for When Actually Employed (WAE) - Multiple Duty Stations)

Overview

Provide high-quality interpretation into English from French and Russian.

You have:

• Hold a first-level university degree from a recognized school of interpretation or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 50 proven days of work in conference interpretation into English required.
• Experience working as a conference interpreter in an international organization is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required, which must be the candidate’s main language.
• Excellent knowledge of French and Russian is required.
• Submit a cover letter of 150-250 words in English explaining reasons for application.
• Success in both French and Russian interpretation exams is necessary for inclusion in the Global Language Register.

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) at Headquarters in Geneva, Nairobi, New York, and Vienna. These positions are under the general supervision of the Chief Interpreter.

Temporary appointments under the When Actually Employed (WAE) modality may be offered to successful applicants, who will be placed on the DGACM Global Language Register as English interpreters.

DGACM will assess the candidates’ applications in order to determine whether they are eligible, and whether they meet the requirements for registering for the temporary positions and short-term assignments, as well as the technical requirements and competencies outlined in the present announcement. Such assessment will be undertaken through a comparative analysis of the applications. The assessment will also include a technical exam and a competency-based interview.

Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities depend on the service/section and duty station in which the temporary position is located and may include: - Providing interpretation into English of speeches given in French and Russian; - Servicing up to eight meetings per week, usually of no more than three hours' duration, of various United Nations bodies; - Occasional assignment to sensitive meetings and possibly functioning as a team leader of all interpreters assigned to a given meeting.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Has knowledge of a broad range of subjects dealt with by the United Nations, including of a political, social, legal, economic, financial, administrative, scientific or technical nature; is able to work under stress and to deliver high quality interpretation; shows pride in work and in achievements; 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 challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work.

COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Hold a first-level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) from a recognized school of interpretation in which at least one full academic year is devoted to interpretation.

Alternatively, applicants must hold a first-level degree from a university or institution of equivalent status at which English is the language of instruction and have 50 days of work experience as conference interpreters.

The Board of Examiners may, at its discretion, admit an applicant graduating from a university at which the principal language of instruction is a language other than English, provided that he or she has adequate secondary educational qualifications from an institution at which the principal language is English.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 50 proven days of work in conference interpretation into English is required only in the absence of a formal university qualification in conference interpretation.

Experience working as a conference interpreter in an international organization or for United Nations is desirable.

At least one-year experience in conference interpretation is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English, which must be candidate’s main language, is required. ("Main language" should be understood to be the language into which the applicant is best able to interpret.)

Candidates for this position must possess an excellent knowledge of French and Russian.

Note: ‘Perfect command’ is defined as four “fluent” ratings out of the four language fields and ‘excellent knowledge’ is defined as at least two “confident” ratings out of the four language fields.

Applicants' claims to knowledge of any of the official languages of the United Nations must be supported by relevant documentation attached to their application. Further evidence of degrees or diplomas, knowledge of languages, and relevant experience may be required prior to any invitation to sit the pre-selection exam.

Assessment

All applicants should submit with their applications a cover letter of a minimum of 150-250 words IN ENGLISH, explaining why they wish to work as a freelance interpreter at the United Nations. Applications without the required cover letter of 150-250 words IN ENGLISH will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be screened and carefully assessed on the basis of the eligibility criteria, and only those applicants who are deemed qualified will be convoked for the examination.

The examination process will comprise two parts. Only examinees who are successful in the first part of the examination (Part I) will be invited to the second part of the examination (Part II).

The examination will be conducted entirely online, using a dedicated platform, as follows:

Mandatory Mock Test In the first week of March 2024, all convoked candidates will be required to complete a mandatory mock test in English to ensure their equipment and internet connection are acceptable. Candidates will be notified of the dates. The mock test will not be graded, however failure to complete the mock test component will result in the applicant's disqualification and the applicant will not be invited to the following steps of the examination.

Part I The first part of the examination (Part I) will be conducted online on 19 March 2024 and will consist of the following components: 1. Simultaneous interpretation into English from recordings of two speeches delivered in French (approximately 8 to 10 minutes per audio recording); 2. Simultaneous interpretation into English from recordings of two speeches in Russian (approximately 8 to 10 minutes per audio recording.

Exam window: The exam window will be open for a limited time during which candidates must record their interpretation. Details regarding the exact timing and arrangements will be sent to the candidates convoked for the examination.

Part II Only candidates who are successful in Part I will be invited to the second component of the assessment consisting of a competency-based interview (CBI). Details on the arrangements for the interviews will be provided only to the candidates concerned, and only after Part I has been fully completed.

On the basis of the results of the examination process, candidates will be placed on the reserve list of English interpreters for employment in all DGACM duty stations on temporary appointments under WAE contractual arrangement.

Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the examination process, when requested and indicated in the application.

Applicants will be notified in writing of the Assessment Panel's decision in respect of their application. These decisions are final and not subject to appeal. The Panel will not release individual scores or results.

Please note the following: • All candidates: a successful exam from French as well as from Russian into English will be deemed final, and candidates will be placed on the Global Language Register for employment in all the DGACM duty stations on temporary appointments and short-term assignments.

• Candidates from underrepresented regions: a successful exam from French into English will be deemed final and candidates will be placed on the Global Language Register for employment in all the DGACM duty stations on temporary appointments and short-term assignments requiring French.

• Candidates from all other regions: a successful exam from French or Russian into English will be deemed final but candidates will not be recruited until they successfully pass the exam from their second passive language.

Special Notice

The purpose of the present advertisement is to invite applications to the Global Language Register examination for English interpreters. The aim is to expand the number of qualified English interpreters on the register for employment on temporary appointments.

As indicated in ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1, temporary appointments may be granted for a single or cumulative period of less than one year to meet seasonal or peak workloads and specific short-term requirements. Temporary appointments for interpreters are governed by agreements with the Association internationale des interprètes de conférence (AIIC), whereby a temporary appointment may be granted for a maximum of 729 days (or 521 working days) within a 27-month period at the same duty station. Those granted temporary appointments usually need to work on United Nations premises.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions