GGST UN Global General Service Test

The Global General Service Test (GGST) is an entry-level assessment tool used by the United Nations to screen candidates for General Service and related categories. The GGST replaces the earlier United Nations Clerical Examination. It’s designed to evaluate the abilities and skills essential for working in a UN Secretariat.

This pack includes tests in the following topics:

The General Service category at the UN includes various administrative, support, and technical roles that are essential for the functioning of the organization. The GGST is designed to evaluate candidates’ abilities in areas such as verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and practical skills relevant to the General Service positions.

The test helps the UN ensure that candidates have the necessary competencies and aptitude required to perform the duties of the specific position they are applying for. It aims to maintain a fair and objective selection process by assessing candidates based on their abilities and qualifications rather than other factors.

About the United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization that seeks to keep peace between countries. It is the one place on Earth where all of the world’s nations gather together to discuss problems and how they may benefit humanity. They seek to end conflict, alleviate poverty, and defend human rights. They have a wide variety of jobs such as relief coordinators and administrative support. 

What Qualities do United Nations Recruiters Look For?

The United Nations strives to recruit employees who are selfless and driven to a bigger purpose in service of humanity. You may need to travel and work anywhere at a moment’s notice. You need to be a fair, honest, and truthful person with integrity. 

Here are some examples of what values you should exemplify as a recruit:

• Integrity
• Excellence
• Professionalism
• Well-Organized
• Teamwork
• Respect for Diversity

If you are applying to The United Nations or are approached by a recruiter, be sure to make a point of understanding these values. It is best to show through your past work experience that you can follow these values.

What is the United Nations Hiring Process?

The United Nations recruitment process involves five steps towards employment. The process also revolves around making sure their future employees are held to a high standard of their core values. 

Apply Online

The hiring process begins with an online application. You can find the application on the ‘careers’ section of their website. In this stage of the process, you will fill out a general application with your education and employment history. You will upload a copy of your resume as well as a carefully crafted cover letter. 

In your resume, be sure to include examples from past work history of how you can uphold the standards of The United Nations. In your cover letter, explain why you are applying to The United Nations, and why you are applying to that position. 

Complete Web-Based Assessments (GGST Exam)

Once you have finished your application, you will move on to taking the Global General Service Test which includes three online psychometric assessments. These assessments are designed to make the graduate program competitive and ensure that all employees meet the ethical standards of The United Nations. 

The first test is on situational judgment. The second test is on verbal reasoning. The third test is on numerical reasoning.

Video Interview or Phone Screening

Once United Nations recruiters look over your assessments and see that you are a good fit for The United Nations, you will be invited to schedule a screening interview. This interview may be done through video conference, in-person, or via telephone.  

Questions throughout the interview will verify the applicant’s work history, their availability, and salary expectations. The interview is also competency based, so they will want to know about your talents, skills, abilities, knowledge, and experience handling a variety of situations. 

Selection Notification

Based upon the results of your assessments and interview, you will be notified whether or not you were selected as a candidate for the job. You will be notified whether you were selected for that job after you’ve been placed in the candidate pool. If you were not selected, then you will be placed in a different pool where you will be notified of any new jobs that are similar to the one you originally applied to. 

If you are not included in the recommended candidates for the selection, you will still be notified that you were rejected. 

What is The Global General Service Test?

After completing your online application, you will take the Global General Service Test, or the GGST for short. This is a pre-employment screening test that includes three assessments. You must perform well on the tests to be asked to attend an interview. For this reason, you must be prepared.

The four assessment exams included in the GGST are:

1. Situational judgment
2. Verbal reasoning
3. Numerical reasoning
4. UN written assessment test

Situational Judgment

The format of this test is the same as a traditional situational judgment test. In this test you will be shown different hypothetical situations where an issue arises or there is a conflict that needs resolving. You will be assessed on your ability to deal with work-related scenarios in accordance with the values and competencies of the UN.

With each of these questions, it’s important to pick the answer you feel is most aligned with the values and ideals of the United Nations. 

The type of questions you will see are 

• Ranking and rating
• Multiple-choice
• Scenarios
• Most or least likely

Verbal Reasoning

The test will take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, but the number of questions and the time it takes can vary. The United Nations wants to ensure that their employees have good communication and comprehension skills in complex situations. You will be assessed on your ability to work effectively with written communications like reports and emails. 

For this test, you will have to read multiple short text paragraphs that end with a concluding statement. After reading the paragraph, you will need to answer if the statement is true or false. 

Numerical Reasoning

Unlike the verbal reasoning exam, this exam is exactly 30 questions and has a 35-minute time limit. The United Nations wants to ensure that their employees are good with numbers, so you must have decent mathematical skills. You will be assessed on your ability to effectively deal with numerical data in the form of charts and tables. 

For this GGST Numerical test, you will complete simple math such as multiplication and addition. You will be asked to interpret data from graphs, charts, and tables. Lastly, you will complete calculations of percentages and ratios. 

UN written assessment test

The UN WAT is an online test consisting of two parts, both of which you must complete within 90 minutes:

Part 1: Written Expression

In this section, you’ll be asked to write two short essays, each with a maximum of 300 words. The essays will test your ability to express yourself in clear, concise, and coherent English. The topics are usually related to international affairs or development issues.

Part 2: Reading Comprehension

In this section, you’ll be given three texts of around 300-400 words each, followed by a series of multiple-choice questions. The questions will test your ability to comprehend and analyze the texts.

What Questions are asked during the interview?

Coming prepared for an interview is a great way to help get yourself noticed by the recruiters and more likely to land you the job. One way to help be prepared is to review interview questions and rehearse what you may say in response to the question. 

Here are some examples of what you may be asked during the interview:

• Why The United Nations?

• Tell me about yourself?

• How do you deal with changed priorities?

• How do you overcome obstacles in your life?

• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

• What is a situation when you went above and beyond the manager’s expectations?

• When have you used your problem solving abilities to resolve an issue?

• How have you handled multiple demands at the same time?

• What is your greatest weakness?

The most important thing is to prepare as much as possible before taking the GGST assessments. Doing this will greatly increase your chances of passing the test and being accepted for the job. 

UN Written Assessment Test: Preparation Tips

Preparing for the UN Written Assessment Test requires time and effort. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the test:

1. Practice Writing

The best way to prepare for the Written Expression part of the test is to practice writing short essays. Try to write on topics related to international affairs and development issues. Focus on being concise, coherent, and clear in your writing.

2. Improve Your Grammar and Vocabulary

The UN WAT requires a good command of English grammar and vocabulary. Brush up your grammar by studying English grammar books, and improve your vocabulary by reading newspapers, journals, and other materials related to international affairs.

The UN Assessment Test is a critical step in the UN’s hiring process. It helps to ensure that all staff members are qualified and capable of performing their duties and provides candidates with valuable feedback on areas where they may need additional training. If you’re considering a career with the UN, it’s essential to understand the role of the UN Assessment Test and to prepare accordingly. With dedication and hard work, you can pass the UN Assessment Test and take the first step towards a rewarding career with one of the world’s most respected organizations.