• About the ILO
• Categories of staff
• Qualifications required
• Employment conditions
• FAQs

2. Can I submit an unsolicited application?
No. We do not consider unsolicited applications. Only applications for advertised vacancies are evaluated.

3. I am a first-time applicant. I wish to submit an on-line application form for a specific vacancy.

• From within the vacancy announcement, click on the button “Click here to begin your candidature as an External Candidate”. The first page of the on-line application form will appear. This page asks for basic details (name, date of birth, address, etc.). Please note that you must have a valid email address to complete the form as it will serve as your username in the future. We will use this address to communicate with you.
• When you have completed this page, click on the button at the bottom of the page “Submit my new sign-in”. The entered information will automatically be stored on the ILO’s database.
• You will see a message asking if you would like to continue. If you choose not to do so, you may return to your application at any time by returning to the ILO Vacancy system at www.ilo.org/hrd and signing in.
• If you continue filling in the application form, you will go to a page entitled “External Candidature Information”. Complete each of the sections listed on the left side of the page. A checked box appears next to each of the sections you have completed.
• Please confirm completion of the form by completing the section entitled “Verification”.
• Note: Your application will only be considered once you have completed all of the sections.

4. I have already submitted an on-line application form. I wish to update and/or apply for another vacancy.

• Log in from the main ILO Employment Opportunities web page.
• Internal candidates: your username will have already been sent to you.
• External candidates: your username is the email address you used when you first created your profile.
• Once you have logged in, you will be taken to your own “Candidature Information” page. From here you may edit the information in any of the Profile sections on the left hand side.
• To apply for a competition, click on “Current Vacancies”.
• Click on the title of the vacancy for which you would like to apply. This will take you to the vacancy announcement.
• At the bottom of the vacancy announcement, click on “Submit my candidature for this vacancy as an external candidate: [your name]”.
• You will be asked to complete the “Verification” section. Click on “Save edits and return”.
• You will be taken to the “My Candidatures” page which lists all of the competitions for which you have applied, including the most recent one.

5. I do not remember my password.
From the log in page, enter your email address in section 4 and click “Send”. Your password will be sent to you shortly by email.

6. Do I need an email address to submit an on-line application form?
Yes. Your email address serves as your username. We also use email to communicate with candidates.

7. Which Profile sections do I need to complete?
Candidates are required to complete all sections. Please complete the Verification section last.
NB. Candidates applying for Professional category posts are not required to complete the Clerical Skills section.

8. Do I have to complete the application form in one session?
No. You can save the information you entered and return at a later time to finish your on-line application form by logging in, using your User Name and Password, which you created when you registered.

9. Where can I view a list of vacancies for which I have applied?
These can be viewed by clicking on the “My Candidatures” link within your “Candidature Information” page.

10. My mother tongue is not listed, what should I do?
Since we cannot list all the languages in the world, we would recommend that you indicate a language you know best, other than your mother tongue.

11. How do I enter dates?
Please enter dates in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy.
Example: June 19, 1971 should be entered as 06/19/1971.

12. How do I indicate that I am still employed in my latest job?
When you edit or add an employment line, choose "Present" in the month column. The system will recognize that and adjust the year and output accordingly.

13. I am having a problem with the on-line application form. What is the problem?
There may be several reasons. Please check the following:

• Did you complete all the required fields marked with an asterix (*)?
• Did you save each page before proceeding to another? Once you save a page, information on the page will be saved even if you lose the Internet connection. You can start again from where you left off.
• Do you have the appropriate browser setting? Please note that the following browser versions are required:
  • In Netscape, click on: Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Cache > Document in cache is compared to document on network > Every Time
  • In MS Explorer, click on: Tools > Internet Options > Temporary Internet Files > Settings > Check for newer versions of stored pages > Every visit to the page

14. Is the information in my application form kept confidential?
Yes. Private information provided to the ILO will not be shared with any outside organization without the applicant’s permission and will not be used for any commercial purpose.

15. For how many vacancies can I apply?
You may apply for as many vacancies as you like however, it is up to each candidate to review the responsibilities, competencies and qualifications required for a particular vacancy before making a decision to apply for an advertised post. A hasty decision to apply for a vacancy for which you are clearly not qualified might reflect on your credibility.

16. Will I be informed of the status of my application? Or of the competition?
You will be contacted only if your candidature is under serious consideration. Given that the competitive process must be kept confidential, no information will be divulgued before a final decision has been taken by the Director-General.

You may, however, check the status of the competition by clicking on the “My Candidatures” link within your “Candidature Information” page. Next to each competition for which you have applied you will see the current status of the competitive process. The options are:

• On-going
• Currently accepting candidates
• Vacancy closed: selection process begun
• Vacancy has been filled

17. How do I know that my application has been received?
Once you have completed each section, click “Save edits and return”. By doing this, the information you have entered will automatically be sent to the ILO’s database and stored. Furthermore, you will receive an email confirming that you have initiated the application process.

18. My nationality does not appear in Appendix 1 of Professional category vacancy announcements. Can I still apply?
No. It is ILO policy that only nationals from under- and non- represented member States are eligible to apply for these competitions.

19. How do I know if I possess the right skills for applying for a post in the General Service category?
Candidates interested in obtaining a position in the General Service category (such as secretarial and clerical positions, word processing, accounting and statistical positions) must have successfully passed the required relevant test(s) before they may be considered for recruitment. A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Those who are successful in the test are considered for available vacancies. Please note that success in the test(s) does not guarantee an offer of employment, it only ensures consideration as vacancies arise. Recruitment of General Service posts is on local basis, that is, from the duty station in which the particular office is located. The appointment is limited to the duty station indicated on the vacancy announcement.

20. I am a non-local candidate applying for a post in the General Service category in Geneva. Will my candidature be considered?
No. An official is classified as locally recruited if, at the time of appointment, s/he fulfils any of the following conditions:

• s/he is Swiss national;
• s/he is a French national living within a radius of 25km from Geneva;
• irrespective of nationality, s/he has been living continually for one year within a radius of 25km from Geneva.

21. Can I be considered for a post of the General Service category in Geneva if I am a non-local internal candidate?
Please refer to Article 4.3 of the Staff Regulations. Your candidature cannot be considered if you are not a local candidate, despite your internal status.

22. I am an internal official from another international organisation. Am I eligible to apply for ILO internal vacancies?
Only ILO officials with a Fixed-Term contract on the Regular Budget and having completed their probationary period at the closing date of the vacancy may apply as internal candidates.

23. I am an internal staff member. Is it necessary for me to complete the ILO on-line application form if all the data is already stored in my P.File?
These are two different files. To apply for a competition you must complete your on-line profile. Only the on-line CVs will be reviewed by the responsible chief.

24. Can I be considered for a post in the Professional category in Geneva if I am a non-local internal candidate?
As an internal candidate, you are eligible to apply for internal competitions in the Professional category in Geneva as well as in the field.

25. Which application type should I use?
Candidates who apply for a specific vacancy will notice that they have the option to apply as either an internal candidate, an external candidate or as an ILO temporary contract holder. If you are not sure which form to use, please follow the guidelines below:

Please apply as an internal candidate if you are:

• an established official in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Staff Regulations;
• an official on a WLT contract;
• an official on a fixed-term contract who has completed the probationary period at the time of application. If you are still under probationary period, please apply as an external candidate.

Please apply an an external candidate if you are:

• an official on a fixed-term contact and you have not completed your probationary period;
• currently a holder of a short-term (ST) or 3.5 contract; click on "ILO Temporary Contract Holder" when requested;
• currently employed as an external collaborator (if you have completed at least two years of service with the ILO, click on "ILO Temporary Contract Holder" when requested);
• currently employed on technical cooperation project contracts (if you have completed at least two years of service with the ILO, click on "ILO Temporary Contract Holder" when requested);
• an Associate Epert.

Please apply as a temporary contract holder if:

• In accordance with Circular 6/620, you have worked under temporary conditions with the Office at Headquarters and have accumulated periods of at least 24 months of employment within the past 36 months, regardless of your nationality.

26. How long will it take for HRD to receive a short-list?
The responsible chief of the technical department prepares the short-list. We usually require that a short-list be sent to HRD within ten working days.

27. How long does the selection process last?
The selection process can last several months, with a minimum duration of 3 to 4 months.