Step 1: Application phase
- Applications must be submitted in English via NATO’s online recruitment platform.
- The deadline to apply is usually 3-6 weeks after the publication of the vacancy notice. The exact date and time of the deadline is mentioned in the vacancy notice.
Review of applications
The hiring manager and representatives from NATO’s HR department review the applications and decide on a long of candidates.
Step 2: Recorded video interview
- All candidates on the long list receive an invitation to complete a recorded video interview.
- The interview contains 3-4 questions, takes around 15 minutes to complete in total.
- Candidates get up to 2 minutes to prepare for each question and up to 3 minutes to record each answer.
- Once a candidate has seen a question they must record their answer immediately.
- It is not possible to re-do questions.
- The questions also assess the language skills required for the position.
- Depending on the position, some of the questions might require a written answer.
- The questions do not have to be completed all at once. It is possible to pause the interview between questions.
- The deadline to complete the interview is usually after receiving the invitation. Extensions to the deadline will not be granted.
When receiving the invitation for the web Interview, access the link that was sent to see all details on it. Accessing the link will not start your interview.
Review of recorded video interviews
The recorded video interviews are assessed and marked by the board members. Candidates with the highest marks make it onto the short list.
Step 3: Written exercise
- Candidates on the short-list may receive invitations to do an online written exercise, as well as an invitation to a panel interview (step 4).
- The written exercises are scheduled for a specific day and time. Invitations are sent at least 5 days in advance.
- The written exercise usually lasts 1-1.5 hours. The questions are designed to test the knowledge and skills required for the job.
The written exercise is marked by the members of the interview.
The written exercises are marked anonymously before the panel interviews.
Candidates can be asked questions about the written exercise during the panel interview.
Step 4: Panel interview
- This is scheduled for a specific day and time and lasts for approximately 45 minutes.
- Candidates are interviewed by a panel, who take it in turns to ask questions.
- The panel normally includes at least four people: the hiring manager, a representative from NATO’s HR department, a representative from another division and a Civilian Staff Association representative.
- The questions are designed to test the competencies mentioned in the vacancy notice.
- Candidates will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview.
Step 5: What happens next?
- The panel accesses each candidate performance in the interview.
- The panel prepares a report which considers the merits of each candidate, based on their assessment of the written exercise as well as the interview.
- The panel recommends a first-choice candidate and alternate candidates (if applicable) for the role.
- The evaluation report and recommendation are submitted for formal approval.
- Once there is formal approval, the first-choice candidate will receive a provisional job offer and the other candidates are notified about the outcome of the selection process.
- The provisional job offer is subject to completing medical checks (conducted by a doctor), obtaining a security clearance (conducted by the national authorities of the candidate’s home country) and the completion of a background check by a third party. If candidate passes these checks, they receive a final job offer.
Important points to note:
- It can take 3-6 months on average (but sometimes even longer) to obtain a security clearance certificate. The waiting time will depend partly on the national authority conducting the security clearance, and on the candidate’s personal situation.
- This factsheet describes how HQ SACT’S recruitment process works in general, but there may be some differences in the process for specific positions.