Prepare your application
Do your research and prepare before applying to any role with us. Browse through our recommendations, recruitment principles and processes, or frequently asked questions.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
Whatever role you’re interested in, it is important to understand 'why', 'how' and 'where' MSF operates. Before you apply, reinforce your knowledge of MSF as an international medical humanitarian organisation:
- Learn more about our general mission and principles, our areas of work and countries of operation
- Follow MSF's news or follow us on Linkedin, Facebook or Instagram.
- Discover the stories of our employees or use your own networks to contact or meet current or former MSF collaborators
- Participate to our information session about working internationally with us
GET PREPARED
Why working with us?
What are the reasons that motivate you to work with MSF? How do you imagine it?
Explore why working with MSF and discover what it means to commit within our multicultural teams and to do the difference through an impacting work in an organization with strong values.
What role are you interested in?
Discover the wide variety of roles we rely on for our social mission and where to work with us internationally and in Belgium. Find out which position might fit with your profile and with what you're looking for, by browsing the multitude of international mobile staff profiles we are constantly looking for as well as all our currently vacant jobs in Belgium and abroad.
Tell us who you are and why you apply?
Customize your CV and motivation letter in English or French to give us a general understanding of your profile and to check whether it meets the position’s requirements. In your motivation letter, tell us who you are, how your profile fits the position you're applying to and what motivates you to work in the humanitarian sector with MSF.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND RECRUITMENT PRINCIPLES
For each job opportunity, the application process includes the following steps:
1. Application
2. Analysis of the application
3. Technical validation or test
4. Interview(s)
5. References check
6. Selection
7. Hiring
We are guided by the following principles for each recruitment:
Transparency
Fairness
Confidentiality
Non-discrimination
Respect and independence
Diversity
While respecting our recruitment principles, the order, number, content or manner of carrying out certain steps of the recruitment process may be adapted.
Explore our recruitment processes below for international mobile profiles or immediate vacant jobs in Belgium or abroad :
Application process for International Mobile staff profiles
Application process for immediate vacant jobs in Belgium or abroad
1. Application
Application via the e-mail address or link specified in the vacancy. CV and cover letter in English or French mandatory, with for some positions, a copy of the diploma.
Applications received after the application deadline will not be considered. Spontaneous applications are not considered, except for volunteer work in Belgium
2. Analysis of applications
Examination of all applications received based on the prerequisites and conditions of the specific job vacancy.
Due to the high number of applications, only candidates shortlisted for the next step are contacted by e-mail between few days to a few weeks after the closing date for applications.
3. Test (optional)
When needed, administration of a test to assess technical knowledge, either to select people to invite for an interview or meant as a preparation for the interview.
Depending on the objective and the result of the test, feedback and possible invitation by e-mail to the next step. The response time varies from a few days to a few weeks after the test.
4. Interview(s)
Between 1 hour and 1,5 hour interview by video conference or in person with the line manager, a recruiter and possible technical referent/s. An additional interview, with an exercise or role-play might be required to choose between several candidates or to refine a decision.
Additional assessments are organized for specific functions:
- A half-day external assessment for certain mid to high level management or operational functions
- A two-hour selection interview by videoconference with a recruiter for specific functions in one of our projects or with minimum 40% of mobility in our contexts of interventions. Assessment of the transversal competences required to work in or support MSF interventions. Several documents must be completed beforehand for the preparation of the interview by the Recruiter. This only applies to candidates who have no previous or recent experience as a mobile international employee with MSF.
The timing of this step varies depending on the number of shortlisted candidates to interview as well as the number and the type of interviews.
5. References
Reference check by the recruiter with 3 line managers (current and/or previous) whose contact information has been shared by the candidate.
6. Selection
Information by the line manager, sometimes accompanied by the recruiter, to all candidates interviewed for the position whether they have been selected or not.
Upon confirmation by the selected person, decision on the date of taking up the post. The selected person is contacted by the relevant departmental assistant and by the administration to prepare his/her arrival.
7. Hiring
Fixed or indefinite period contract depending on the position.
In addition to briefings and/or training by the line manager and/or department concerned, participation of each newcomer to “Welcome to MSF” onboarding.
Welcome to MSF!