The Iraq Education team use fun activities to let refugee children reconnect with their childhood and cope with trauma.
Education staff in Iraq organises recreational activities with Yezidi children as part of the Better Learning Program in Qadiya camp. This allows the children to learn how to manage stress and overcome their traumas. Photo: Tom Peyre-Costa/NRC

Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions about how to apply for a job, who we recruit or what it's like to work at the Norwegian Refugee Council? Explore our frequently asked questions to find out.
How can I join NRC?
To apply for a vacancy you will be directed to our online recruitment tool and asked to upload documents including your CV and letter of application. You will be able to update these documents at any time until the application deadline has passed
What are the steps in the recruitment process?
The process consists of screening, tests, interviews and background checks. The whole process can take up to four months. For details see the NRC recruitment process.
Do you accept open application?
No. Unfortunately, we do not have resources to consider open applications.
I would like to apply for a position I found, but it is not listed on your website – how do I apply?
You cannot. Visit our vacancies page which is routinely updated and lists all of our current vacancies. If you don't see the position, we are no longer accepting applications for that vacancy. Do note that most deadlines close at 23:59 UTC.
I am currently working with NRC in a country office. I would like to apply for a position with NRC in another country – what should I do?
We recommend internal applicants to apply through "Opportunity Marketplace", which is available in NRC People under "Me". In line with NRC’s development policy, all internal candidates will be assessed ahead of external candidates. You are considered an internal candidate if you are currently working with NRC or if it is two years or less since your last assignment with NRC.
I have problems uploading my application – what should I do?
Should you experience issues when submitting your application, please ensure that you have filled in all mandatory fields marked with an asterisk and that you have uploaded all required documents.
I did not receive a confirmation after submitting my application – how do I know you received it?
All successful application submissions generate an automated confirmation response by email. Check your email's spam box.

If you did not receive a confirmation email after submitting your application, we did not receive it. Please re-submit your application.
I already submitted my application, but now I would like to make changes – can I?
Yes. You may continue to modify your application until the application deadline closes. Most deadlines close at 23:59 Central European Time (CET). Please ensure you properly upload and submit your modified application.
I applied for a position, but I haven't heard back from you. What should I do?
You should be informed by email whether you have proceeded in the process or not. It usually takes one month from the closing date to screen all the applications we receive. Although we try to reply to all applicants, it unfortunately happens that due to the often huge number of applications we sometimes fail.

So, if you have not received an email yet, and it is more than one month after the deadline, consider that you were probably not successful in proceeding this time, as we generally get in touch quickly with the shortlisted applicants.
I received a rejection letter and would like individual feedback on my application – is that possible?
Unfortunately, not. We suggest you re-evaluate the criteria listed for the position. We consider candidates who meet all the detailed requirements as well as most of, if not all, the desired qualifications.

We do give individual feedback to applicants who have been interviewed but not selected.
Can I apply for multiple jobs?
Yes, you can, but please check the requirements for each position. We encourage you to apply only for the jobs that you are qualified for. Non-relevant applications will not pass the first screening.
Can I apply again if my application previously has been unsuccessful?
Yes, you can, but please check the requirements. We encourage you to apply only for jobs that you are qualified for.
What kind of positions does NRC offer?
We offer:
  • local and international field staff
  • staff for Head Office in Oslo and representative offices in Brussels, Geneva, Berlin, Washington DC or Addis Ababa
  • NORCAP experts.
Unfortunately, we do NOT take in volunteers in our programme countries, for safety, insurance and supervision reasons. Generally, we do NOT recruit interns outside existing partnerships with schools.
Can I work as a volunteer?
Unfortunately, not in our programme countries. As we are limited by safety and insurance coverage, as well as by a lack of supervision resources.
I want to help refugees in Norway. How can I help?
NRC's mission is to help internally displaced people and refugees in the countries where we have programmes. NRC does not operate assistance programs to refugees in Norway, hence you should contact organisations helping refugees in Norway.
Do you offer internships?
Yes, at Head Office in Oslo and at some of our country and regional offices. Recruitment of interns takes place locally. Internships at our Head Office are reserved for students of the schools and learning institutions that NRC has a partnership with.
Do you have trainees?
Currently we don’t have a global trainee program.
Do I have the right profile for NRC?
For what job? Please read carefully the job description of the vacant position you are interested in. You will find the job’s specific requirements. If your competences and experience fit the job description, please apply.

In general? We recruit professionals with very different backgrounds, education and competences. See relevant profiles and backgrounds to join NRC.

Here are some aspects you should know:
  • Practical work experience matters to us. A bachelor’s degree or master can be required for some positions. For international field positions, we usually require previous relevant work experience from the field.
  • English is our working language, and fluency expectations grow with responsibilities. For some locations, fluency in Arabic, French or Spanish is necessary.
  • Many positions in regional or international offices also require a willingness to travel to the field.
  • All job offers for international field positions and NORCAP, are dependent on an approved medical clearance.
What type of contracts do you offer?
We have different type of contracts of varying contract length. 90 per cent of our employees are national staff working on local contracts. For our international field positions, employees will usually sign up for 12–24 months.
Will I get paid?
All our positions are paid, as it is not possible to volunteer with us.
What are the working conditions in the field?
NRC staff respond to conflicts and refugee crises as well as longer-term issues such as poverty. The working conditions will always be relative to the context, and hence will depend on the assignment location.
  • Staff often live and work in physically demanding and/or unpleasant conditions, characterised by heavy workloads, long hours, and lack of privacy and personal space.
  • Our employees are repeatedly exposed to tales of terror and personal tragedy. They themselves may witness shocking scenes, have traumatic experiences or be exposed to danger.
What benefits does NRC offer?
Read the details in the compensation and benefit section.
Do you offer psychological support?
Yes, all NRC staff are entitled to psycho-social support when needed. In our field of work, some stress will be unavoidable. Hence, we have in recent years strengthened our staff care system. We focus on both the medical and psycho-social components to provide our employees with systematic support, ensuring basic and acute medical care. The aim is to reduce work-related stress and build resilience among our staff.
How does NRC ensure staff security?
NRC sees staff safety and security not only as a legal but also a moral obligation to provide, to the extent possible, safe and secure working conditions for our employees. We constantly seek to maintain and improve our safety and security management system, to ensure that risks are continuously assessed and mitigated in a reasonable manner. However, risk will always be present in our working environment. If a situation should escalate, we have a well-established crisis management system in place.
What kind of accommodation will be provided during my international assignment?
International employees in one of our country programmes will be offered accommodation in a shared guesthouse, apartment or house of moderate standard. This means neither very sparse/limited nor luxury. The standard should be comfortable and safe relative to the context.
How often can I travel home?
All international unaccompanied employees are entitled to 30 days’ paid leave and one complementary ticket home for every six months of service. Some additional holidays and travel compensations may be offered, depending on the duty station. Read more in the compensation and benefit section.
Can I bring my partner or family on an international assignment?
NRC has just a few duty stations where you can bring your partner or family. If the vacant position is located in a family duty station, this should be stated in the job advert.
How do I manage my candidate profile?
As a candidate, you have full control over your application information. This includes updating your profile and deleting it if you no longer wish for your information to be stored in our database. To manage your profile, simply go to NRC NORCAP Careers and click on the person icon in the top right corner of the page.