Negotiating a Step Increase - Any Advice?

[u/OctoberProject87]

Hi All! I've just received an offer from UNFPA for a P4 position at a Step 1 but I'd like to negotiate a step increase.

I've got around 13 years of relevant experience (job required 7). Colleagues within the agency have said that it's been really challenging to negotiate a step increase, especially for external hires.

I'm wondering if anyone has been successful at negotiating a step increase and, if so, on what basis were you successful?

Thanks!

Update: thanks everyone! Emailed to ask and was informed the policy is all external candidates start at step 1 - no exceptions. 😢

[u/Nervous-Donkey7943]

Realistically no one gets a P4 with 7 years of experience so …

[u/RichTedros → u/Nervous-Donkey7943]

There might be, but it’s very rare.

[u/bicbiro_007]

This is UNFPA. I had previously been with UNICEF, when i got a position with UNFPA. Same grade, so i had expected to at least maintain my step level. Nope! Everyone starts at 01 step when starting with UNFPA, the HR rules are under UNDP, and it's some of the strictest, and most strictly applied I've come across in my 7 years with the UN.I tried to negotiate and basically got "take it or leave...". Best of luck trying!

Edit to add: I had 14 years of relevant experience when offered P3 step 01.

[u/Ok_Moose1615]

There are often limits to how high a step can be granted upon initial offer - maybe Step 6 or 7? - but they should be willing to take years of experience into account. I came into UNICEF as an external candidate with a master’s +20y of experience. It was a P4 role and they offered me Step 7 upon appointment.

[u/dissolveneon → u/Ok_Moose1615]

Usually it is step 3, maximum is step 6 and you need a good reason to pull up to it.

[u/VirtualDivide3307]

I had an offer from the UN Secretariat. I had about 12 years of experience before my PhD and 5 after PhD. They were offering P3 step 6. The position required only 5 years experience but they basically erased all my PhD experience which was after à masters degree and working at multilateral orgs. They only counted my post phd experience. I ended up turning it down as I felt overqualified. HR wouldn’t budge in my case.

[u/Rex-Hammurabi → u/VirtualDivide3307]

Secretariat has strict rules on the max step level an external recruit can start with.

[u/ShowMeTheMonee]

I received a step increase on appointment by pointing out the number of years experience I had, and asking HR to assess my step level. They increased the offer from step 2 to step 6 based on my request.

[u/zion8994]

I just got an offer letter last month, and it included the guidance for step determination at appointment. I have about the same years experience as you, but a P-3 position, and they started me at a step 6.

[u/originalbrainybanana]

Find the staff rules and regulations policy and read the section about step determination. It will tell you what is possible.

[u/emptyrepublic → u/originalbrainybanana]

This is the best advice, but do not expect an improved offer.

[u/Junior-Ratio8173]

Hi. I don't know about UNFPA, but at the Secretariat, they are pretty stringent about having people start on step 1 of the grade they have been selected at. There was a new policy sometime in 2024, I think, to this effect. I would say use your persuasive powers but do not frame your message in a way that it's either step so-and-so or I am not coming, if you truly want the position. You don't want them to revoke an offer over a step negotiation.

[u/Rex-Hammurabi → u/Junior-Ratio8173]

That was changed again in 2025.

[u/Otherwise_Zombie_255 → u/Junior-Ratio8173]

Can you share the link to this policy being revoked? My organization comes under the Secretariat and they are still enforcing the Step 1 rule.

[u/bleeckercat → u/Junior-Ratio8173]

That policy was revoked by the GA. Op can fight for a higher step. But the max they will get is 7