Before going on the field, it is important to be well informed.
We have assembled hereby the most frequently asked questions, in order to provide you with all the information you need before applying to go on a mission.
No. MSF has several recruiting offices worldwide.
If you apply on MSF Switzerland website, when clicking on “apply” you will select your country of residence and this will redirect you to:
There is no minimum or maximum age for participation in MSF projects, although there are other criteria that applicants must fulfil, such as general good health, professional maturity (2 years minimum in a similar position) or recent clinical experience.
While you are under contract with any other section, we will not be able to consider your application. Therefore please always apply to your contracting section.
There are certain criteria that apply to all profiles, such as:
Moreover we look for the following personal qualities:
Find the job profile that best matches your experience and check the specific requirements for the role here. See all job profiles here.
Please note that we only accept applications from people who meet our strict requirements. Applications must be submitted online.
To work with MSF, you need to have obtained your university degree and completed your medical training. We have a minimum requirement of three years’ post-diploma hospital experience. For specialised profiles such as Gynaecologists, Surgeons, Paediatricians, Psychiatrists or Anaesthetists, a specialisation diploma is also required.
As we receive many applications, we look for as broad a range of experience as possible. Versatility is key, so that you are able to work in different types of contexts. Experience is essential as we expect a high level of autonomy from our medics in the field.
A minimal amount of overseas experience is definitely desirable. This may consist of several short placements or one longer period of travel or work.
A Diploma in Tropical Medicine is essential if you wish to work for MSF as a Nurse, unless you have a minimum of two to three months’ experience working in a tropical context. In Switzerland, the Diploma can be obtained from the Tropical Institute in Basel (Courses in German and English). A course in French is also offered in Antwerp.
MSF receives a very large number of applications every year for all types of roles. Please check the detailed selection criteria and job descriptions on our working with us page.
The recruitment criteria are the minimum requirements for each profile, defined in line with our operational needs. While the criteria might evolve over time and differ between different MSF sections, we do not advise you to apply unless you meet all the requirements for the job profile that interests you.
French and English are the official MSF languages. We need people to feel comfortable working in one of those languages and have at least basic skills in the other one. Fluency in any another language will strengthen your application and your chances of being assigned a posting. If you speak Arabic, Russian, Spanish or Portuguese, you will also be at an advantage.
The reality of the field requires you to be in good general health. MSF will ask you to undergo a medical check-up before you set off on your first assignment. The check-up is paid for by MSF and can be done at the University Hospital in Geneva or by any other medical doctor. If you have any concerns about your suitability to accept a posting for health reasons, please discuss them with the medical doctor.
MSF recruits medical and non-medical staff to work in its projects. All these people bring professional abilities and practical experience, as well as a commitment to and concern for the people they help.
Our projects are staffed by both local and international personnel. Positions are open to all and are filled by the most competent person for the job, including coordination positions. A typical ratio in most of our projects is about one international worker to 10 national workers.
The more diverse your profile in terms of professional experience, the better suited you will be to work in a range of contexts. For instance, for medical roles, we value a wide-ranging clinical background, with experience in emergency departments, paediatrics, mother & child, infectious diseases, and so on. Further areas that are of particular interest to MSF include tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, non-communicable disease, nutrition, hospital management, etc.
Click on this link for more information about what’s your profile?
MSF Switzerland does not recruit internationally for the following types of roles:
MSF has over 1,000 international postings a year for international staff (also referred to as “volunteers”) and employs over 6,000 local staff. In addition, around 300 people are employed at our offices in Geneva and Zurich, performing operations and support functions.
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply to field and/or headquarter positions.
Respect of equity, inclusion and diversity allows us to carry out our social mission and serve our patients.
The recruitment actors are committed to these values while ensuring a highly skilled and adapted workforce.
MSF usually provides field preparation courses for candidates before they are sent on their first assignment. This induction course consists of a three-day general presentation of the organisation and its internal operations. It will also introduce you to cross-functional team work as well as realities of the field. According to the needs, several days of specific training (medical, logistics, administrative) are provided.
MSF will organise and pay for a project-specific briefing in Geneva, immediately before you leave for your assignment. Further briefings are then organized in the mission, at the Coordination and field levels.
We are unable to place couples together for their first postings, as individuals are matched to specific vacancies across the world based on their skills. It can also be difficult to place a couple in the same place at the same time even when they have experience with MSF because vacancies become available at different times. Security and housing conditions also make it difficult for couples or families to be posted in the field.
Please check our page explaining in detail the application process, from the moment you apply to your departure on a mission and consult the How to apply section.
Read as much as possible about MSF and our work and discuss your motivation with friends and relatives or people who already have experience of humanitarian work. MSF Switzerland also strongly encourages you to attend one of our regular information sessions, online or in presence, to get a full picture of what we do and how we operate, and decide whether MSF is the right organisation for you. In any case, we recommend that you carefully read the Working with us pages of our website, which will help you prepare your application.
It is rare that MSF advertises job openings for specific countries or projects.
Instead, in order to be able to respond to medical emergencies, MSF recruits applicants into different professional reserve lists, (also referred to as “pools”) throughout the year. Candidates within the pool will be matched to a specific position in a specific country based on their skill set, competencies, technical experience and background.
When applying to join our pool, you can indicate any geographic preferences you may have. However, in accordance with the MSF Charter, providing assistance to populations in distress must take priority over geographical preferences. As a candidate, you must be flexible and willing to work wherever your skills are most needed. Therefore, it is not always possible to fulfil specific country requests. MSF expects candidates to be flexible about where they work so that we can meet the needs of the field. However, if you have special skills, speak additional languages or have restrictions, those will be taken into consideration for each placement.
Our career manager, handling your application as a new candidate, will propose a placement, taking great care to match your profile with the requirements of the post (technical skills, language skills, work experience and context-specific constraints). The final decision on the selection of a candidate is made by the people directly responsible (at headquarters and in the field) for the project.
With the pool system, you will be able to receive proposals for postings once the recruitment process has been completed. On average, the recruitment process takes from one to three months. The mission proposal (also called “matching”) can take one day to several months, as it all depends on the needs of the field missions. Indeed, you might not be offered an assignment until several weeks or months after your ideal departure date. It is your responsibility to organize your incomes in between missions.
We understand that our pool system requires great flexibility from you. Please think about the amount of notice you will need (between the moment we contact you for an assignment and the earliest possible departure date) to be able to organize yourself. Even though we greatly value applicants who can be available immediately, we recommend that you do not leave your current job until you have been offered a posting by MSF. Please factor your job notice period into the departure timeframe that you specify to us during the recruitment process. We will strive to respect your indicated notice period.
You will receive a contract for the duration of each posting. Therefore, you will be expected to make your own arrangements between assignments.
You can apply as soon as you have the required skills for the position and when you have definite availability dates, but we ask that you do not do so more than two or three months before your earliest availability.
No, all interviews are taking place online. Once you are recruited you might be asked to participate to pre-departure briefings or return debriefings in our headquarters in Geneva.
Yes, the whole application procedure is free of charge encompassing all stages of the recruitment process from the access to the job offer, the submission of the application, to possible costs of putting together a candidate file.
In most projects, you will be living and working in stressful conditions without many of the things you may take for granted at home.. There is no video link.
Living conditions vary from one place to another. MSF makes an effort to provide appropriate living conditions that enhance the success of its programmes and take into account local living standards. In regular missions, we try to give each expatriate staff member a single room. The common areas (kitchen, dining room, etc.) are shared with other members of the team. However, on emergency missions living conditions might sometimes be more basic.
Please be aware the life in the field will most likely be in strong contrast to your everyday life; personal time and personal space may be rare, and in some projects it could also be difficult to have access to email or telephones, and the corresponding costs might have to be covered by you.
Living conditions in the field (security, housing, etc.) make it impossible to be accompanied by children or partners on a first placement. You can, however, arrange to meet family during your holiday break, in another location. Nevertheless, families or couples might subsequently be able to work together in the field in coordination posts, for example, living conditions permitting (security, access to medical or school facilities). This is discussed on a case-by-case basis.
The standard duration of a first posting is six months. Medical specialists such as anaesthetists, gynaecologists and surgeons are placed in projects from six weeks to three months. This is not the case for general practitioners, paramedical or non-medical profiles.
For subsequent postings, depending on the needs of the country, the duration may be shorter for emergencies (several weeks to three months) or longer (perhaps six to 12 months) in more stable contexts. Coordinator positions are opened for a longer period, from one to two years.
We are mainly looking for candidates who are prepared to make a long-term commitment and work with MSF over several years. We therefore ask you to engage with MSF for more than one mission, or at least 12 months. This will probably include one or more breaks, as it is important to rest between assignments. You are invited to discuss the timing of your break with your career manager when you return from the first posting.
Working hours vary considerably depending on the project although, on average, you will have one day off a week. Work can frequently be hectic and you may be required to put in longer hours, especially during emergencies. However, it is crucial that you find time for rest and relaxation.
Working with MSF is not without risk, but the safety and security of its staff is one of the organisation’s highest priorities. Security is directly related to the professional risks inherent in the context, the mission and the nature of the organisation, as well as the behaviour of each individual. Risks may range from car accidents to hygiene and infection risks or attacks, or stem from interpersonal conflicts, individual behaviour, exposure to multicultural contexts or management practices.
MSF implements risk management procedures and security guidelines in each mission and defines security rules for each project to minimise the risks. However, ensuring your safety and security is both MSF’s institutional responsibility and your own individual responsibility.
As an expatriate, you will be briefed before departure on the precise security conditions of your posting. Therefore, it is your responsibility, no matter how experienced you are, to read all the relevant information given to you prior to your departure and to seek further information (beyond prejudices and touristic knowledge) to enable you to make an informed decision. Indeed, you may decide that you do not feel comfortable with the security situation. In that case, you have the right to turn down the proposed posting, giving reasons for your decision.
The security rules might restrict the way you can move outside the compound or how you interact with the local population, even outside working hours. Once your work day is over, you may have to observe a curfew that requires you to stay within the MSF compound after a certain time. As an expatriate, you will need to accept that you represent MSF seven days a week, even when you aren’t working or are on holiday. Compliance with the security guidelines and project rules is non-negotiable.
Please consider potential constraints that you might find challenging (specific country contexts, geographical zones or other limitations) so that we can discuss them openly during the interview process. To have an idea about the countries we currently work in, please consult this link.
Moreover, you will be far from your family and friends while on assignment for several months. Their understanding of your country of placement might be biased by information they receive through the media. In addition, you may have limited or no access to communication networks. It is important that you prepare for that potential lack of contact to minimise stress for them as well as for yourself: “No news is good news!”
MSF offers medical humanitarian work that has meaning. As a socially responsible employer, MSF also provides opportunities for professional development and growth, modest remuneration as well as attractive compensation and benefits. Read an overview of what MSF offers here.
As a volunteer organisation, MSF offers a salary adapted according to our salary scale as well as your role and responsibilities.
In addition to the salary, you will receive a comprehensive package of other financial and social benefits.
MSF will cover transport costs from your place of residence to the project destination and back. For your first assignment, this will include travelling via Geneva for your briefing and debriefing. All costs related to your visa formalities will also be borne by MSF.
During your posting, MSF will provide you with accommodation in an MSF structure. You will usually be allocated an individual bedroom (in a house, hut, tent or other). You will share common areas (bathroom, living room, kitchen, etc.) with other colleagues. In emergency situations, you may have to share a room with one or more colleagues. Note that we hire local staff to clean the living spaces, wash your clothes and cook your meals.
During your posting and for three months after your return, you will be covered by collective MSF medical insurance. If you have to pay any medical expenses up front, you will be reimbursed against submission of the corresponding receipts. This insurance only covers you; it doesn’t include family members. It also covers repatriation costs, if required.
Swiss residents will need to continue paying the mandatory medical insurance (LAMal) in order to remain covered. MSF will reimburse the LAMal payments. You will be required to pay for any complementary insurance you choose to take out.
In addition, you will be entitled to one week’s holiday every three months. This will be planned when you arrive at the mission. Depending on the policy of the mission and the security situation, you will be able to take your holiday leave in the country of posting or in a nearby country. If you stay in the same country, all related costs will be payable by you.
Should you travel abroad for holidays, MSF will arrange your transport to the nearest airport. You will be responsible for all other costs.
While working with MSF you are entitled to one week’s holiday every three months.
MSF will arrange and cover you for all health insurance while on assignment. This will continue for up to three months after you return to your home country. In the event of medical evacuation, repatriation is also covered.
Please contact your Human Resources Coordinator or Field Human Resources Manager, who will be able to give you more information about the internal expatriation policy and process.
MSF offers a very dynamic work environment, with many mid- and long-term career opportunities within the organisation. Your career manager will identify different possibilities with you, and will accompany you step by step, taking into consideration operational opportunities and constraints.
For example, gaining varied MSF field experience will make you eligible for field coordination positions or advisory roles in our operational centres. Someone who joins the organisation as a nurse today could become a Medical Coordinator or Head of Mission in future, or choose to remain within the clinical scope of activities, focusing on emergencies, or discovering a new medical context.
The training programmes offered by MSF allow staff members to specialise in a particular area and gain expertise in one of the areas of relevance to the work of MSF.
Some expatriates might also want to take on further challenges at headquarters level.
MSF strongly encourages you to continue working for the organisation beyond your first posting as your experience will be of huge value to the effectiveness of our work. Therefore, we offer various career opportunities to our field staff. You will be able to broaden your professional experience by working in a variety of different projects, and will have access to training courses run by MSF and external providers.
Unfortunately, we can’t offer those types of placements for medical students. Many of the places where we work are unstable and entail certain security risks. To mitigate the risks, the presence of international staff in those contexts is kept to a minimum. Moreover, a major part of any role within MSF involves working autonomously and training local staff; therefore, it is important for medics to be at a stage in their careers where they feel comfortable doing that. We would not be able to provide the required supervision for medical student placements.
We do, however, work closely with some hospitals, such as the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), with which we have an agreement to send medical interns to our missions, for a specific position. If you are currently doing a medical internship at HUG and are interested in this option, please contact the HUG administration team.
It adds value if you diversify your work experience in hospitals (e.g. emergency department, paediatrics, mother & child, infectious diseases). Areas that are of particular interest to MSF include tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, nutrition, hospital management, etc. Training in these areas is highly desirable. Gaining work experience in a tropical country or acquiring a certificate in tropical medicine can also be good preparation.
We look for teaching, supervision and management skills, should you have the opportunity to develop these. Fluency in another language would also be valuable.
For security reasons, and to offer the most qualitative and efficient support to populations in need, we do not offer any internships in the field. Our volunteers/expatriates must be operational and able to work independently.
Yes, we accept a limited number of office volunteers and office interns at our Geneva or Zurich office. Please visit the MSF volunteers and internships page for more details.
For any unanswered questions, please email our Field Recruitment Unit at recruitment@geneva.msf.org.
