1. All the Options… and How to Apply…
EU Careers
All the Options… and How to Apply…

2. What can I do for the EU?? ...And many, many more…. Policy development
Audit and Inspection
What can
I do
for the
EU??
Aid Work
Political Advisor
...And many, many more….

3. And many more agencies of the EU…
Who could I work for?
Council
Parliament
Commission
Ctte of Regions
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors
Ombudsman
Data Protection Supervisor
Economic & Social Ctte
And many more agencies of the EU…

4. Why should I work for the EU??
The opportunity to work and travel abroad
You are encouraged to learn new skills and languages
A lifetime of different jobs
Why should
I work
for the
EU??
An attractive benefits package
Interesting and challenging work that makes a real difference for Europe
.. have all of this…

5. What sort of people do we need?
The EU Institutions need bright, young people who:
Are highly skilled, resilient and motivated to succeed, learn and develop;
Have a desire to make a difference and who can and want to help shape Europe and the world;
Enjoy working in multicultural teams;
- Deliver results;

6. A 7+1 Competency framework
For all grades:
- Analysis and Problem Solving;
- Communicating;
- Delivering Quality and Results;
- Learning and Development;
- Prioritising and Organising;
- Resilience ;
Working with Others;
For ‘Administrator’ graduate grades:
+ Leadership

7. .. How Do I Apply..? www.eu-careers.eu
Jobs for graduates and non graduates..
Need to have
2 EU languages
(2nd language must be English, French or German)
Must be an EU citizen
Must have completed any national service
All applications made online @

8. When can I apply?
3 Big Recruitments per year…. Spring- ‘Administrators’ (Policy, Strategy, Law, Economics + more) Summer- Linguists (Translators, Interpreters) Winter- Assistants (Key supporting roles, e.g. Financial, Secretarial, Communication.) (+ several other specialist recruitments!)

9. linguistic skills test -
When to apply
AST
Registration +
Self-assessment
CBT
Assessment
Recruitment
Registration +
Self-assessment
CBT / professional
linguistic skills test -
CV sift
Recruitment
Assessment Centre
ADL
Self-assessment
Registration +
CBT
Assessment Centre
Recruitment AD
December
March
June
September
This diagram illustrates how the new annual cycle of competitions operates.
From 2010, competitions for generalist profiles are being organised in annual cycles. Registration for competitions for Administrators open in March, for Linguists (translators and interpreters) in July and for Assistants in December. The registration period is usually open for one month. The selection procedure lasts 5-9 months depending on the number of candidates.
In addition to the annual cycles for generalist profiles, competitions for more specialised profiles will also be organised throughout the year, depending on the recruitment needs of the institutions.

10. What does application involve?
Main steps (after an application form!) A Computer-Based Test at a centre in your country: Tests things such as numeric and verbal skills. An Assessment Centre in Brussels: A range of tests like case studies and groups exercises to assess your wider skills and knowledge. *For specialist roles such as translators and interpreters there will also be professional skills tests.*

11. Competition structure – by type
This diagram illustrates the different stages of a competition by type of competition.

12. Computer based tests – overview*
Verbal reasoning
Numerical reasoning
Abstract reasoning
in main language
(EU knowledge is no longer tested)
Situational judgement
in English, French or German
*Based on Spring graduate ‘AD’ selection procedure.
Where competitions require it, EPSO organises tests for admission to open competitions as described in the competition notice. Candidates take these tests on a computer in centres that specialise in this kind of test.
If you satisfy the conditions specified in the competition notice for the admission tests, you will be invited, via your EPSO account, to reserve a date within a range indicated in the invitation. As a rule, you will be offered several possible dates and centres.
A list of centres throughout the European Union (and possibly in some non-member countries) will be sent to you via your EPSO account..
Depending on the competition you have applied for, the tests may include the following:
Verbal reasoning – short passages of text, multiple-choice questions.
Numerical reasoning – tables/graphs, multiple-choice questions.
Abstract reasoning – series of diagrams that follow a logical sequence or contain a set of underlying rules, task is to choose the next diagram in the series from a number of different answer options.
Test(s) in the field chosen.
Situational judgement test – questions describing a work-related scenario linked to a block of four possible actions (MCQ format). Out of these, you are asked to choose the most effective AND the least effective action to take, in the light of the given situation. At first, SJT will be deployed as an additional non-eliminatory element and the results will be provided to the Selection Board for advisory purposes at the assessment centre.
A key principle in developing EPSO's enhanced selection methods is the shift from knowledge to competency-based assessment whilst continuing to respect the principle of fair and equal treatment at the same time. This approach will also be applied at the admission test stage of future open competitions.
That's why EPSO has enlarged its range of cognitive ability tests by replacing the EU knowledge test with an abstract reasoning test. This test - which is free of linguistic elements - offers a range of advantages for conducting fair and impartial assessments of candidates from 27 different EU Member States. Essentially, the abstract reasoning test has been proved to be:
• An objective, reliable and fair testing tool
• Largely unaffected by differences in ethnicity, education, gender and cultural background
• A good predictor of future job performance. .
What will CBT look like for the first AD cycle in March?
Candidates will take a total of four tests within a 2 hour time period (including a short break): verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, abstract reasoning as well as the non-eliminatory Situational Judgement Tests. There will be a minimum pass mark for the verbal reasoning test, as well as a combined minimum pass mark for the numerical and abstract reasoning tests. Thus, a candidate would be able to compensate a lower score in one test by a better performance in the other one.
Please note that key parameters for all admission tests like number of items and time available per test may vary for each competition. This information shall be published well in advance in various sources, namely Notice of Competition, Instructions and Booking letters.

13. Verbal Reasoning - Example

14. Numerical Reasoning - Example

15. Abstract reasoning (sample question)
More sample tests are available on the EU Careers website.

16. Assessment Centre Depending on the selection procedure:
Case study in the field in question
Exercises relating to professional skills
Oral presentation
Structured interview
Group exercises
Practical language tests
Under the new competition procedures, EPSO uses a standard « assessment centre » model, based on competencies. This model has been chosen by the institutions to be able to identify the most suitable and competent candidates for the profile required. After the admission tests, candidates are invited to an assessment centre session, which is normally held in Brussels.
In the assessment centre, candidates will be tested by appropriate instruments. A detailed explanation of these items will be given in the « Assessment Centre » brochure that candidates will receive when invited to take part in this stage of the procedure. The competition notice lists the items used for a particular competition.
The assessment centre for the Administrator competition published in March 2010 will contain a case study, a group exercise, an oral presentation and a structured interview. The exercises will be undertaken in the candidate’s language 2. The candidate’s main language will also be tested during the case study. The specific competencies in the field of the competition will be marked out of 20 (pass park: 10) and the general competencies will be marked out of 10 (pass mark: 3 for each competency and 50 out of 80 for all 8 general competencies.

17. Conclusion – ‘Reserve list’ Database
List of successful candidates + “competency passport”
Basis for recruitment by Institutions
Valid for at least one year – may be extended
Following the competition, the selection board draws up a reserve list containing the names of successful candidates. The list is then sent to the institutions, since responsibility for recruitment rests solely with them. They will also be sent a document known as a “competency passport” setting out your performance at the assessment centre, which they may use during the recruitment procedure and with a view to your career development.
If your name is included on the reserve list, you may be invited by an institution for an interview, but this does not mean you have any right to or guarantee of recruitment.
Under the Staff Regulations, recruitment depends on posts and funds becoming available. Recruitment will be at the grade indicated in the competition notice.

18. Other employment possibilities
Temporary staff: temporary agents
Contract staff: contract agents
Traineeships (5 months)
Seconded national experts (typically 1-2 years)
Interim Staff (6 months, drawn from local agencies)
Commission Ambassadors: Training Seminar

19. Commission Ambassadors: Training Seminar
Traineeships
Organised and recruited to separately by each institution.
E.g. Commission ‘stage’:
Takes place twice a year
5 months
Commence in March or October
Pay around €1000/month (+ travel reimbursement)
You can select ‘preferences’ of which department you’d like to work in.
Commission Ambassadors: Training Seminar

20. Where can I find out more?
or search ‘EU Careers’ on Facebook or Twitter

21. Where can I find out more?
Our ‘Raconteurs’
16 members of staff from across the EU Institutions…
Blogging on Facebook and tweeting on Twitter.
Just search ‘EU Careers Raconteurs’.

22. Any questions?