Career opportunities with the
European Institutions
Selection Procedures
European Personnel Selection Office
Where can an EU Career lead?
Council
Ctte of Regions
Commission
Parliament
Court of Justice
Economic &
Social Ctte
Ombudsman
Court of Auditors
Data Protection
Supervisor
… and many more agencies of the EU
… in Brussels or Luxembourg (80% )
…or else where in the EU and the World (20%)
Why EU Careers?
A career with the EU Institutions gives you:
• Interesting and challenging work that makes
a real difference for Europe
• An environment where you are encouraged
to learn new skills and languages
• The opportunity to work and travel abroad,
and work with people from all over Europe
• A lifetime of different jobs
What is an EU career?
Graduate
Non – Graduate
Policy officers
Lawyers
Auditors
Translators
Interpreters
Communication & press
officers
IT project managers
Development Aid specialists
Archivists
Statisticians
Contract managers
Secretaries
HR assistants
Language editors
Financial assistants
Conference organisers
Audio visual technicians
ICT support
Web designers
Nuclear inspectors
Social workers
Nurses
Administrator (AD)
Assistant (AST)
Where to find more about the type of work?
Follow our “raconteurs”:
• members of staff from across
the EU Institutions
• blogging on Facebook and
tweeting on Twitter
• Just search
‘EU Careers Raconteurs’
Who are we looking for?
Basic eligibility criteria:
 EU citizen
 2 EU languages (2nd = EN, FR or DE)
 Linguist profiles: 3 EU languages
 Graduate profiles (Administrator):
bachelor degree
 Non-graduate profiles (Assistant):
secondary education + 3 years professional
experience
What sort of people are we looking for?
• Are highly skilled, resilient and motivated to
succeed, learn and develop
• Have a desire to make a difference; who
want to help shape Europe and the world
• Enjoy working in multi cultural teams
• Deliver results
When to apply?
Generalists: 3 major selection procedures per year
• Spring:
Graduates (Administrator)
• Summer: Linguists
- Conference interpreters
- Translators
• Winter:
Non-Graduates with experience (Assistants)
Specialists and contractual staff: when needed
(Most) profiles and languages vary each year
Upcoming 2012
• 21 June:
Summer
• 05 July:
• 12 July:
Linguist profiles (HR)
- translators
- interpreters
- lawyer linguists
Interpreters (DA/DE/EN/SK)
Translators (ET/GA/LV/PT)
Upcoming 2012
Fall/Winter
• 25 Oct:
• 15 Nov:
• 06 Dec:
• 20 Dec:
Croatian Secretaries (AST1)
Croatian Assistants (AST3)
Secretaries (AST1)
Audit
Finance
Economics/Stats (AST3)
Scientists – 5 fields (AST3)
Selection Procedure
Overview
Online
Application
Computer
Tests
EU wide
Assessment
Centre
Brussels
www.eu-careers.eu
Reserve list
Successful
applicants
Selection Procedure
Overview
Phase 1. Computer Based Tests (CBT)
– multiple-choice tests in 1st and 2nd language
– cognitive abilities
– test centre in your country
– all applicants
Procedure
takes about
9 months
1
Phase 2. Assessment Centre
– fixed quota of top scoring candidates are invited
– EPSO assessment centre in Brussels
– competency-based
Resulting in Reserve list
– fixed quota
9
See Notice of Competition for details
Computer based tests
Verbal reasoning
Numerical
reasoning
Abstract
reasoning
Situational
judgement
• n your ain language
In your main language
• 1 of
the23
23official
official
1 of
EU languages
• EU languages
In your 2nd language
EN/FR or DE
Example verbal reasoning
Example verbal reasoning
Example numerical reasoning
Example numerical reasoning
Example abstract reasoning
Example abstract reasoning
KEY: D.
Example situational
judgement
Assessment Centre
Depending on the profile:
• Case study
• Oral presentation
• Structured interview
• Group exercise
• Practical language tests (Linguists)
• Exercises relating to professional skills (AST)
Assessment Centre
7+1 Competencies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Analysis & Problem-Solving
Communicating
Delivering Quality & Results
Learning & Development
Prioritising & Organising
Resilience
Working with others
 Leadership (potential to lead) (AD profiles)
Reserve list & Recruitment
Reserve list
EPSO
• Data base of successful
candidates
Recruitment
EU institutions
• Institution has a vacancy
- Checks reserve list
- Invites candidates to
• Valid for at least 1 year
– may be extended
• No guarantee for a job
interview
- Job offer to ‘best fit ‘
• Candidate accepts offer, or
remains on reserve list
Questions?
www.eu-careers.eu
EC Traineeship – what is it?
• All Institutions offer traineeships – not
centralized
Most trainees work in the Commission
– Approx. 600 selected, twice per year
• Not a typical internship
(no ‘photocopying’, you are paid (€1079.19))
• 5 months: Oct>Feb or March>July
EC Traineeship – who can apply?
Selection Criteria
You do not have to be an EU national
There is no age limit
No prior work experience within the Institutions
You need:
 to have an undergraduate degree (Bachelor)
 to speak two EU Languages (2nd: EN, FR, DE)
 to apply in time ....
EC Traineeship – key steps
.... for traineeship March-July 2013
Apply between
July 2 – August 31
Online
Application
December
Eligibility
check
PreSelection
Selection
+ a hard copy file!
5000 -7000
applicants
2000
pre-selected
‘Blue Book’
600
approx.
receive an offer
Online application for EC Traineeship:
http://ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm
October traineeships: apply between 3-31 January same year