A career at the EU institutions

28 October 2015
Michiel HUMBLET

DISCLAIMER
This presentation reflects my personal views as a Commission official. I am not representing the Commission, nor its DG HR or EPSO, in an official capacity.
 Agenda

I. Introduction

II. Focus on permanent positions

III. Focus on traineeships

IV. Useful links

2
 Agenda

I. Introduction

II. Focus on permanent positions

III. Focus on traineeships

IV. Useful links

3
 Where can an EU career lead you?
Centralised recruitment process via European Personnel Own
Selection Office (EPSO) recruitment
process

European Commission European Parliament

European Central
Council of the EU / Bank
European Council

European
Investment Bank
Court of Justice European External Committee of the
of the EU Action Service (EEAS) Regions
European
Ombudsman
European
Investment Fund

European Data European EU agencies &

Protection European Court of Economic and decentralised
Supervisor Auditors Social Committee bodies
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Which profiles do EU institutions need?

Law European Public Translation Communication

Administration

Audit External ICT Conference

relations interpretation

Economics & Support staff Proofreading And many other

statistics profiles…
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 Who are EU institutions looking for?
Eligibility criteria General competencies

Analysis & problem- Delivering quality &

EU citizenship solving results
(except for traineeships)

Learning &
Communicating
Proficiency in development
EN/FR/DE and at least
one other official EU
language Prioritising &
Working with others
organising

Graduates &
non-graduates Resilience Leadership

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 What does an EU career offer?

International
Interesting &
working Travel
challenging work
environment

Training &
Work-life balance Job mobility
development

Contribute to
Competitive
Social benefits European
remuneration
integration

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 Which contracts does the EU offer? (1/2)
Type of contract
Permanent • Permanent contract in a variety of fields
officials • Three function groups: AD, AST, AST/SC
See part II of this Selection procedure
presentation • Open competition (on basis of “Notice of Competition”) run by EPSO
Function group “Administrators (AD)”
• Engaged in policy formulation, operational delivery, resources
management and translation/interpretation
• Grades: AD5 - AD16
• Entry level: AD5 (at least 3 years of completed university studies attested
by a diploma; basic gross salary: ca. 4380 EUR / month)
Function group “Assistants (AST)”
• Typically play an executive and technical role
• Grades: AST1 - AST11
• Entry level: AST1 / AST3 (at least post-secondary non-university studies /
short university course of 2 years; basic gross salary: ca. 2680 EUR /
month)
Function group “Assistant-secretaries (AST/SC)”
• Engaged in office management and administrative tasks
• Grades: AST/SC1 – AST/SC6

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 Which contracts does the EU offer? (2/2)
Type of contract
Trainees • Contract of 3-18 months (in most cases: 5 months) in a variety of fields
• Most traineeships are remunerated (ca. 1,000 EUR / month)
See part III of this Selection procedure
presentation • Specific procedure for each EU institution (overview)

Type of contract
Contract staff • Fixed-term contract
(CAST) • Type “3a” (initially fixed-term, but can lead to permanent employment)
• Type “3b” (used the most; up to 6 years within one EU institution)
• Four function groups (FG): I, II, III, IV
Selection procedure
• Advertised on the basis of a “Call for Expression of Interest” run by EPSO
• Spontaneously via EU CV Online

Type of contract
Temporary & • Fixed-term contract in a variety of fields
interim staff
Selection procedure for temporary staff
• Specific procedure for each EU institution (overview)
• Spontaneously via EU CV Online
Selection procedure for interim staff
• Through temp agencies (overview) 9
 Agenda

I. Introduction

II. Focus on permanent positions

III. Focus on traineeships

IV. Useful links

10
 How to apply for a permanent position?
General principles
• Recruitment only via open competitions run by EPSO
– Several open competitions per year
• Spring: graduate profiles (public administration, law, economics, audit, …)
• Summer: linguist profiles (translators, conference interpreters, …)
• Winter: non-graduate profiles (assistants)
• When needed: specialist profiles

• General rules governing open competitions

– General principles on open competitions
– List of general competencies sought
– Definition of general and specific eligibility requirements
– How to apply and the subsequent possible phases in open
competitions
– Communication modalities and complaints procedure

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How to apply for a permanent position?
Opportunities & EPSO account
http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm

Create/access EPSO account

Needed to apply &
important to check regularly!

Current opportunities

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How to apply for a permanent position?
Notice of Competition & online application
• "Notice of Competition" (example) contains all information
specific for the competition you selected
– Function group, fields of expertise (if any) and grade
– Deadline for registration
– Envisaged number of laureates for reserve list
– General and specific eligibility conditions
– Phases of the competition and how general competencies are tested
Computer-based
E-tray exercise
Online tests (CBT) Assessment 5-9
Reserve list
application centre months
Talent screener (specialist profiles)

• Complete and submit online application via EPSO account

– Complete the interactive sample tests (if any)
– Provide information on diplomas, experience, motivation, language
knowledge, specific skills and qualifications, language preferences 13
 How to apply for a permanent position?
Pre-selection: computer-based tests (CBT)

• Initial “elimination round” to select the applicants which

are admitted to the next phase
• It is the most selective phase – preparation is key!
– Books (e.g. “The Ultimate EU Test Book”)
– Online (e.g. "Online EU Training")

Where? Type of tests Language Result

Main language Applicants with

Verbal, numerical the highest scores
(one of the 24
and abstract move on to the
official EU
reasoning next phase,
A test centre in or languages)
provided that
outside the EU
their application
Situational Second language meets the
judgement (EN/FR/DE) eligibility
requirements
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How to apply for a permanent position?
CBT example: verbal reasoning

Possible setup:
Number of questions: 10
Time allowed: 18 minutes
Pass mark: 5/10
Correct answer: D
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How to apply for a permanent position?
CBT example: numerical reasoning

Possible setup:
Number of questions: 10
Time allowed: 20 minutes
Pass mark: 5/10
Correct answer: A
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How to apply for a permanent position?
CBT example: abstract reasoning

Possible setup:
Number of questions: 20
Time allowed: 20 minutes
Pass mark: 10/20
Correct answer: D
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How to apply for a permanent position?
CBT example: situational judgement

Possible setup:
Number of questions: 20
Time allowed: 30 minutes
Pass mark: 24/40
Correct answer: B (most), D (least)
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 How to apply for a permanent position?
Intermediate test: e-tray exercise
• Recently introduced intermediary phase
• Tests the following general competencies:
– Analysis and problem-solving
– Delivering quality and results
– Prioritising and organising
– Working with others
• 10x envisaged number of laureates invited to this phase
Where? Type of tests Language Result

Computer-based test in
Applicants with the
which you are asked to
highest scores move on
A test centre answer a number of Second
to the next phase,
in or outside questions using the language
provided that their
the EU documentation (EN/FR/DE)
application meets the
provided in an e-mail
eligibility requirements
inbox
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How to apply for a permanent position?
E-tray example

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 How to apply for a permanent position?
Assessment centre
• Typically lasts an entire day
• Consists of several types of tests; all eight general
competencies are assessed at least twice
– Notice of Competition indicates which competencies are assessed
during which tests
• Preparation with books or private/public trainings
• 2-3x envisaged number of laureates invited to this phase
Type of tests
Where? Language Result
(non-exhaustive)
A test centre in Applicants with the
Written case study
or outside the highest scores are
(in relevant field of expertise) Second
EU added to the
language
Group exercise reserve list from
Brussels or (EN/FR/DE)
Oral presentation which EU
Luxembourg institutions recruit
Structured interview
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How to apply for a permanent position?
Assessment centre: an impression
YouTube video: “A day at the assessment centre”

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 How to apply for a permanent position?
From the reserve list to a job
• At the end of the open competition, a reserve list
(example) is published from which EU institutions recruit
– Reserve list expiry date: typically 1 year after publication (but
period of validity often extended)
– Reserve list “laureates” are sent information on specific vacancies
– Inclusion in a reserve list does not imply and right or guarantee of
recruitment
Recruitment
Contact with
Reserve list Job interview by EU
EU institutions
institution
• EU institutions • Panel interview
access reserve • Usually 3-5
list and contact candidates are
laureates of interviewed
interest • Prepare by
• Spontaneous familiarising
applications by yourself with
laureates service’s activities 23
How to apply for a permanent position?
Further info sources on open competitions
• Further information on ongoing competitions and
selections can be found on the website “EU Careers Info”
– Important documents (e.g.
Notice of Competition)
– Indicative calendar (example)
– “Wall” with news & updates
– Frequently asked questions
– Interactive Q&A Newsletter subscription
– Statistics (e.g. number of
candidates, cut-off scores)
– Manuals
– Newsletter subscription

• Your EPSO account

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How to apply for a permanent position?
Some statistics

Example: 2014 generalist competition (AD5)

(EPSO/AD/276/14)

Number of applications 27,531

Number of candidates admitted 421

to assessment centre (cut-off score: 61.167 / 70)

Number of laureates on the

137
reserve list

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 Agenda

I. Introduction

II. Focus on permanent positions

III. Focus on traineeships

IV. Useful links

26
 European Commission traineeships
• Most important EU traineeship programme
– 5-month traineeships (2 periods: March-July & October-February)
– Ca. 650 trainees hired per period (out of ca. 15,000 applications)
– Remuneration: ca. 1,000 EUR / month
• Eligibility criteria
– University degree of at least 3 years (minimum: bachelor)
– Very good knowledge of EN/FR/DE + another EU official language
– No prior work experience at one of the EU institutions or agencies
• Process
– Online application & submission of hardcopy application file
– Eligibility check & preselection (“blue book”: ca. 2000 candidates)
– Recruitment from the blue book (ca. 650 trainees)
• Next opportunity: October 2016 – February 2017
– Application deadline: 31 January 2016
• Information & application: http://ec.europa.eu/stages 27
Other interesting (traineeship) opportunities

• Junior Professionals in Delegation (JPD) at the European

External Action Service (EEAS) (more info)
– Traineeship of 9-18 months in an EU Delegation abroad
– Remunerated
– Next opportunity: September 2017 (applications in early 2017)
• Other traineeship opportunities: overview
• Graduate Programmes
– Several-year contracts, often with mobility within institution
– Open to recent graduates with no or limited work experience
– Much more selective than traineeship programmes
– Remunerated (comparable to entry-level permanent positions)
– Offered by the European Central Bank (Frankfurt am Main) and the
European Investment Bank (Luxembourg)

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 Agenda

I. Introduction

II. Focus on permanent positions

III. Focus on traineeships

IV. Useful links

29
 Useful links
Official websites:
• European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) (general website)
• EU Careers Info (incl. newsletter subscription)

Social media:
• EU Careers on YouTube (info videos & testimonials)
• EU Careers on Facebook

Preparing for an open competition:

• Sample tests and training on the EPSO website
• The Ultimate EU Test Book
• Online EU Training
• The European Bookshop, Rue de l'Orme 1, 1040 Brussels

EU staff policies:
• EU Staff Regulations (May 2014)

Other useful websites:

• Werken bij de EU (Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs)
• Werken bij Europa (blog on VLEVA website)
• Werken bij Europa (vacancy list on VLEVA website)
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