Transcript EU Careers: face a bigger challenge

Career opportunities with the
European Institutions
Choose EU Careers
Commission
Council
Economic &
Social Ctte
Ctte of Regions
Parliament
Ombudsman
Court of Justice
Data Protection
Supervisor
… and many other
agencies of the EU
Court of Auditors
Why EU Careers?
A career with the EU Institutions gives you:
• A lifetime of different jobs
• 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
• An attractive benefits package
What is an EU career?
Two categories of staff – wide variety of profiles:
• Administrators (AD)
e.g. policy officers, lawyers, auditors, scientific officers,
translators, interpreters, communication & press officers …
• Assistants (AST)
e.g. secretaries, HR assistants, financial assistants,
conference technicians, accountants, ICT specialists…
More profiles and EU-tube
• Follow our “raconteurs” (blogging about their lives in the EU
institutions) on:
http://www.facebook.com/page/EUCareers ....
http://twitter.com/EUCareers
• Read profiles/listen to podcasts of officials in the EU
institutions:
http://europa.eu/epso/discover/careers/testimonials/index_en.htm
• Watch a video about EU Careers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLdA10vdgzc
All accessible via http://eu-careers.eu/
What we look for
• Best candidates across Europe
• Motivation to work for Europe
• Strong analytical, organisational and
communication skills
• Ability to adapt easily to a variety of
environments and stakeholders
How to apply
• Single point of entry:
– European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)
• Entry is by open competition
– Notice of Competition published in Official Journal of European
Union, also available via www.eu-careers.eu
• Organised in annual cycles for general profiles
– More specialised profiles “on demand”
• Apply online at: www.eu-careers.eu
• EPSO selects candidates
– Selection procedure = 5-9 months
• Institutions recruit successful candidates
When to apply
2011 cycle
• March 2011:
Administrators
> European Public Administration
> Law
> Economics
> Audit
> Finance
> Statistics
• May 2011: Language editors (EN, IT, MT, SV)
Communication Specialists
(EN, ES, ET, FR, PL, NL, PT, SK, SL, SV)
• July 2011:
Linguists
> Interpreters (CS, DA, ES, LV, SV)
> Translators (CS, HU, LT, MT, PL, SK)
• Nov/Dec 2011:
Assistants
Where to apply
The competition
Who can apply – basic requirements
• Citizens of the 27 Member States
• Knowing at least 2 official EU languages
– Currently 2nd language must be EN, FR or DE
Who can apply - qualifications
For Administrator grades:
• University degree (bachelor)
For Assistant grades:
• Higher secondary education (at least)
• Relevant professional experience
NB: Specific requirements for each competition
– see Notice of Competition
Competition structure – general overview
1. Admission Tests (Computer Based Tests — CBT)
– multiple-choice tests in 1st and 2nd language
– to test your cognitive abilities
– test centre in your country
– all applicants
2. Assessment Centre
– written and oral tests
– to test your competencies
– EPSO assessment centre in Brussels
– fixed quota
3. Reserve list
– fixed quota
See Notice of Competition for details
Computer based tests - overview
• Verbal reasoning
1st language
• Numerical reasoning
1st language
• Abstract reasoning
1st language
• Situational judgement
2nd language
• AST: Professional skills
• Linguists: Language skills
• (EU knowledge is no longer tested)
Verbal Reasoning - Example
Verbal Reasoning - Example
Numerical Reasoning - Example
Numerical Reasoning - Example
Abstract reasoning (sample question)
Situational judgement (sample question)
Assessment Centre
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Case study in the field of the competition
Oral presentation
Structured interview
Group exercise
Depending on the competition:
• Exercises relating to professional skills (AST)
• Practical language tests (Linguists)
Assessment Centre - competencies
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Analysis & Problem-Solving
Communicating
Delivering Quality & Results
Learning & Development
Prioritising & Organising
Resilience
Working with others
Leadership (potential to lead)
Conclusion - Reserve list
• List of successful candidates
• Basis for recruitment by Institutions
• Valid for at least one year – may be
extended
EU Careers – recruitment process
• Institutions check profiles of successful
candidates
• Candidates invited to job interviews
• Job offer
• Candidate accepts job offer, or remains on
reserve list
EU Careers – the whole package
• An environment where you are encouraged to learn new
skills and languages:
– Strong focus on training and development
– Language training encouraged
(3rd language required for 1st promotion)
• Flexible working conditions:
– Flexitime, part-time, telework, parental leave, career breaks …
• A great package of benefits:
– Salary, allowances, pension, European Schools, childcare facilities
Trainees / Interns / Stagiaires
Who takes trainees?
• Most trainees work in the Commission (75% of
all trainees)
• Approx. 600 selected twice per year
• For 5 months: October–February or March-July
How it works
• Candidates who apply are:
– checked for eligibility
– added to a database (the “Blue Book”)
• Services search the Blue Book and make
their choice
Selection criteria
• Must have completed min. Bachelor degree
• 2 EU languages
(2nd: English, French or German)
• No prior work experience within the
Institutions
• No age limit
Things that can help
• EU-related studies
• Excellent language knowledge
• Studies abroad
Good to know
• Salary is approx. 1100 EUR per month
Deadlines for application:
• March traineeship: 1 September of the
preceding year
• October traineeship: 31 January of the
same year
• Information on:
http://ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm
More information, questions …