9 February 2012

Career opportunities with EU institutions

European Personnel Selection Office

Presentation by Joan FlanaganEducation OfficerEuropean Commission Representation in Ireland

9 February 2012

What can I do 

for the EU??

Political AdvisorAid Work

...And many, many more….

Policy development Audit and Inspection

9 February 2012

EPSO selects staff for:

CouncilCommission

Ctte of RegionsCourt of Justice Court of AuditorsEconomic &Social Ctte

Ombudsman

Data ProtectionSupervisor

Parliament

…and many other agencies of the EU

9 February 2012

Are you looking for:

• Challenging work?

• Meaningful work (public service)?

• Opportunities to travel and work in different countries?

• Opportunities to change job and progress?

• Opportunities to learn new skills and languages?

• An attractive benefits package?

… then look no further!

9 February 2012

How to apply

• Single point of entry:– Run by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

• Entry is by open competition

• 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 from selected candidates

9 February 2012

Who can apply

• Citizens of the 27 Member States• At least 2 official EU languages • Second language must be English, French or German

• 3 languages before first promotion

9 February 2012

Categories of staff

AD – Administrators (Spring)Drafting policy, implementing EU law, research, policy analysisVaried roles

Linguists (Summer)Translators, Interpreters

AST – Assistants (Winter)Administrative support (e.g. in finance, HR, IT), technicians, secretaries, proofreaders 

NB: Specific requirements for each competition

9 February 2012

Competition timeline

9 February 2012

Selection Procedure 

Main steps (after online registration)

A Computer‐Based Test at a centre in your country: Tests things such as numerical 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.*

9 February 2012

Selection Procedure – 3 stages

> 50,000applicants

<  300successful

typically1 : 3

1. Admission Tests (CBT) – multiple-choice tests– cognitive abilities– test centre in your country – all applicants

2. Assessment Centre– EPSO assessment centre in Brussels– competency-based

3. Database of successful applicants (called a ‘Reserve list’)

9 February 2012

Computer based tests ‐ overview

• Verbal reasoning

• Numerical reasoning

• Abstract reasoning 

in first (or ‘main’) language

• (EU knowledge is no longer tested)

• Situational judgement

in second language which must be English, French or German

• AST: professional skills 

• Linguists: language skills

9 February 2012

Numerical Reasoning ‐ Example

Since 2001, annual motorway network growth has been 10% in France and 2% in Germany. Assuming these growth rates have remained constant, in what year did the total length of French motorways overtake the total length of German motorways?

•2002 •2003 •2004 •2005 •2006

9 February 2012

Abstract reasoning (sample question)

9 February 2012

Second stage ‐ Assessment Centre

Depending on the competition:• Case study • Exercises relating to professional skills• Oral presentation• Structured interview• Group exercise

In second language which must be English, French or German

• Practical language tests

9 February 2012

‘Reserve list’ Database

• List of successful candidates

• Basis for recruitment by Institutions

• Valid for at least one year – may be extended

9 February 2012

Third stage ‐ recruitment

• Institutions invite candidates for interview

• Job offer made

• Candidate has option of accepting or remaining on reserve list

9 February 2012

2012 Administrator Competition

Details will be published on eucareers.eu in the course of the first quarter 2012

Choose one of 5 possible fields:European Public Administration, Law, Audit, Communication, External Relations

* Check Notice of Competition for full details

9 February 2012

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)

9 February 2012

European Commission traineeship

The European Commission offers two 5‐month traineeships each year (March ‐ July and October –February)

See http://ec.europa.eu/stages

9 February 2012

European Commission traineeship

Application for March 2013 traineeship open from 2 July to 31 August 2012

9 February 2012

European Commission traineeship – Requirements 

• University degree • No previous in‐service training or employment (paid or 

unpaid) with any EU institution or body of more than 6 weeks• Very good knowledge of English, French or German and if EU 

Member State national, very good knowledge of second EU official language

For translation traineeship with DGT:• your target language must be one of the EU official languages 

or Croatian• your first source language must be either English, French or 

German• your second source language, different from the first one, 

must be one of the EU official languages

9 February 2012

European Commission traineeship

Apply online http://ec.europa.eu/stages

Top three departments with justification for choice

Competition for certain DGs (EEAS, EAC, Legal Service)

Trainees receive a basic monthly grant (€1071,19 in March 2011)

9 February 2012

Staffing levels by Institution

European Parliament13%

European Ombudsman0,5%

Council9%

European Commission70%

European Court of Justice3%

Court of Auditors2%

Economical and Social Committee

2%

Committee of Regions1%

9 February 2012

Attractive career

• Strong focus on training & development• Language training encouraged (3rd language required for first promotion)• Job mobility: career development positively encouraged (successive 

changes of department/field) • Basic monthly salary for AST1: 2,650€• Basic monthly salary for AD5: 4,350€• Additional allowances for: expatriation, household, dependent child, 

education

• Flexitime arrangements 

• Part‐time working arrangements

• Maternity leave of 20 weeks

• Parental leave of 6 months

9 February 2012

More information…

EPSO website: www.eu‐careers.eu

UCD EU Careers Ambassador: Laura Murphyeucareers.ucd.lm@gmail.com

EUjobs@taoiseach.ie• Mailing list for final year students and graduates interested in applying for 

permanent EU posts• Updates and information on the application process and the tests

The Department of the Taoiseach has no part in the organisation, running or selection process for the recruitment of EU officials. This work is carried out by EPSO.