Career opportunities with the European Institutions My Role

Career opportunities with the European Institutions

My Role • To promote EU Careers • Point of contact in Durham • To post relevant information via Facebook • Email: eucareers. durham@gmail. com

Choose EU Careers Commission Council Economic & Social 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…

What they 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

Do you have what it takes? • You would like to use and enhance your language abilities • You have the drive to deliver results and the ability to work effectively as part of a multicultural team • You are eager to learn and develop your knowledge and skills

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 from selected candidates

When to apply

2010 cycles • November/December 2010: Assistant competition • March 2011: Administrator competition • July 2011: Linguist competition

Current Competitions • The 2011 graduate 'administrator' selection procedure will open on 16 th March. • This year we will be selecting within the following six fields: -European Public Administration -Law -Economics -Audit -Finance -Statistics

Where to apply w . w w c eu e e ar u e rs.

The competition

Who can apply – basic requirements • Citizens of the 27 Member States • Knowing at least 2 official EU languages – Currently 2 nd 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 > 50, 000 applicants typically 1: 3 1. Admission Tests (CBT) – multiple-choice tests in EN, FR or DE – cognitive abilities – test centre in Edinburgh or London – all applicants 2. Assessment Centre – EPSO assessment centre in Brussels – competency-based – fixed quota < 300 successful 3. Reserve list – fixed quota See Notice of Competition for details

Competition structure – by type

Computer based tests - overview • Verbal reasoning • Numerical reasoning • Abstract reasoning • Situational judgement • AST: Professional skills • Linguists: Language skills • (EU knowledge is no longer tested) in second language (English, French or German)

Verbal Reasoning - Example

Verbal Reasoning - Example

Numerical Reasoning - Example

Numerical Reasoning - Example

Abstract reasoning (sample question)

Situational judgement (sample question)

Assessment Centre Depending on the competition: • Case study in the field in question • Exercises relating to professional skills • Oral presentation • Structured interview • Group exercises • Practical language tests

Conclusion - Reserve list • List of successful candidates • Basis for recruitment by Institutions • Valid for at least one year – may be extended • No guarantee of a job…

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 (3 rd language required for 1 st promotion) • Flexible working conditions: – Flexitime, part-time, telework, parental leave, career breaks … • A great package of benefits: – Salary, allowances, pension, European Schools, childcare facilities

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) http: //europa. eu/epso/discover/careers/staff_categories/index_en. htm Commission Ambassadors: Training Seminar

More profiles and EU-tube • Follow Durham EU Careers Facebook page: • http: //www. facebook. com/#!/pages/EU-Careers-Durham. University/165507363484376 • General EU Careers Facebook: • http: //www. facebook. com/#!/pages/EU-Careers/298387676087 • Follow our “raconteurs” (blogging about their lives in the EU institutions) on: http: //www. facebook. com/page/EUCareers. . http: //twitter. com/EUCareers • Read profiles/watch videos of officials in the EU institutions: http: //europa. eu/epso/discover/careers/meet_our_colleagues/index_en. htm • Watch a video about EU Careers: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=_slqhvf 4 VUg All accessible via http: //eu-careers. eu/

More information, questions … w . w w c eu e e ar u e rs.