1. A Career in the Heart of Europe
EPSO
25/03/2017
A Career in the Heart of Europe
Steffen Ludwig
European Personnel Selection Office
EU career

2. EPSO selects staff for…
25/03/2017
EPSO selects staff for…
European
Commission
Council
European
Parliament
Court of Auditors
Court of Justice
Economic & Social
Committee
Data Protection Supervisor
Committee
of the Regions
Ombudsman
EU career

3. What do the EU Institutions offer?
EPSO
25/03/2017
What do the EU Institutions offer?
A lifetime of different jobs.
The opportunity to travel, and work with people from all over the world.
An environment where you are encouraged to learn new skills and languages.
An attractive benefits package:
EU career

4. We are looking for people who:
EPSO
25/03/2017
We are looking for people who:
Motivation to work for Europe
Enjoy working in multicultural teams
Strong analytical, organisational and communication skill
Come from wide range of backgrounds: generalists, economists, lawyers, scientists, IT specialists, linguists, and many more.
EU career

5. What is an EU career?
Administrators (AD) e.g. policy officers, lawers, auditors, scientific officers, translators, interpreters, communication & press officers …
Assistants (AST) e.g. secretaries, HR assistants, financial assistants, conference technicians …

6. EPSO
25/03/2017
How to apply
Entry is by open competition for citizens from all 27 Member States (no quota!)
All vacancies are advertised
Apply online:
Applications in German, French and English
Regular cycle of competitions - annual
Selection procedure 5 – 9 months
EU career

7. How to apply www.eu-careers.eu EPSO 25/03/2017
You will find more information and the latest news regarding competitions on the EU Careers website. The Discover EU careers section has information in 23 languages, the other two sections are in English, French and German.
Specific questions can be asked via the contact form on the website.
EU career

8. EU-careers on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_slqhvf4VUg EPSO
25/03/2017
EU-careers on youtube
EU career

9. Presence on social media

10. The competition

11. Basic requirements EU citizen;
EPSO
25/03/2017
Basic requirements
EU citizen;
University degree (for AD posts, Bachelor);
Knowledge of 2 official EU languages, of which one must be EN, FR or DE as your second language;
Specific profile requirements for each competition.
EU career

12. Competition structure
EPSO
25/03/2017
Competition structure
1. Admission tests (cognitive abilities in CBT, MCQ)
All applicants
2. Assessment centre (Competency based)
Fixed quota
3. Reserve lists
> 10,000 Applicants
Typically
1 : 3
< 300 Successful
EU career

13. Pre-selection: Cognitive testing
Computer based Testing: cognitive testing s
Verbal
Numerical
Abstract g
g – General Ability
s – Specific Abilities
+ Situational / behavioural
+ Professional competencies
(where appropriate)
+ Second language

14. Pre-selection tests Computer-based tests (= also known as CBT)
Verbal & numerical reasoning
NEW: Abstract reasoning
NEW: Situational judgement
In second language (English, French or German)
In test centers in all EU member states

15. Example verbal reasoning

16. Example numerical reasoning

17. Example abstract reasoning
KEY: D.

18. Example situational judgement
You lead a team of twelve people. In order to address the department's new objectives you have been asked to work out your department's yearly plan. Your Manager has given you and other department heads a deadline of two weeks so that she can report to the board.
Competency: Organising and Executing
Level: AD5
You would:
Spend an hour on it, as yearly plans are never followed anyway. (Least effective)
Try to complete the plan in time to discuss it with your Manager before she has to submit it to the board. (Most effective)
Before preparing your plan, quickly contact your key stakeholders and ask for their views on your department.
Because of the complexity of the task, turn it into your top priority for the next two weeks by personally producing a detailed plan.

19. Assessment centre

20. Assessment centre: Testing personal & professional competencies with exercises
Case study (on specific field)
Group exercise/ role play
Structured interview(s) – on basis of situational judgement test
Oral presentation (on basis of case study)

21. Core competencies: 7 + 1 For all grades:
Analysis and Problem Solving
Communicating
Delivering Quality and Results
Learning and Development
Prioritising and Organising
Resilience
Working with Others
A further competency applies to AD5 and ADL grades:
Leadership
Manages, develops and motivates people to achieve results

22. Selection: Assessment centre
Each competency at least tested twice
Each candidate tested by several assessors
Feedback report to all candidates and Institutions

23. Assessment centre parameters
Assessment centre premises in Brussels
One day
Performance in English, French or German – the second language of the candidates
36 candidates maximum per day in groups of six

24. Conclusion = Reserve list
EPSO
25/03/2017
Conclusion = Reserve list
List of successful candidates
Basis for recruitment by Institutions
Valid for at least one year – often extended
EU career

25. linguistic skills test -
When to apply?
AST
Registration +
Self-assessment
CBT
Assessment
Recruitment
Registration +
Self-assessment
CBT / professional
linguistic skills test -
CV sift
Recruitment
Assessment Centre
ADL
Self-assessment
Registration +
CBT
Assessment Centre
Recruitment AD
December
March
June
September

26. Competition structure – by type
EPSO
25/03/2017
Competition structure – by type
This diagram illustrates the different stages of a competition by type of competition.
EU career

27. Cycles March: Administrator competition July: Linguist competition
EPSO
25/03/2017
Cycles
March: Administrator competition
July: Linguist competition
November: Assistant competition
These are the fields included in the AD5 Administrator competition for The fields for 2011 and subsequent years will depend on the recruitment needs of the institutions.
In total, approximately 320 successful candidates are being sought for the 2010 competition. For the final figure and the breakdown per field, refer to the Notice of Competition (published on 16 March).
EU career

28. Upcoming/ongoing competitions in 2010
EPSO
25/03/2017
Upcoming/ongoing competitions in 2010
21/10/2010: AD5 National law EN/ES/FR/NL
28/10/2010: AD7 Structural funds/Cohesion funds
28/10/2010: AST3 Documentalist/Archivist AST4 Nuclear inspection AST3 Audiovisual/Web design
03/11//2010: AST3 Language editors EL/ES/NL/PT
10/11/2010: AST3 Proof readers IT/MT
17/11/2010: AST1 Secretariat DA/DE/EN/ES/FR/MT/NL/PT/SV
23/11/2010: AST3 Statistics, Finance/Accounting, Human resources, ICT
Lawyer linguist and other specialist competitions will be organised differently. Details of the eligibility criteria, the competition structure and the types of tests will be provided in the Notice of Competition.
EU career

29. Recruitment & career

30. Recruitment procedure
EPSO
25/03/2017
Recruitment procedure
EU-Institutions check profiles of the candidates
Candidates are invited to job interviews
Job offer
Candidate accepts job offer – or remains on reserve list
EU career

31. EPSO
25/03/2017
Career development
Facultative slide
EU career

32. Pay and pension Basic monthly salary for AST1: 2600€
EPSO
25/03/2017
Pay and pension
Basic monthly salary for AST1: 2600€
Basic monthly salary AD5: 4200 €
Basic monthly salary AD14: 12361€
Additional allowances for: expatriation (16%), household, dependent child, education
Income tax on salary paid directly to EU
Normal pension age: 65 years, right to stay until 67 years
Full pension rights = 70% final basic salary
PAY
(Gross) Basic salaries (1 May 2004): An administrator can in principle go from AD5 to AD14 without taking on a management post
Entry salary: AD5: 3811€ per month
Final salary: AD14: 13101€ per month
Allowances – a number – perhaps most important:
Household allowance (if married and the partner has no or low income): approx. 150€+2% of basic salary
Dependent child allowance (if having dependant child under 18 years of age or up to 26 years if studying): approx. 330€ per month per child
Education allowance (covering actual educational costs for dependent child): approx 220€ per month per child
Expatriation allowance (if expatriated): 16% of basic salary +household allowance +dependent child allowance
PENSION
Normal retirement age 63 – right to stay until 65.
Full pension rights= 70% of final basic salary
Earns 1,9% per year, i.e. 36,8 years of service for full pension – BUT also right to transfer pension rights from national system.
EU career

33. Traineeships/ internships
EPSO
25/03/2017
Traineeships/ internships
EU career

34. Traineeships All Institutions offer traineeships – not centralized
EPSO
25/03/2017
Traineeships
All Institutions offer traineeships – not centralized
Most trainees work in the Commission
Approx. 600 selected, twice per year
Training lasts 5 months, Oct–Feb or Mar-Jul
Salary: approx EUR per month
EU career

35. How it works …at the Commission
EPSO
25/03/2017
How it works …at the Commission
Candidates that apply …
are checked for eligibility
and added to a data base (the “Blue Book”)
Services search Blue Book and make their choice
EU career

36. Selection criteria Minimum Bachelor degree
EPSO
25/03/2017
Selection criteria
Minimum Bachelor degree
2 EU languages (2nd: English, French, German)
No prior work experience within the Institutions
No age limit
EU career

37. Selection procedure 5000-7000 applicants for the pre-selection
EPSO
25/03/2017
Selection procedure
applicants for the pre-selection
~ 2000 will be selected in the “Blue Book”
Approx. 600 applicants will receive a traineeship offer (twice a year)
EU career

38. What can help… EU related studies
EPSO
25/03/2017
What can help…
EU related studies
Self-evident synergy or “value” for Institution/ DG
Excellent knowledge of languages
Studies abroad
EU career

39. Application deadlines
EPSO
25/03/2017
Application deadlines
October traineeship: 15 February of same year (Application forms available online 01 Dec)
March traineeship: 1 September (preceding year)
Further Information:
EU career

40. Questions ?