9 February 2011
A career at the heart of Europe
European Personnel Selection Office
Presentation by Joan FlanaganEducation OfficerEuropean Commission Representation in Ireland
9 February 2011
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 2011
Getting a job in an EU Institution
• EPSO selects candidates
• European Institutions recruit from selected candidates
9 February 2011
Are you looking for:
• Challenging work?
• Meaningful work (public service)?
• Opportunities to travel?
• Opportunities to change job and progress?
• Opportunities to change place of work?
• A career…?
… then look no further!
9 February 2011
How to apply
• Entry is by open competition
• Apply online on: www.eu-careers.eu
• Regular cycle of competitions
• Selection procedure = 5-9 months
9 February 2011
Who can apply
• Citizens of the 27 Member States• Having at least 2 official EU
languages of which one is EN, FR or DE
• 3 languages before first promotion
9 February 2011
Categories of staff
AD – Administrators administrators, policy makers, researchers, managers,
translators, interpreters …
• University degree
AST – Assistants administrative assistants (e.g. in finance, HR, IT), technicians,
secretaries, proofreaders …
• Higher Secondary Education (at least)
NB: Specific requirements for each competition
9 February 2011
Competition structure
> 10,000applicants
< 300successful
typically1 : 50
1. Computer Based Tests (CBT) – multiple choice tests in EN, FR or DE – test centre in your country – all applicants
2. Assessment – EPSO assessment centre in Brussels
All defined in a published “Notice of competition”
9 February 2011
1. Computer based tests
Computer Based Tests (CBT)
• verbal & numerical reasoning
• abstract reasoning
• situational judgement testing
• AST: professional skills
• Linguists: language skills • (EU knowledge is no longer tested)• in second language
9 February 2011
2. Assessment
• AD (one day)
- Case study in the field (written)- Group exercise- Oral presentation- Structured interview
• AST (half a day)
- Professional skills test- Work simulation- Structured interview
9 February 2011
What are we testing during the assessment
Knowledge- Specialist knowledge (in EU context)- Second language- Main language
Competencies- Analysis and problem solving- Communicating- Delivering quality and result- Learning and development- Prioritising and organising- Resilience- Working with others+- AD: Leadership
9 February 2011
Conclusion - Reserve list
• List of successful candidates
• Basis for recruitment by Institutions
• Valid for at least one year – often extended
9 February 2011
Process of recruitment
• Institutions invite candidates for interview
• Job offer made
• Candidate has option of accepting or remaining on reserve list
9 February 2011
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 2011
Careerfunction group AD (Administrators) function group AST (Assistants)
Director-General AD 16
Director-General/ Director AD 15
Administrator working for example as:
Director / Head of unit / Adviser / linguistic expert; economic expert; legal expert; medical expert; veterinary expert; scientific expert; research expert; financial expert, audit expert AD 14
Head of Unit/Adviser/linguistic expert; economic expert; legal expert; medical expert; veterinary expert; scientific expert; research expert; financial expert, audit expert AD 13
Head of Unit/principal translator, principal interpreter, principal economist; principal lawyer; principal medical officer; principal veterinary inspector; principal scientist; principal researcher; principal financial officer, principal audit officer
AD 12 Assistant working for example as:
AD 11 AST 11Personal assistant (p.a.); clerical officer;
technical officer; IT officerHead of Unit/senior translator; senior interpreter; senior economist ; senior lawyer; senior medical officer; senior veterinary inspector; senior scientist; senior researcher; senior financial officer, senior audit officer
AD 10 AST 10
AD 9 AST 9
Translator; interpreter; economist; lawyer; medical officer; veterinary inspector; scientist; researcher; financial officer, auditor
AD 8 AST 8 Senior clerk; senior documentalist; senior technician; senior IT operativeAD 7 AST 7
Junior translator; junior interpreter; junior economist; junior lawyer; junior medical officer; junior veterinary inspector; junior scientist; junior researcher; junior financial officer, junior auditor
AD 6 AST 6 Clerk; documentalist; technician; IT operativeAD 5 AST 5
AST 4 Junior clerk; junior documentalist; junior technician, junior IT operative AST 3
AST 2 Filing clerk; technical attendant; IT attendant, Parliamentary usher. AST 1
9 February 2011
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 2011
Other working possibilities
• Contract agents• Traineeships• Seconded national experts
http://europa.eu/epso/discover/careers/staff_categories/index_en.htm
9 February 2011
Further information
www.eu-careers.eu
General Information in 23 languages
Applications accepted in 3 languages(English, French, German)
9 February 2011
Contacts in the Representation in Ireland
Education officer:[email protected]
Head of [email protected]
www.euireland.ie