EPSO Administrators AD Competitions in a Nutshell

Perhaps one of the most sought after competition in EPSO is for the Administrators function group, otherwise shortened as EPSO AD. It is the top position for any career profiles you could apply for. They are usually the ones to support decision-makers in fulfilling the mission of their institution or body.

While the opportunity for growth in this function group is endless, the possibility to succeed may not be as wide. But before you discourage yourself, we are here to tell you that through preparation and hard work, nothing is impossible.

This preparation begins by understanding what EPSO AD is. And we have prepared this guide just for you! Read on below to familiarize yourself with this competition:

EPSO AD Profiles

Being employed as an administrator, after having successfully passed one EPSO Administrators Competition , you will now be involved in drafting policies, implementing EU law, and analysis or advisory work.

Depending on your skills, you will have the opportunity to work as an Administrator  in your field of competence and according to the EU profiles outlined on the  EU Careers website. . Even the competitions are organized to fill these outlined profiles.

The policy sectors covered include administration, law, finance, economics, information technology, communications and science. Also recruited as administrators are translators and interpreters. Below is a more in-depth look into these profiles:

Audit

This career profile is for those who have professional auditing experience and would like to work for EU as an auditor. He or she must be able to meet its demanding requirements in financial, performance and internal auditing.

Tasks:

• Undertaking audits in a broad range of EU policy areas, examining compliance with laws and regulation and value for money
• Assess how well the risks are being managed as well as how the organization is being governed and how well the internal processes are working
• Provide consulting services, advising management on how to improve systems and processes

Communication Officer

Communication officers deliver written and oral information and could work in areas such as external communication with the public at large, ranging from the media to visitors’ groups.

Tasks:

• Drafting press releases, reports and texts for different kinds of media
• Establishing and maintaining relations with the media
• Communicating information on topical EU issues
• Monitoring and analyzing media impact
• Managing and maintaining EU’s presence on all online platforms

Economics/Statistics

The administrator-level competitions for the economics and statistics are fro those with a degree in statistics, economics, mathematics, or any related discipline. The descriptions for the following are as follows:

Economist

As an EU economist, you will be tasked to deliver economic and statistical analysis that will help share new strategies in areas such as:

• Financial institutions and markets
• Economic integration and development
• Pan-European trade
• Public finance
• Structural reforms
• Single currency

Statistician

EU statisticians, on the other hand, contribute to economic, financial, social, agricultural or environmental information. They are involved in the following tasks:

• Designing and implementing statistical programmes
• Defining methodologies
• Applying mathematical models
• Undertaking quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Regulating and coordinating statistical activities
• Interpreting and disseminating data
• Executing project plans
• Supervising and mentoring colleagues

European Public Administration (Policy Officer)

This career profile fits for those who graduated with a generalist background or experience in public administration and policy. A policy officer could go to many different sectors, be it from information and technology to human rights.

Tasks:

• Drafting policy analysis
• Implementing projects and programmes of work across Europe
• Coordinating work across departments and with external stakeholders
• Managing human and financial resources

External Relations

If you are a budding diplomat, then working as an external relations officer for the EU may just be for you!

Tasks:

• Take part in negotiations and implementation of bi- and multilateral agreements between the EU and third countries or international organisations
• Coordinate the external action of the EU with Member States and various EU institutions
• Represent the EU abroad
• Sustain diplomatic relations with EU partner countries and promote EU interests
• Work closely with EU delegations and embassies
• Draft political reports, analysis notes and briefings for decision-makers
• Organise and take part in high-level meetings subject to official protocol

Finance

Those who want to work as Administrators under this career profile will be EU financial managers working with very complex financial structures.

Tasks:

• Defining financial and budget procedures
• Preparing annual reports and accounts
• Assisting with audits and inspections
• Managing organisational risk
• Supervising and mentoring colleagues

Information Technology

As technologies continue to advance, so does the need for more IT specialists, and in this case IT Administrators, to ensure that the EU institutions are functioning properly and carrying out work that affects the lives of millions of Europeans.

Tasks:

• Project and process management
• Monitoring and analysis, technical analysis and advice
• Interservice coordination and consultation
• Telecommunications services
• Data processing centres
• Management and supervision of e-mail services, data and voice network services
• Web development, development of software for statistical data collection
• IT security management

Languages

With the diversity of languages in use across Europe, it is undeniable how the EU institutions’ interpreting service is the largest in the world. That is why the languages career profile is necessary to deliver its work in various countries. Administrators could work as conference interpreter, lawyer-linguist, or lawyers. They are as follows:

Conference Interpreter

Conference interpreters are vital for ensuring that the discussions held at meetings are correctly interpreted into an official languange of the EU, either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting.

Those interested in this career profile must have perfect command of one EU language and a thorough command of at least 2 others with an appropriate qualification in conference interpreting or a degree plus one year’s professional experience as a conference interpreter.

Tasks:

• Work in a stimulating, multi-cultural environment
• Communicate effectively, grasp varied and often complex issues
• React and adapt swiftly to changing circumstances
• Work under pressure, independently and as part of a team

Translator

Just like the conference interpreter, translators ensure that the right information like EU policies is transpired and understood across the different EU countries, helping 500 million Europeans.

Tasks:

• Translating a broad range of political, legal, financial, scientific and technical texts
• Providing wide-ranging linguistic advice to colleagues

Lawyer-Linguist

Due to the rigorous task at hand, EU lawyer-linguists are for those capable lawyers with outstanding linguistic abilities in order to ensure that all new legislation has the same meaning in every European language.

Tasks:

• Drafting or translating, checking or revising legal texts
• Discern precisely what EU legislation is intended to convey, and faithfully reflect that intention in their own native language
• Law

Lawyer

From lawyer-linguist, those who are more interested to become a legal administrator in EU institutions are for this career profile.

• Drafting policy documents
• Coordinating with EU national authorities to improve national legislation
• Conducting in-depth research and analysis
• Providing legal counsel to senior management
• Implementing programmes of activity
• Supervising and assisting colleagues

EPSO AD Grades

The EPSO AD function group has its own grades that identify the level upon which the participant could apply in certain positions. It seeks to distinguish those who are still starting out their career path from those who have developed their expertise. The administrator career grade ranges from AD 5 to AD 16.

EPSO AD 5

The starting grade for EPSO Ad is AD 5. This grade refers to those graduates beginning their careers as administrators in the European institutions. AD 5 is the entry-level for University graduates.

Those administrators recruited at this grade can undertake, under supervision, three main types of work in the institutions:

• Policy formulation
• Operational delivery
• Resource management

EPSO AD 7

From the entry-level grade, AD 7 is for those in more specialist roles. This requires several years of relevant experience with at least 6 to 7 years.

The tasks at hand for those administrators recruited at this grade highly depend on the career profile they will be seeking. Rest assured, they will occupy positions that are higher and at a level of senior-decision maker level.

Continuing from AD 7, grades AD 9 and AD 12 are middle management level. They require previous management experience.

EPSO AD Test

As we have mentioned, the EPSO AD is one of the most sought after competitions there is in EPSO receiving 20000 to 40000 yearly applications. Additionally, with the nature of the job itself, it is very important to determine which of those who applied for this competition will carry out the tasks well and will best integrate in the EU Institutions working environment. In order to do that, they will have to conduct multiple tests that test these eight general competencies:

1. Analysis and problem solving
2. Communication
3. Delivering quality and results
4. Learning and development
5. Prioritising and organizing
6. Resilience
7. Working with others
8. Leadership

These competencies will be tested through the following:

Computer-Based Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) Tests

This part of the competition is directly after the validation of your application form. It will be held in one of EPSO’s accredited centres.

The computer-based MCQ tests will be organised as follows:

Intermediate Test: The E-Tray Exercise

Following the MCQ is the intermediate test, commonly known as the E-tray test. Once you have passed and have one of the highest overall combined marks for the abstract reasoning and situational judgment tests, you will then be invited to sit the e-tray exercise held in your language 2.

The e-tray exercise is comprised between 15 to 25 questions, assessing four general competencies stated above:

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Delivering Quality and Results
• Prioritising and Organising
• Working with Others

Assessment Centre

Rounding off the EPSO AD Test process is the Assessment Centre. Given that you have one of the highest overall combined marks to qualify for this phase, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre for 1 or 2 days with the tests still held in your language 2.

Unlike the e-tray, the assessment centre will test eight of the general competencies as well as your motivation to join the EU institutions. This will be done through the following tests:

• Case study
• Oral presentation
• Competency-based interview
• Group exercise

The following is a matrix for the competencies according to the tests:

EPSO AD Salary

One reason why EPSO AD competitions are well attended is because of its comparable high salary than the rest. However, it must be noted that the exact amount is subject to various factors such as:

• Seniority
• Work experience
• The exams passed upon which the participant was recruited
• Child allowance
• Place of recruitment

For AD 5, the entry-level administrator is estimated to earn around 4500 euros. AD 7, on the other hand, could start from 6000 Euros if you are eligible for the expatriation allowance. Nevertheless, you must take note that these are only rough estimates and can only be fully determined by considering the many factors listed above.

To properly identify, you can try out this salary free calculator: https://www.europol.europa.eu/salary-calculators