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EPSO’s Graduate Administrators (AD5) Opens this March 2018

http://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2018/03/05/epsos-graduate-administrators-ad5-opens-this-march-2018/ EPSO’s Graduate Administrators (AD5) Opens this March 2018 2018-03-05 12:41:01 Karla Blog post Default Latest News

EPSO’s Graduate Administrators (AD5) Opens this March 2018

Want to enter the next EPSO competitions? Then we’ve got some exciting news for you!

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has just announced that applications for the 2018 Graduate Administrators (EPSO/AD/356/18) competition will open this March 08.

So gear up now and look forward to the following below:

  • They will begin receiving applications on 08/03/2018.
  • The deadline will be on 10/04/2018 at 12.00, Brussels Time.
  • The total number of places they are seeking on the reserves list is 158.

EPSO/AD/356/18 Selection Process

There are a number of stages involved in the selection process for this competition. And if you want to prepare as much as you can, then it helps to know the following stages to know what it takes. It goes:

Application

This stage is divided into two parts:

  1. The first is where you confirm your eligibility and declare all your EU languages. Here, you will indicate your level of knowledge of any official EU languages, which you are an independent user at B2 level or above. The deadline will be the same with the deadline for registration as indicated. Once the deadline is up, you will receive a notice that indicates the 5 languages for the e-tray and the assessment centre.
  2. If what you declared as your languages is included in the 5 languages as language 2, then you will proceed with the second part of the application. This is where you choose your language 1 and 2, as well as complete your application form. Here, you will be asked to provide further information that is relevant to the competition (diploma, motivation, work experience etc.). The deadline will be stipulated on the invitation.

Computer-based Testing (CBT)

Once you have completed the application process, you will then head on to this step where you have to sit through a series of computer-based multiple-choice question (MCQ) tests.

Here, you will undergo multiple kinds of tests both in the languages you have chosen above.

For your language 1, you will take the following, which goes:

TestsLanguageQuestionsDurationMarkingPass mark
Verbal reasoningLanguage 120 questions35 minOut of 2010/20
Numerical reasoningLanguage 110 questions20 minOut of 105/10
Abstract reasoningLanguage 120 questions20 minOut of 2010/20

For your language 2, you will take the situational judgment tests.

You must take note of the instructions given to you. Unless instructed otherwise, you must book an appointment for the MCQ tests. There will be dates offered that indicate when you can sit the tests and where. The booking and testing periods are limited.

E-Tray

Right after you passed all the computer-based MCQ tests and considering that you have one of the highest total combined marks for the verbal and abstract reasoning tests, you will proceed with the E-Tray. This will be held in your chosen language 2 in one of the accredited centres by EPSO.

The E-Tray exercise is composed of 15 to 25 questions. It will assess 4 general competencies:

  • Analysis and problem solving
  • Delivering quality and results
  • Prioritising and organising
  • Working with others

Each of these will be marked out of 10. Again, you will have to score one of the highest total combined marks to qualify for the next stage.

EPSO/AD/356/18 Assessment Centre

Once qualified, what follows is the Assessment Centre. You will be invited to attend an assessment centre for a day or two, either in Brussels or as indicated, and take tests in your language 2. The tests will tackle the following:

  • Case Study
  • Oral Presentation
  • Competency-based interview
  • Group Exercise
  • Motivational interview

The marks scored in these tests will be combined with those from your e-tray exercise, amounting an overall score out of 80.

Reserve List

The final step for the selection process is the reserve list. After going through all of the candidates’ eligibility according to their supporting documents, the Selection Board will draw up a reserve list (158 successful candidates) of those eligible candidates who have obtained all pass marks as well as the highest overall marks following the assessment centre.

First-Time Applicant?

If this is all still new to you, then we have got you covered. Here are some resources that you can tap and read up on:

 

Reminder Before Anything Else

Before diving into deep waters, you must remember to read through the notice of competition for more complete details about the event. Familiarize yourself with all the necessary information—from what to expect down to the things you should prepare. And finally, take note of the important dates and keep yourself posted on any updates. Until then, we wish you all the best!

category / Default, Latest News

Upcoming EPSO Competitions 2016

http://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2016/05/25/epso_competitions_2016/ Upcoming EPSO Competitions 2016 2016-05-25 18:45:46 admin Blog post Default Latest News

Upcoming EPSO Competitions 2016

European Personnel Selection Office has announced some of the competitions that are coming up in 2016

The first upcoming EPSO exam is for Linguistic Assistants – EPSO/AST/137/16. You can apply for it from the 28th of April to the 31st of May 2016.

From May 12th to June 14th 2016 you can apply for Auditors – EPSO/AD/322/16

Between 26th of May to 28th of June 2016 applications will be opened for registration in the following exams:

  • Investigators: EU expenditure and corruption – EPSO/AD/323/16
  • Investigators: Customs and trade tobacco and counterfeit goods – EPSO/AD/323/16 
  • Investigators: Team Leaders – EPSO/AD/324/16

Applications will be opened from June to July 2016 for Audio-visual and Conference Technicians – EPSO/AST/138/16 

From the 9th of June  to the 12th of July 2016  you can apply to the exams for Translators for the languages: Danish (DA) –  EPSO/AD/325/16, Irish (GA) – EPSO/AD/326/16, Croatian (HR) –  EPSO/AD/327/16, Lithuanian (LT) – EPSO/AD/328/16, Maltese (MT) – EPSO/AD/329/16

Suspended for now are the following exams:

  • Lawyer-linguists: Court of Justice –  EPSO/AD/…/16 for the languages: German (DE), English (EN), Latvian (LV), Maltese (MT), Dutch (NL)
  • Administrators –  EPSO/AD/…/16 
  • Administrators in the field of Nuclear energy –  EPSO/AD/…/16 

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Administrators competition 2016 in the field of audit launched

http://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2016/05/16/notice-open-competition-administrators-field-audit/ Administrators competition 2016 in the field of audit launched 2016-05-16 08:22:36 admin Blog post Default Latest News

Administrators competition 2016 in the field of audit launched

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising an open competition to draw up reserve lists from which the institutions of the European Union will recruit new members of the civil service as ‘administrators’ (function group AD).
Number of successful candidates sought in the administrators competition 2016 for audit:

  •  Grade AD 5: 71
  •  Grade AD 7: 15

Eligibility Requirements

To be able to apply, you must meet the following conditions:
1. General conditions:

  •  Enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State of the EU
  •  Meet any obligations under national laws on military service
  •  Meet the character requirements for the duties concerned

2. Specific conditions:

a. Languages: —Language 1: minimum level — C1 in 1 of the 24 official EU languages — Language 2: minimum level — B2 in English, French or German; must be different from language 1

b. Qualifications and work experience:

For grade AD 5:
Either of the following:

— A level of education corresponding to completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma in the field of audit, economics, accounting, finance, business administration and/or informatics.

— A professional qualification of an equivalent level to the aforementioned studies in the field of audit, economics, accounting, finance, business administration and/or informatics.

For grade AD 7:
Either of the following:

— A level of education corresponding to completed university studies of at least 4 years attested by a diploma followed by a minimum of 6 years’ relevant professional experience, of which at least 3 years in the field of audit (internal or external, including IT audit).
— A professional qualification of an equivalent level to the studies mentioned in point 1 above followed by a minimum of 6 years’ relevant professional experience, of which at least 3 years in the field of audit (internal or external, including IT audit).

—A level of education corresponding to completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma followed by a minimum of 7 years’ relevant professional experience, of which at least 4 years in the field of audit (internal or external, including IT audit).

— A professional qualification of an equivalent level to the studies mentioned in point 3 above followed by a minimum of 7 years’ relevant professional experience, of which at least 4 years in the field of audit (internal or external, including IT audit).

Selection Procedure

1) Computer-based Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) tests  will be organised as follows:

  • Verbal Reasoning – 20 questions
  • Numerical Reasoning – 10 questions
  • Abstract Reasoning – 10 questions

2) Selection based on qualifications
After the eligibility requirements are checked there are two possible scenarios:
— If the computer-based MCQ tests are organised upfront, the files of the candidates will be checked for eligibility in descending order of the marks obtained until the number of eligible candidates reaches a certain threshold defined for each grade by EPSO acting as Appointing Authority. The other files will not be checked.
— If the computer-based MCQ tests are not organised upfront, the files of all candidates will be checked for eligibility.
The Grade AD 7 candidates may be reassigned to grade AD 5 and will be considered as candidate to grade AD 5 for the rest of the procedure if the following conditions are met:
— if the MCQ tests were organised upfront, you reached one of the highest total scores for grade AD 7, and
— according to the data given in your application you do not meet the eligibility requirements for grade AD 7 but you do meet those for grade AD 5, and
— you gave your consent for reassignment to grade AD 5 when you applied, and
— if the MCQ tests were organised upfront, you reached one of the highest total scores also for grade AD 5.
3) Assessment centre:
A maximum of 3 times the number of successful candidates sought per grade will be invited to this phase. If you scored one of the highest total marks at the selection based on qualifications, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre for 1 or 2 days, where you will take tests held in your language 2.
If the computer-based MCQ tests described in point 1 were not organised upfront, you will sit them at the assessment centre.
Eight general competencies and the specific competencies required for this competition will be tested as described in the following matrices:

Administrators competition 2016, Administrators competition 2016 in the field of audit launched, Epsotraining - EPSO Tests for EU Competitions

Administrators competition 2016, Administrators competition 2016 in the field of audit launched, Epsotraining - EPSO Tests for EU Competitions

4) Reserve list:

After checking candidates’ documents, the selection board will select a reserve list per grade of the eligible candidates who scored the highest marks following the assessment centre, until the number  sought is reached.
You can apply to the Administrators competition 2016  here by 14 June 2016 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time*
*This notice covers two grades. You may only apply to one. You must make your choice when you apply online and you will not be able to change it after you have validated your online application form. However, under certain conditions described under point 2, your application to grade AD 7 may be reassigned by the selection board into grade AD 5.
**You must fill in your application form in English, French, or German.

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Top 5 reasons to become an EU Official

http://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2016/05/15/top-5-reasons-become-eu-official/ Top 5 reasons to become an EU Official 2016-05-15 22:14:22 Alex Blog post Default Tips and Tricks

Top 5 reasons to become an EU Official

When you’re a child you don’t really know what to do with your life so you start dreaming. Little do you know then that your dreams can actually become reality if you work hard enough or get the right information at the right time. Therefore, in order to actually be the person you need and want to be, you must be motivated enough. So, here is a top 5 reasons why you should become an EU Official.

  1. If you are ready to change things not only for yourself but for others too!

It is said that progress needs us as much as we need it. For it to actually happen, you must do something about it, because life does not have a habit of just happening and waiting for you to decide what to do. In a totally no selfish way of thinking, taking a job in the EU will actually help 500 million other people have a better life. How can such a thing happen? Consider yourself to be a pawn in a big table of chess and you will understand the mechanism better. The EU has been around for a very long time now, and in its almost 50 years of life, it has proven to be an advocate of freedom, character and diplomacy. Basically, the European Union is one big happy family providing for all its citizen. Being a member of this community helps you become what you always dreamed of and others to, because of your job as an official. Union means every single citizen standing together for each other.

Depending on your education, skills and of course, on your personal experience in the work field you are planning to evolve in, you can get a job in managing different projects, developing communication strategies, providing legal advice and many-many others.

  1. You can have a better salary and be a flexible and modern employee.

Of course, you have to think about yourself as well as about others and in order to get to help other people, you must first learn how to help yourself. The first thing you need in this world is enough money to get by. Having a job as an EU Official may improve your income. Not to mention that you will still have better benefits as you did with your old job in your own country, like pension and healthcare assurance. If you have children, your new situation will provide for them in terms of allowances for school, transport and other needful things. Besides, there is always a way to find new information on time, so you can profit.

  1. Self-respect is a very important ingredient.

The third reason why you should definitely become an EU Official concerns your self-esteem. Every psychologist in the world will advise you that this is a very important aspect of having a happy life. Such a job can motivate you enough to want to do even greater things and boost your confidence to an upper level.

  1. You will never stop learning.

If you want to always have a reason to wake up in the morning, you must never be content with the knowledge you have and always want to know more. Having a job as an EU Official can help you in this area, being able to develop your skills and maybe even learn some new ones.

  1. Always be in the middle of things!

Being in the middle of all the action can be a very energizing. Of course, nowadays, Europe encounters a lot of difficulties because of its migrants problem, but look on the bright side: the chaos must end one day and then you can actually tell to the people you know how you’ve been a part of this and maybe even helped things by having a EU Official job.  Be in the middle of history by participating and helping as much as you can.

In conclusion, you can improve yourself with knowledge, self-esteem, a good financial situation and the satisfaction of always helping others to have a better life.  Those should be sufficient reasons for you to consider having a job in the EU, as an official.

To help you achieve your dreams, Epsotraining prepares you for all EPSO Exams.