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EPSO Profile – Policy Officer

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https://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2014/07/12/epso-profile-policy-officer/ EPSO Profile - Policy Officer 2014-07-12 08:54:56 admin Blog post Beginner's Guide epso competitions EU Policy Officer

EPSO Profile – Policy Officer

Through all the AD/AST/Linguists/Specialists EPSO competitions lifecycle  there are several profiles that appear on a regular basis. This is the initial article from a series aiming to describe those common EPSO Profiles duties and qualifications required.

EU Policy Officer: 

The following are the functions of EU policy officers:

  • Drafting policy analysis
  • Implementing policies and work programs across Europe
  • Coordinating inter-departmental work with external stakeholders
  • Closely supporting decision-makers
  • Resource management- human and financial

Qualifications Required:

  • Good command over at least two European languages, one of which must be English, French or German
  • For Grade AD 5 (entry level), must hold a degree or be graduating this year
  • For Grade AD 7 (a more senior level), several years’ experience is required in a related field

External relations Policy Officer

They maintain diplomatic relations with countries and represent the EU abroad. They work with multilateral organizations; define EU’s foreign, security and defense policy. They have impact on the lives of people not only in Europe, but around the world.

The following are functions of EU Policy Officers:

  • Negotiating and implementing bilateral and multi-lateral agreements between EU and third countries or organizations
  • Coordination of external actions of the EU with member states and other EU institutions
  • Working closely with EU delegations and embassies
  • Promoting EU interests; strengthening EU diplomatic relations with other EU partner countries
  • Representing the EU board
  • Drafting political reports, scrutinizing notes and briefing for decision-makers
  • Organizing and taking part in meetings, subject to official protocol

Suggested Qualifications:

  • Good command over at least two European languages, of which one must be English, French or German
  • For Grade AD 5 (entry level), must hold a degree or be graduating this year
  • For Grade AD 7 (a much more senior level), several years’ experience (six or more) is required in a related field

If you want to apply make sure to closely follow EPSO competitions announcements.

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EPSO Accuracy and Precision Tips

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https://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2014/02/02/epso-accuracy-and-precision-tips/ EPSO Accuracy and Precision Tips 2014-02-02 20:52:10 admin Blog post Default Tips and Tricks assistants epso competitions EPSO Tips and Tricks

EPSO Accuracy and Precision Tips

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

The Epso Accuracy and Precision test is one of the challenges proposed by EPSO for AST 1 and AST 3 (Assistants) EU Competitions during the preselection phase. Anyone who wants to be an Assistant or at the Council of the European Union, European Parliament, European Commission or any other EU institution needs to pass this test during the preselection.Administrators competition 2016, Administrators competition 2016 in the field of audit launched, Epsotraining - EPSO Tests for EU Competitions

What Does the EPSO Accuracy and Precision Test Involve?

The EPSO Accuracy and Precision module is quite unique in its nature as this type of aptitude test is rarely used by other recruiting organizations. The major challenge is that the test consists of 40 questions that need to be answered in six minutes. Despite the fact that the candidates will have to take the test in their second language -a choice between English, French or German – the test does not pose particular language comprehension problems. Considering the very short time limit, the test requires incredible concentration. The following lines will provide you with some tips on how to succeed when faced with this challenge.

Observation and Instinct Instead of Considered Thinking

Some people may say that, considering the necessary average time of 9 seconds per question, the EPSO Accuracy and Precision test is impossible to solve. However, the questions are visual and are generally very easy to answer. For each question, candidates are given two tables, one of which contains an error. Their challenge is to spot the error as quickly as possible.

It normally takes just a fraction of a second before the image of the two tables is analyzed by the eye, and then by the brain. The rest of time should be used for spotting the actual errors as some exercises involve multiple errors, which is the problem most candidates deal with. And the reason why most of them find it difficult to provide answers to the questions proposed in this test is that they are overthinking.

One of the best suggestions you can consider when preparing for this test is to avoid analyzing the images too much. A six-year-old would have a better chance for a high score in the Accuracy and Precision exercise, and this is not because his or her brain is more agile. Instead, children tend to see the errors in the tables without questioning them and without thinking too much about it. This is the approach you should consider. The keys to success are to avoid analyzing the images too much and to follow you instincts.

Don’t Lose Your Concentration

The fact that the EPSO Accuracy and Precision test requires great concentration is no longer a secret. And, since you will have better chances to pass if you answer all questions, you should make sure all your attention is on the two tables in each question.

With this challenge, one of the qualities the EPSO wants to assess in their candidates is their ability to remain in control and focus on a problem, regardless of the circumstances. Exercising your stress-management skills will, therefore, be to your advantage when it comes to taking this test.

Practice Time Management

Do not waste time on a particular question just to get it right because you can, as this will eat into your time on subsequent questions. If you don’t see the obvious answer, move on to the next question. Remember, it’s all about speed.

Practice EPSO Accuracy and Precision tests online

Now that you went through the tactics involved in mastering Accuracy and Precision tests, it’s time to practice some free epso accuracy and precision tests to get yourself accustomed with the questions.  Since the format of our EPSO accuracy and precision tests are more or less similar, more practice means a more instinctive ability to answer the questions in the shortest time possible.

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OHIM Epso Competitions AD/Ast announced

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https://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2013/11/07/ohim-epso-competitions-adast-announced/ OHIM Epso Competitions AD/Ast announced 2013-11-07 21:48:40 admin Blog post Default Latest News Assessment Center epso competitions Specialists

OHIM Epso Competitions AD/Ast announced

The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) has 100 places available split between the following EU Competitions:

  • OHIM/AD/01/13 = 40 places
  • OHIM/AST/02/13 = 60 places

Both AD and AST Epso Competitions are specialists competitions, meaning that a first preselection will be based on the info you provide in the Talent Screener tab from My EPSO Account

There will be approximately 3 times more candidates invited to the Assessment Centre then the number of candidates that will be placed on the reserve list.

The exams will consist of:

  • Practice Verbal Reasoning Tests, Numerical Reasoning Tests, Abstract Reasoning Tests
  • Structured interview based on the info provided in the talent screener
  • Written exercise
  • E-tray Exercise
  • Structured Interview based on general competencies
  • Grouped Exercise

The deadline for applications is 3rd December at midday so start preparing!

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EU Competitions – 2011 Statistics

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https://epsotraining.eu/wordpress/blog/2013/09/13/eu-competitions-2011-statistics/ EU Competitions - 2011 Statistics 2013-09-13 22:09:35 admin Blog post Default Latest News CBT epso competitions eu competitions Preselection Tests statistics

EU Competitions – 2011 Statistics

Following our EPSO 2012 statistics, we are happy to provide you fresh information concerning EU Competitions held in 2011. As you’ll see from the graphs, 2011 was a good year. There were plenty of EU competitions and numerous available positions for the reserve lists, complete Administrator, Assistants and Linguists cycle together with Specialists competitions. All in all, 2011 covered almost all fields EPSO normally recruits.

Let’s see the full statistics.

There were 1285 EPSO advertised jobs in total in 2011 distributed as follows in the EU Competitions:

Administrators (AD)- 864

Assistants (AST)– 421

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

While there were 3 AD grades (AD5, AD6, AD7) Posts, for AST there were only 2 grades (AST1 and AST3). Their distribution by grade is shown below

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

The number of AD Posts Distribution per Profile in all EU Competitions is shown as it was advertised on the Official Journal of each competition. There were cases where the number of candidates on a reserve list was different than the number of posts EPSO initially sought to fill.

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

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

The total number of AD and AST applications per profile is below:

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

The average applications for an EPSO AD competition fluctuated between highest applicants for European Public Administration (EPA) and lowest applications for Interpreters

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

The highest ratio of EPSO AST candidates / available position was registered for Project/Programme/Contract Management competition while mean AST1 Secretaries competition had the lowest number of participants per available position.

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

Below is the minimum CBT Preselection pass marks needed in the AD/AST Cycle competitions. We recommend that you compare your EPSO exam preparation results with the values below when taking part in AD/AST Cycle competitions as pass marks normally gravitate around these values.

AD5 Administrators Cycle – lowest CBT Pass mark – 79,37/100

AD7 Administrators Cycle – lowest CBT Pass mark – 81,87/100

AST1 Secretaries – lowest CBT pass mark – 58,91/100

AST3 Cycle – lowest CBT pass mark – 83,14/100

The toughest/Easiest EU Competitions in terms of no of applications / advertised positions were as follows:

–          There were 1231 applicants for Italian Language editors for only 3 available positions.

–          There were 9 applicants for Maltese AD7 Interpreters for 10 available places.

There were 4 competitions (3 for Maltese citizens and one for Swedish) with only 1 candidate on the reserve list.

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