The sheer number of comments at the main post ‘So I Won’t Be A Commission Official‘ has been causing problems, so all the old comments are here instead, and hence searchable.
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Dear Natacha,
Below a quote from an e-mail a Head of Unit sent me on 1/02/2008:
“Dear,
The Council has approved 2 regulations (401/2004 and 1760/2006)
providing for a derogation from Article 27 of the Staff Regulations,
in order to allow services to recruit officials from the new Member
States. The Commission is committed to recruiting 3441 officials and
temporary agents from the EU10 Member States between 2004-2010. Since
our DG has not yet fulfilled its objectives for recruiting EU10
nationals, posts in EMPL are currently attributed as a priority to
nationals of the new Member States.
Sorry to have disappointed you and good luck with any other
applications you may be making for posts in the Commission.”
Let me repeat once more because misunderstandings obviously quickly arise: I love Eastern Europe as much as I love Western Europe, I am not frustrated but only curious, I was not implying anything, not that the contract agents should not become permanent and not even that the existing (not imaginary!) quota in favour of the New MS should not exist. I was just asking if someone from the founding or old MS has been invited to an interview lately.
Has there been anyone?
Most sincerely,
Steven
Is that what you read into that “mainly”? I haven’t a clue what the “mainly “means, only that it looks suspicious. My main point actually was that all those other websites have been putting out “the only way to…” as a message for all thos years.
To address your statement:
1)Jobs of permanent officials should be done by permanent officials.
2) if you want a scheme whereby ALL candidates first become contractuals and then may get contracts with indeterminate length based on performance… heck why not… BUT please make things equal (no more hocus pocus with various internal procedures, seconded experts, etc. and NO QUOTA, just personal merit PLEASE).
@frustrated
I find it absolutely fare that one who has worked for a long time as a contract agent or a temporary agent, doing the job of a permanent, should have the right to become permanent. Why not?
Steven,
Why would you want to imply certain laureates would not get invited based on factors other than those relating to their professional excellence?
This is puzzling me.
Dear Dimitriov,
There is no hatred in my heart. Only patience, perseverance and hope. Also, I am all in favour of positive discrimination and understand the institutions have to represent all the European peoples – my country’s history proves it does sometimes help to use quota in order to fight against institutionalized injustice – which is not to say of course that I do not want to join the Institutions.
So, let me repeat my question to those that I was addressing the first time (obviously you are not in my intended target group): are there any nationals of the founding MS (see I even narrow it down a bit) that have been succesful in getting an invitation?
Please let me know.
Steven
Steven,
please let us stop that old MS discussion; there is no need to grow hatred in our hearts. You had it good for so many years; now we’ll have it better too.
Peace and Lovings
@Breach:
I had a similar situation and it all went smoothly. One tip: Figure out ahead of time where each appointment will take place, and the quickest way to go from point A to B, especially if you’re not very familiar with the city.
My med. exam was at 8 am but I arrived at 8:15, took a waiting ticket which set me back about half an hour, but I still finished in time for the afternoon meetings.
I have been reading this forum from time to time and I was wondering if there are any people from the old MS that have recently (2005 – now) passed an exam and actually did get invitations for a job interview. I myself am on a reserve list for almost a year now and still nothing (AD/25/05).
Many thanks for your comments.
Steven
Hi Breach,
Medical check is quite well orginised, you will receive an invitation indicating the hour when to come, and then there you will need to take a “ticket” and wait in a queue, which moves very quickly. All procedure takes about hour and a half.
Good luck!!!
I’ve got an interview invitation in Brussels next month. The schedule they offer is: a) Medical exam in the morning b) 1st Interview in 2 pm, b) Second interview at 4 pm c) Meeting the Director General at 6 pm
That’s cool, as it will be over with in a day. Do you guys have any tips though? E.g. should I expect an exact appt for the medical check, or should I go early and wait in queue etc. :-] Generally, anything one should know, apart from what they will be formally communicating…? Thanks in advance!!
@ Sirena,
Thank You for the info, great, so, I can visit those testing centres often:)
OK, so from the link above I found out that FG posts (Contract Agents) are available ONLY to the laureats from EPSO tests for CA….and not as Kostas explained in post # 1417.
Can someone confirm or reject that statement?
“moderation”?
ooh-ooh this spells trouble for rebels like me.
Jon, what’s up?
Who of the europhiliacs on here is volunteering to correct wikipedia and all those other smart alec websites?
“Permanent Positions
Passing the competition is the only way to become a permanent official in an EU institution”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concours
versus
”
The European Personnel Selection Office
What we do
Permanent officials are selected mainly by open competition.”
http://europa.eu/epso/epso_index_en.html
Brave new world!
@Oscar,
Thanks a lot.
Very good to know and very useful URL.
@RIS:
Exactly, you won’t negotiate your salary in the interview. It depends on the grading, and the grading depends on the experience. In addition, there are additional allowances depending in the place of work in relation to the country where you are recruited from, your personal situation (wife, her earnings, children, if they go to school or University, etcetera).
You should have a look at the following URL:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm?id=3760
There you’ll find a salary calculator at the end. The question is: how to calculate your grade and your experience?
In your case: to gain access to FGIII you need to have:
a) Post-secondary education attested by a diploma (University)
b) Secondary education + 3 years of relevant experience.
In your case (just like in my case), probably it’s better the second option, because University will be accounted as experience (only the official duration, doesn’t matter if you spent extra-years). Then you must substract the 3 years required.
Let’s imagine that the length of your studies was 4 years. And you have 8 years of experience. That means that you have 8 + 4 = 12 years of experience. But if you substract the 3 years of experience required to gain FGIII, then you have 9 years of experience, and you’ll be graded FGIII, grade 9.
(That’s what I understood).
I hope this helps. Best,
Oscar
Hi,
Does somebody know how you are positioned in the Salary Grid according to your studies and experience.
Let say, you pass the CAST 27, FIII, you have an university degree and 8 years of proven experience in the field.
Will this mechanically put you in a particular FIII step and grade? If so, how do you know in which one? This would mean that during the interview you cannot negociate your salary?
Many thanks
@EV,
no, there are no such restrictions. good luck.
Though I appreciate Nitta’s direct approach… I got to hand it you people… this is taking networking to an intergalactic level 😉
And I wish I had read your comments before I decided to sign up for this absurd game… Keep on posting, frustrated, you still may save others’ the disappointment…
By the way, EPSO seems to shy no longer from the truth – they actually advise all lareautes to continue their lives as if they had not passed the competition at all and not just sit and wait for a EU post because such may never come…
Hi
Could anyone tell me what happedns if the person fail the admission tests – is there a limit of how many admission tests one person can take per year? or how long he has to wait till he can take another admission test?
Thank You
EV
Hi,
I just heared it. Good luck.
Nitta
DG DIGIT has officially launched a search for EUR-10 and EUR-2 IT specialists for which there are many vacant positions (development, telecoms, product management). A 3-year temporary contract can be offered to the best candidates. Feel free to spread this information in your networks. So CVs are welcome, the applicants can send it either to me (jozsef.barta@ec.europa.eu – I will forward it) or directly to either Director R of DIGIT or the Head of Unit DIGIT R.1.
Well sirena,
I’d wish I could have read some-one like me somewhere in cyberspace before I entered that damn comp… just helping out others dear, spreading the word and all that.
frustrated, you spend too much time and energy on analysing the EU career system for someone who already decided he doesn’t respect/ like/ wish to enter it.
Well Lia,
perhaps you take umbrage to the messenger’s atire, but at least the message sticks. Great to read about those “other institutions”. Agencies have been popping up look mushrooms; a good deal of former commission officials got shifted up there and their recruitment procedures are even less ahum… “transparent” .
Hilarious the commission is now quoting these agencies in this context.
@AD 46-47/06 EPA
the list is finally out. maybe things have started defrosting now that spring has arrived…
i was surprised to note that i knew very few of that list (my nationality i mean). but i’d be looking forward to meet every one on that list and on others..
ps check this out
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/sec_2007_5/sec_2007_530.pdf
it’s the Commission’s Planning and optimising human resources report (april 2007). Does not hold very good news for non EU10+2 i’m afraid. At least as far as chances of getting a job within the Commission is concerned. I do not particularly like frustrated’s witty comments, but i must admit this is totally unfair – i.e. organising exams just to let names get dusty on endlessly renewed reserve lists. Of course, there are always the other institutions, but i bet they have their nation quotas too…
Here’s part of the executive summary. i’m sure the irony won’t get lost on frustrated..
The Commission is committed to deliver the highest standards of value for money to the
citizens it serves, delivering high quality service through increased efficiency.
The Commission has already shown its commitment to these goals in practice: over the period
2002-2007, it has grown by 13%, compared to an average of 40.8% for the other institutions.
As a result of the screening of the Commission’s human resources carried out at the request of
the European Parliament, the Commission:
· Confirms the need identified since 2002 and 2005 for additional staff exclusively in
relation to enlargement-related tasks: 890 new staff for 2008, broken down between the
last 640 new staff for EU-10 enlargement and 250 posts for EU-2 enlargement. In 2009,
there is a confirmed need for a last wave of 250 posts for EU-2 enlargement.
· Endorses the decision to maintain stable staffing once all enlargement-related personnel are
integrated, with no requests for new posts for the period 2009-2013.
· Commits to meet new staffing needs in key policy areas exclusively through redeployment
within and between departments.
Dear EPSO/AD46-47 EPA laureates. FYI, the reserve list is officially out:
http://europa.eu/epso/laureats/epso_ad_46-47_06dom1_en.pdf
Because for reasons unknown my family name became my first name I proudly stand at the top of it :-] Cheers.
My application was for “Junior assistant scientific officer”. Things seem to running rather fast… invitation for the interview came in December to be held in January and a month later came the result that I was placed in the reserve list.
I guess we just have to wait and see
Mouro,
I am in the waiting list for ECHA since August 2007, still waiting for an offer…
What is your profile?
@Stefano
I’ve applied for the ECHA competition for AST3/4 and last week I’ve received a positive answer so I’m on the reserve list.
Do you have any idea of the chances I have for being placed in helsinki in the next couple of monthes?
I’m also curious about the city life but I will not bother you with that at this time.
Regards
@John 4
Hi. I used them and I found them useful. The real tests are not more difficult, but they are broader. You need to read more.
I bought some online tests from http://www.eutests.eu. Did anyone use them to prepare? I assume that questions on the real test a much harder
@ John4
Go to the Prometric site — they have a “sample test”. You won’t know if you got the answers right or not, but you’ll be able to see exactly what the format will be, what buttons to press, etc.
@john,
each paragraph (quite long ones) is followed by a question referring to the information contained in it, with 4 choices of answers.
they are not very difficult, but they become tiring after 10…best of luck!
Please someone knows a contact at the ITER in Barcelona where i can ask information on the selection ?
@John4: In the last concours, verbal tests had one question per paragraph. Don’t think it takes more time to answer than one para followed by several questions, because the questions are quite straightforward if you practice a bit.
@Anyone: Can anyone tell me what it’s like to work for DG Environment? I know about its location, but what about the overall work atmosphere (tough, friendly…)?
@Kalin72
If you see a post for CA on “Non Permanent Post” web page of EPSO, it means that this Agency is not using the CAST27 list and it is open for anyone to apply. If they don’t ask for CAST27, chances are 50-50.
@sirena
If you could give me a hint for the verbal tests…………..is it there a single question for each paragraph, or you have a multiple questions following each paragraph? Or…. , it could be both?
Thank you!
Happy Baba Marta to all bulgarians, and Martisor to all rumanians 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martenitsa
Anyone to know if a person have good chance if apply for FG position whitout being in CAST27 list?
50-50 chances or close to 0, comparing to the folks in the reserve list?
yes, a computer-based one.
Do they let you use a calculator on these numeric tests?
Thanks
@ Stefano
“But most of our kids attend the european school, it is also a way to demonstrate your “social statusâ€.”
From what I hear it’s mostly the kids re-enacting the hierarchic ties between their parents… scary places those European schools.
Hi all,
Finally I have got a conract! The whole process took about 3 months from the interview. And althought I am a CA and my salary will be far a way not as good as AD could be, but I hope to be able not only survive on it… and enjoy the job and life there for a while…
Good luck to you all!
@AD
About the school, there is the European School, you are entitled to use it.
The commission partially reimburse the cost (you get the “School allowance”).
Sometimes it is not so convenient, in other places it was more convenient to send kids to private schools instead to send them to the classic european school.
But most of our kids attend the european school, it is also a way to demonstrate your “social status”.
By the way, you should also be entitled of removal of goods, and if you want my suggestion, leave the commission to pay directly the bill, it takes ages before the commission reimburse you!
Stefano
Sure AD,
As you won’t have to pay taxes worth mentioning and the “locals” (if there’s any still left) pay around 50% income tax, you’ll live like a king (though I can’t promise your subjects won’t start a revolution).
enjoy
@AD
AD, 5000 Euro are more than enough for a comfortable life in Brussels, even without all the perks that you’ll probably get.
Great 2 bedroom flats are between 1000 and 1500, food is the same price, even cheaper than it is in some of the new MSs. I am Bulgarian, and can tell you that it is cheaper than in Bulgaria.
Also, you don’t really need a car, since Brussels has a great public transport system. You can basically go anywhere in the city within 15-20 minutes, without worrying about finding and paying for parking. Petrol is expensive, too.
The only think I’m not sure about is schools, since I don’t have children, but I think you get allowance for that from the institution you will work at.
Good luck!
@AD
Ask directly for the contract or for an intent letter. It is important, the procedure is complicated, but with an intent letter or a contract you are sure of all your rights.
Stefano
@ Stefano
That certainly did help. I’ve been doing research today, and it sounds pretty good.
Well, I hope this comes through — I think I’ll take it if I do get a real offer.
Thanks!
Well, I do not live in BRU personally, but I go there quite often. Consider a maximum of 1500 EUR for the house (as I know, for that sum you can get a wonderful flat), 300 EUR for House expenses, Car, Children School, Others… I Guess if you get the Expat Allowance you shouldn’t have any problem, also without it I don’t see so much problems.
Consider also that:
1 – The first 6 months you will take 1000 EUR per month more for “Daily Allowance”
2 – 2 Basic Salaries for Installation Allowance
3 – annually you will take the Travel Home (depending on where is your “Place of Origin”) which could be something like 2000 Eur, but you will take it only next year, because you need 9 months of service to get it on July.
I think you have a good margin to say that you will be able to live in a confortable way. We have other colleagues in you situation, and they are happy with this salary.
HTH
Stefano