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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@sparta
congratulations on passing the first hurdle.
I think that many (maybe half of candidates) will not be able to demonstrate they fulfil the “conditions” (personally, I do not know how to read the competition notice). I have never received a transcript of courses attended from my (French) university. I received a diploma, that is it. Considering it is the 15th of July and that my alma mater is processing exam results this week before closing until the last week of August, I know I will not be able to get anything from them before the deadline. I am not even sure I would get anything at all, even months later. After all, I graduated some (hum…) years ago…
@Kiwi
Thank you for the information on the translation exams. Are you a translator by trade?
@Elena and Sparta
I am also in a similar position (total marks 25), I wrote to EPSO but they replied me they don’t inform a candidate whether he/she is among the highest 480.
Since it is a competition for Auditors, do you think they require a degree in economics or also another scientific degree (e.g. a M.Sc. in engineering) can be accepted?
Thank you very much!
Niccolò
Hi @candidate,
I would be very grateful if you could send -or if someone could- me the good governance test sample at fiutino[at]hotmail.it
thanks a lot,
Simone
I am sitting the Relex 2008 exam for Fin/procurement Contrcat Advisor this Friday, and a colleague told me I could get the past RELEX questions, or the past CAST 27 questions – can you please send samples of these tests to me, – mthe more samples, the better – if you have them scanned – many thanks in advance
Hi,
could someone send me the RELEX 2007 test on Good Governance, please?
My email is: nonenothing2002@yahoo.com
Thanks a lot
@sparta
Hello,
In my opinion it is not only about the marks. I think it depends also on how many candidates (out of 1440) do not fulfill the conditions (e.g. studies) stipulated in the Notice of Competition, thus their application will be rejected.
I wish you good luck!
Elena
Hello, I am trying to pass an EU competition for the first time.
After the first test (EU knowledge and numerical/verbal), I am between the first 1440 candidates, but they will only take 480 to the next step.
Do you think I have a good chance with this grades:
Test a): 8,667/10 (minimum requis: 5)
Test b): 16/20 (minimum requis: 10)
Total: 24,667/ 30
@ candiadate
Would you be able to send me a copy of the RELEX 2007 test for Operations Adviser – Economic, Private Sector and Trade Development (French is perfect) – that would be very helpful.
Best regards
Fabio
The grade is AD5, I guess step 1. Presumably the figure you’re talking about then has social security/health insurance contributions taken out of it?
Re deferring, well I’m self-employed so no notice issue there – problem is that my husband does have a 3-month notice period and also does some teaching so the school year is an issue for him as well as the children…
I like all the “will” words in your message… I’ve sat the written translation tests but there’s obviously a long way to go yet!!
Thanks…
Kiwi
@ Kiwi
I only know of one employer where the gross salary is smaller than net. 🙂 Yes, it’s the EU.
What’s your grade? That’s the easiest way of telling you what you’ll get.
For example, if you’re AD5 step 1, with two kids and married, plus expat, you’ll get about 5200 Euro post-tax. Plus whatever you’re entitled to for vacation travel (every 12 months).
As to deferring — the Commission expects you to start ASAP. And the letter provides that it shouldn’t be more than one month more than the amount you need to give notice to your present employer. However, if your DG is cool with when you want to start, everybody’s happy. Talk to your HoU.
AD
Hi there,
I’m gonna doing the Competions for |Relex 2008, does anyone have any examples of test comepetencies for Adviser -op.sect-Econ. priv sector Trade dev?
My mail is fabiancon@libero.it
Many thanks!
@Kiwi
From my experience I can say that it was no problem to defer starting for one to three months.
If you are single, no children, and you are entiteld to receive the expatriation allowance, then you will get, after deducting the taxes, about the basic salary. Without expat allowance you will get something like 3800 euros. I hope I am not mistaken.
I have a couple of questions:
1. If one does actually manage to get a job, is it possible to defer starting for several months (say to the end of the school year)?
2. How much do the “European taxes” actually amount to on a basic salary of about 4000 euros?
Thanks
Kiwi
@Veronica, I’ve had a phone interview ten days ago and I am now waiting for some answer (that of course is taking longer than expected!)
Good luck for your interview
Paolo
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone else is applying to positions at the ECHA, or has worked there. I would love to talk to people and hear their impressions.
dear @ candidate,
I would be very greateful if you also send the good governance test to me!
email: pantter@email.si
THANX!
@Jessica and others: I’ve now added a new plugin so all e-mail addresses added here are encrypted. That should prevent automatic spam-bots harvesting them.
@ candidate,
Hello candidate,
Would you, please, send me the RELEX 2007 test (good governance)? I would be really grateful!
My email: purko_81@yahoo.fr
Thanks a lot!
Marina
Dear all, can anyone sending me the Relex (Good Governance)? I would really appreciate the help.
Thanks a lot
Astrid
My email is astridh31@gmail.com
This is for @Candidate:
Hi Dear Candidate. I know many people have asked you for the RELEX 2007 test (good governance). If there is possible for you, I would really appreciate your help sending me it as well. Thanks a lot
AR
would you send this good governance test once again? would you? thanks!!
vincent.almajnoun@gmail.com
Paolo,
I applied for Chemical Toxicology, I will supposedly work in alternative methods to animal experimentation. When are you going to Ispra? I’m called for the interview on July 24th.
@Jon
Thanks very much. (By the way, Josh is clearly right that it will have been done automatically – Never mind.)
@Elisa
I sat the translator concours on 20 June. The French text was about the Barcelona process and the Italian one was more general about a few issues in Italy, a couple of them connected with the EU.
I thought they were both fairly difficult, particularly the French, but there weren’t any nasty tricks if that makes sense ie they were comprehensible and clear.
The time-limit really is quite tight when you have to spend nearly half an hour copying your work out neatly. I would definitely recommend practising under “exam conditions” ie getting a text the right length and doing it in 2 hours, including copying it out neatly.
What else do you want to know?
I don’t think it was a physical person. It would take too much time for them to try and find, copy and save e-mail adresses. Instead there are automated bots that do that job. That’s why it is reasonable to use non-existant e-mail addresses or addresses that you don’t use for work when you are prompted to leave yours.
@Jessica – your previous comment has now been deleted. Could well be that a spammer has copied and pasted your e-mail address from here, but I’m afraid there’s nothing I can easily do about that.
@Jon Worth (assuming you moderate this site)
Since I recently put my email address on this site (something I have not done before), I have started to receive spam emails: previously I did not receive any, now I receive about 45 spam emails per day.
Although the damage has been done, please could you kindly remove my email address from the site at your earliest convenience.
Thank you very much
Jessica Butler
Veronica,
I received an invitation for ispra as well (in my case for a post doc). Just for curiosity in which profile did you apply? I applied for Water Management and Modeling.
Paolo,
I applied in CAST 27 in the profile Scientific Adviser, and I’m also very surprised that they’re taking so long for marking the exams. However, I’m stunned because two days ago I received an invitation to attend an interview for a post as a contractual agent in the JRC of Ispra. So, I suppose I passed the competence test but I have no official result from EPSO. I have no idea of what’s going on with EPSO…
hello, someone on this board was going to sit the translators’ concours on 20 June. Could they let me know what type of text they had to translate and what their impressions were?
thank you.
candidate
(or Whoever has the test and can help)
once again concerning cast relex GOOD GOVERNANCE TEST
my email address is:
damawand@gazeta.pl
thanks for sending me the test!
candidate
could you please send me cast relex good governance test?
many thanks
damawand
Hy guys,
is there someone who has applied to the cast 27 as scientific adviser or graduate engineer?
Do you have an idea on why the marking of the exam is taking so long?
hello everybody,
I’m looking for the tests RELEX Finance – Audit 2007, can somebody to send it (preferable french) ?
Could you also sent me the RELEX 2007 test (good governance) in french ?
I wonder too if somebody have some specific tests on Security field?
My e-mail is: dorinabosca@yahoo.fr
Thanks a lot in advance,
Dorina
@AQ
Wll, Helsinki is easy to live (all people speak English, this is a really big advantage), but there is also a difficult thing, such as the fact that you are located in a remote place in Europe. Nothing against Finland and Finnish (they are really kind people, and I find them still interesting) but my main reason to leave was the fact that to reach Finland from southern Europe you need to flight 3.5-4 hours…
Also the price of the tickects is not so good, there is just one low fare company (Blue1) which is always late. The better carrier is Lufthansa.
Houses in Helsinki are not so cheap, but the salary is quite good, you will not have problems to find an house to a reasonable price.
Food is cheap too, at least compared to Barcelona where I’m now.
People are a little close, and during the long and cold winter, there is not so much to do, I was spending most of my time in the office at ECHA, but my family was far and I hadn’t problems with this.
If you have a family and you are planning to go with you family, my suggestion is that you are choosing the best place in the world where a kid could grow. The social government is giving most of the resources for kids, so kindergarten and the rest are not a problem in Finland and it is common to see 5 years old kids on the bus alone going to school. It is, for sure, a secure country.
Don’t know so much about the interviews, it is a common one as in all the rest of the EU institutions, try to study and remember to read the call, it says all is needed to pass.
After the interview the panels take 2/3 months to finalize, prepare the letter of intent, consider that ECHA must increase the number of people rapidly.
This is all.
I think other people could be interested in the information I gave you, so, I prefer to post here.
Enjoy ECHA and keep in mind that it has really good people on board.
Have a nice day.
Stefano
@Stefano,
Thanks for the reply. No worries about being diplomatic, that’s ok. The ECHA seems to me to be a very interesting place to work, at least based on what their mandate is. What about living in Helsinki though? Can you say anything about that?
Any idea how long it takes for them to invite people to interviews?
If you want, you can email me at sm9619@gmail.com
thanks
AQ
@AQ
Hi,
the process at ECHA takes 6 months usually, but I know they are working to improve the process, so could be possible that the list takes something less.
I will not say against and pro ECHA, it is just a work place, sorry to be so diplomatic, but moving from public to private sector I don’t see any difference, so free to do every consideration.
Stefano
Hi Stefano,
I’m applying to one of the science posts at the ECHA. I was wondering if you knew how long the hiring process takes? The application mentioned that it’s 6 months max untill they adopt the reserve list, but how long from that to actually having a job? What’s it like working for the ECHA?
@ candidate
Dear Candidate,
Could you also sent me the RELEX 2007 test (good governance)? Thx a lot!!!
Erik
My email: boskameel@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot!
Chris
@ candidate,
Hello candidate,
Would you, please, send me the RELEX 2007 test (good governance)? I would be really grateful!
My email: wi08@ymail.com
Thanks a lot!
Chris
CA Abroad
First, House is paid, so do not worry about real estate prices in Sudan.
Second. You can be offered an indetermined contract after some years. Something not possible in BXL (3 years and out, like 3 strikes and out in baseball)
Third. Finance and contracts is not Finance as taught in MBA. I know it based on my experience. Finance and contracts is a boring job that demands checks on the legality of the payments. Easy job.
Fourth. CAST 27 Relex except forFinance and contracts was designed for people already working in Delegations. Only passing an EPSO Call they may receive undetermined contracts.
Five. Some guys were saying that if you take economy class when flying to BXL someone will appreciate because you care about the tax payer. Bullshit!. None would notice and everyone will think that you do not know your rigths.
Sixth. Salaries, after 05/2004 could not be lower than UN. I will be surprised. In Luxembourg most of the salaries offered for FGI fall below poverty line.
does anyone successful in CAST 27, profile translator has an invitation for an interview or other information?
thanks in advance.
hi candidate,
could you please send me the good gov questions as well? i would really appreciate it!
my email is dess_p@hotmail.com.
thanx in advance,
munchkin
my address for the CA – good gov test questions is ssakalis@yahoo.com many thanks for your offer to send them
@ (E)U(N)
could you provide me your e-mail address to send you the tests?
“CAST 27 Brussels, 03 July 2008
Regarding the results of the competency tests for the profiles “Scientific adviser” (FG IV) and “Graduate engineer” (FG IV) we regret we do not have any additional news at this stage. As soon as the marks for theses profiles are available, candidates will be informed of it through the Latest News. “
@(E)U(N)
The fisrt thing to say is that the salary itself is relevant less in the UN, and it is paid in US Dollars. Depending on your seat, what for the commission is called JSIS, for UN is a private insurance and seems that you have to pay.
All the allowance are less (expatriation is 14% vs 16% for us).
The contract most of the time do not mention the end, except the phrase “the contact is valid until the end of the mission”, but most of the times you don’t know when the mission is finished.
In term of removals they don’t pay the full cost but you dan decide to have a lumpsum which reimburse you for this purpose.
The procedure is more complex, especially if you are on mission in a war area, so there is a preliminary course (you are not paid for this week) and then you are moved.
UN has a private flight company (owned by them) so you have a relevant number of flights to use to travel, on the other side depence a lot on where you are, if you are in Timor Leste you will not be back every week-end, I suppose.
Generally speaking the conditions seems to be worst in economical terms, but in other terms I don’t know (working environment and so on). In some offices there is the rotation to 7 years, after 7 years you have to leave, no matter about who you are and why.
That’s all at the moment.
Stefano
@ (E)U(N)
If you already have an offer from UN, you should take it. RELEX Cast exam is not a job offer, and if you speak to most of successful candidates of Cast 27 Relex, you will learn that most of people not currently working for delegations haven’t received any offers (consult earlier pages). Have a look at this info note sent to delegations and (by accident) placed on one delegation’s website:
Call for Expression – EPSO CALL 2008 for contract agent posts in the EC Delegations
I would like to inform you that a new Call for expression of interest for the RELEX/External Service is now open on the EPSO Internet site.
Candidates can apply until 25.4.2008 at 12h:00 Brussels time.
Tests will take place on 18.7.2008. The tests will be held in the 27 member states of the European Union. Candidates are requested to choose the test centre of their choice at the time of application.
Can you please inform all contract agents in your delegation concerning this opportunity, which is especially important for contract agents who have not been successful in the test in 2007.
This year, there is no test for the secretary profile. Jobholders could try an EPSO test in Function Group III or IV, if the eligibility criteria can be respected.
http://www.delguy.ec.europa.eu/en/Call%20for%20Proposal/EPSOCall2008.htm
@candidate
Would you be able to send me a copy of the RELEX 2007 test for Good Governance and Security (French is perfect) – that would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance
Jessica
@ candidate,
hello, could you pls send me the relex questions you mentioned? thanx