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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@Evelina
In this case, consider to user Art. 90 of EU Staff Regulation. At least there is a change to argue and to point the attention of the Director General on the person you mentioned.
Always remember that we also have Trade Unions in the EU Commission, and especially in the DGs (not true for the agencies, few of them has a staff committee) they are strong enough to support your case and to get a minimum level of justice.
Also remember that this people are damaging you and the image od the EU Commission itself, if there is any discrimination, any unacceptable behaviour, just communicate it, there are offices and officers which are in charge to take actions.
And for sure the first effect will be that his/her promotion will be stopped, which means less people will suffer in the medium/short term.
Good Luck
Stefano
yes, you can contest, and even sue the Institution. But to what avail? There is extensive case-law of ECJ related to this matter. I don’t know if anybody has actually succeeded.
@Evelina
it is very sad to hear such story…. Can you tell us which is that boss in order that colleagues refuse instantly offers coming from his unit? Or at least , which is the unit or DG? And what do you mean by “his antipathy”? It was related to your citizenship, colour of your skin or what?
I imagine that you can contest its report to his superior. Did you do it? I hope that you didn’t simply give up , after so much work to pass an open competition …
Dana
Hi to all!
I have got an interview in the Commission. They told me that it will take two months for the recruitment process. Until now I haven’t received an invitation to the medical examination. Do you know how long it takes to get an invitation for the medical check?
@ EPSO is going to use all my patience…
From the moment I inscribed myself to a competition and the day I finally started to work: 2 years and 1 month and a half.
I was rather lucky, I was called on the first month I was on the reserve list (and I was not already working for an EU Institution).
So patience and never say nothing on your present job until you get the formal offer.
I have passed EPSO test back in 2004 and was then waiting days and months to be contacted by the institutions. Then I learned it won’t happen unless I run nacked through the garden of a high Commission official…;-))).
Unfortunatelly I was noticed by Parliament and subsequently “seized” by this institution, so I was excluded from interviews in other institutions. I was forced to accept this job at the Parliament with horrible boss… who kicked me out of Parliament at the end of probationary period just because of his antipathy toward me. EPSO told me I need to go through another EPSO concours to be considered for a post. I said NO THANKS !
😉
The “paper ones” took about a year in all… omitting the fact there that between inscription and tests there was about 6 months… you do NOT want to know how many years people can spend on reserve lists.
Let’s say you can start off a laddish boy and get hired a bearded father of four.
Hi everybody!
This is my first time commenting in this blog. I am taking part for the first time in the eu competitions and I am really amazed by the time it takes EPSO to communicate the results of the tests! For instance, it took 1 month to publish a computer-based preselection list. How long did it take for them with the classic paper ones: 3 months, 6 months…? Anyway, I passed the first round of the preselection phase and I am wondering how long will I have to wait before they tell me if I pass (or not) to the next stage. It seems to me that if you want to go through the complete process, you’d better have another job in the mean time (which is my case). And the worst is after being successful with all the competition procedure, you’ll can wait months (and even year!) before you get a definitive job offer… Even if I think that at the end it is worth waiting so long, I am wondering why does it take them so long. Maybe it is normal and they are many procedures to respect, or EPSO lacks of personel. Maybe am I too impatient, or crazy… 😀
Hi Teddy,
Thank you. It took about 6 weeks to receive the offer. Regarding the medical examination they said that they contact you in case something is wrong, so in this case no news are good news 😉
Hi Elena congratulations!
How long does it take after the interview to receive the job offer?
Did you become some results from the medical test?
@breach
Thank you very much. It is a unit within DG Research. Anyway, 3 other units from other DGs were interested but did not have anything free at that moment.
@Elena, Yahoo! Congratulations! Which DG? Best of luck to you! No, wait, you’ve already had your share of luck :-]
@waiting for… bxl: Two interviews so far, no go so far. That’s about it. Waiting for them to wake up in September. I expect some serious commotion in Sep/Oct. Another EPA laureate told me that 29 out of 50 people were already hired from our reserve list (I hope this corresponds to reality actually :-])
@waiting for… bxl
I am on the reserve list EPSO/AD/47/06 (EPA) and I’ve got a post in Brussels (EC). I will start soon.
Apologies to all of you posting comments here over the last 10 days that have not appeared here immediately – I’ve been on a Croatian island with no internet access. Things will be back to normal from now on!
Hello! I’ve only just come across this blog, so apologies if this has already been discussed at lenght or is not an appropriate topic…
I’m taking part in the RELEX 2008 competition. I’ve just had an email which (I think!) says that, provided you pass the test, offers of employment will be made on the basis of the countries you have selected. Does anybody have any idea of how I could find out which countries they are looking for staff for?
Many thanks,
Emilia
Dear Dany,
Many thanks for kindly sharing with us your experience!!!
Good luck with the second interview!!!!!
JFK
Hello ,
Does anyone knows if the selection for the IPTS postdocs has been completed? I have applied for a postdoc vacancy in april….and I’m quite surprised that they take so long to announce the results.
Thanks.
Dear Dany,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share with us your experience!!!
I wish you good luck with the second interview!!!
Best regards,
JFK
@ jfk,
thanks for your interest in my experience and fate.
For the first interview , I guess my name was just picked up from the list (no lobbying, no previous interaction with the agency, no advertised post). I like to think that it is because my educational background and especially my PhD Thesis is closely related to the areas of activities of the agency in question.
The interview was a classic one (why do you want to work for us, strength and weaknesses, why do we need an executive agency, where did you learn to speak … ). The only question related to the profile was to describe the project cycle. I was not selected for the post.
For the second interview, I applied to an advertised post and was short listed. The interview was about describing my professional experience and very much about the content of the work (What would you do in situation X…). The decision is pending.
In both case, it was in a rather pleasant atmosphere.
It may sound obvious, but based on my experience, in interview most of the questions relate to the activities of the unit/agency/service . It will not harm to learn as much as you can about it (as all job hunting websites say). I hope this helps.
Dear All,
Last March i passed the cast27 energy adviser exams. I haven´t been yet contacted. Have anybody of you passed the energy adviser exams?
I´m very surprised that EU have not contacted me because only 25 people are supposed having passed the exams.
If anybody have more information, please let me know.
Good luck to everybody,
Damien
hi everyone! a question for laureates AD 46-47/06: any winds from bxl? i know that from my list recruitment is excruciatingly slow and, as it happened, they had either worked for the EU delegation/repr until then (one got hired in feb, one in march in Ro rep thou, and one around may) or for the former ministry of European integration (got hired in august). it seems those hundreds of posts “geographically” alocated are not yet available, though i wonder why…?
bulgarians, breach, what’s the situation on your side?
to hopeful
I got from Eu facts 60% and reasoning 90%, so there is slight chance that I will pass also to the next round. I have been auditing for 2 years. I do not think you can get your auditing knowledge up to a good level within couple weeks, unless you have IQ above 150 :). Since no previous work exp. is required it is difficult to say which kind of knowledge you should have. There are different types of audit anyway (internal, financal, IT, etc).
Responding to Eduardo (22 Jul 2008):
“- Are there many ICT AD or AST reserve lists laureates, from previous general concours, still waiting to be recruited?”
-> Yes. I passed the 2004 competition (AD category).
Almost 4 years later I have no position (although I’ve been working at the EC for years…).
See the reserve lists and the news (prolongations) about them, on EPSO site, and other forums.
” How long have you been waiting for?”
-> Usually, those of my colleagues who are civil servants, indicate a average delay of 1 year between the results and starting the 9-month traineeship.
Be patient!
@ eucandidate
as far as RELEX 2008, FGIV Finance/Contract/Audit Advisor , these below are my answers. Any feedback is most welcome:
1. c (pretty sure)
2. b (pretty sure)
3. d (pretty sure)
4. a (pretty sure)
5. ?
6. b (pretty sure)
7. b (pretty sure)
8. d (pretty sure)
9. a (pretty sure)
10. d (pretty sure)
11. b (pretty sure)
12. ?
13. ?
14. c
15. d (pretty sure)
16. c
17. d (pretty sure)
18. b (pretty sure)
19. d
20. b (pretty sure)
21. b (pretty sure)
22. c (pretty sure)
23. a(pretty sure)
24.?
25. a (pretty sure)
26. b (pretty sure)
27. d (pretty sure)
28. d (pretty sure)
29. c (pretty sure)
30. ?
31. a (pretty sure)
32. ?
33. b (pretty sure)
34. b (pretty sure)
35. d
36. b (pretty sure)
37. ?
38. d (pretty sure)
39. a (pretty sure)
40. d
41. d (pretty sure)
42. b (pretty sure)
43. d (pretty sure)
44. ?
45. c (pretty sure)
46. c (pretty sure)
47. a
48. ?
49. a (pretty sure)
50. b (pretty sure)
@hopeful
First of all, your trip to Brussels – if you will be invited to the written tests – will be paid, but you will have to compete with professionals in the field. If you’re successful in the competition, you will most probably be offered a job in Luxembourg (most auditors are based there, Brussels has only handful)
Dear all,
anybody there that took the last test RELEX FG IV in the field of Infrastructure? I took it and most probably screwed up most of the very technical questions, given that the test was meant mainly for engineers and I am an economist (specialized in energy and infrastructure, though). How the hell was I supposed to know what is a “water hammer”? I think that EPSO should have mentioned that this field was meant mainly for engineers.
Anyway, here are my answers for the non technical-questions (1-25): 1d, 2b, 3a, 4b, 5d, 6a, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10c, 11a, 12b, 13c, 14c, 15a, 16a, 17(?), 18b, 19(?), 20b, 21b, 22c, 23d, 24c, 25b
For those who know…
I passed the tests for the auditors competition AD 126 08, but I am a lawyer, not an auditor. Should they invite me for the written tests, is it conceivable for me to built from scratch a competence in the field of auditing in a few weeks, or is it perhaps better to stay home and save the money for the trip to Brussels?
Thank you.
Would anyone know how long it takes between the last day to send the application to EPSO until the written test takes place? I’m wondering regarding the AD/126/08 audit competition, for which I have hopes to be invited…
EPSO at its best… this is what you get with a recruitment policy targeting friends, family, quota countries and special interest groups.
Greetings from the new Jews to the old continent.
😉
Just today. They are really no professional with this attitude because the first communication was wrong.
Etni is my pleasure to share all the info with you and the others. Now we need to have news concerning the possible neutralizated questions :))
Ciao
@Netprince
when did you receive this?
Find this flow of (mis)communications extremely annoying – first incorrect info and reaching half the candidates only, now corrected + additional info but still communicated to some of the candidates only. As a candidate of this competition, I would have liked to know that CV will be closed for editing on September 8. Thanks for sharing Netprince!
Was a mistake of them….as usual:
UPDATE: Opportunity to update your CV, as submitted for CAST RELEX 08 Selection procedures
Dear Sir / Madam,
In response to a number of questions we have received, I am writing to inform you that my previous message sent to you was a standard notification to all CAST candidates and it does not imply that you have been successful in the CAST RELEX 2008 selection procedure. The results of this selection are not yet available, and are scheduled for publication by the end of September. I would also like to inform you that the preselection of successful candidates made by DG RELEX will also be made on the basis of the countries indicated by candidates in their application. In order to facilitate this process, candidates will periodically be given a window within which they are able to modify their choice of countries. Please note that the “CHOICE OF COUNTRIES” section of your CV is currently open, and will be closed again on Monday, 8th September 2008 at midday (Brussels time). It will be reopened for a specific period at the beginning of 2009 and you will be informed accordingly.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours sincerely,
Agne Martikoniene
Head of Unit
European Personnel Selection Office
Hi everyone,
Is there anyone here that is already working in Ispra at JRC??? Or maybe someone moving very soon there???
I will also be moving very soon there and I needed some tips from someone who already tried this experience. If anyone wants to contact me, my email address is raluca.n@gmail.com or can write on this blog.
It is my first time moving to a foreign country and first time working for EU institutions, so I would really need some help from the more experinced people.
Thanks a lot to everyone.
hi all i have received this mail the last 13.08 but really the message i not clear about the succes ora not on the test. Anyway something clear is only somes candidates have received the mail. I have spoked with 3 persons and just 1 have received the mail. Someone is in contact with Epso???
@ Ris & Fran
I’m participating in Cast Relex 2008 and haven’t received any emails from epso on CV updates etc. But I checked with people who have registered for (but not necessarily made) the CAST 27 – they seemed to have received such emails. So, very possible it was meant for Cast 27 people – still, such a mix-up of the competitions, it simply doesn’t look good.
@Breach
Sadly, CA and TA posts are not exclusively meant for people who passed Cast 27 or 25. There is a push towards that side, but I know that people who are not on the list are still being hired – also for delegations. In the Commission, there are rules and procedures that everyone is supposed to follow, and then there are exceptions, special situations etc. when they are not followed.
Dear Dany,
Having being interviewed twice by 2 different EU Executive Agencies is really great, congrats!!!
I’m on CAST27/FGIV/Project Adviser reserve list too, but nobody contacted me so far.
Could you please kindly tell us more about your interviews?
Thank you!!!
@fran, ris and rafik,
I received this EPSO mail as well, but I don’t think that it implicates a successful test…
@fran and ris
I also received that e-mail. I am not sure if that means we have passed the exam, although it sounds good. Last year I didn’t pass the CAST 27 and I didn’t receive any e-mail of this kind.
Anyway, we have to be cautious and have patient.
Good luck,
Rafik
@fran,
I have received the same message.
But I am not sure it has anything to do with the final results.
A similar message was sent to the CAST27 reserve-listed candidates at about the same time.
It would be nice if some other Relex 2008 candidates confirm they have received the same mail.
Hi pavels:
I guess we’re interviewing for the same position 🙂 So far, I haven’t really found much info about these interviews and what to expect. But it would be great to chat about it sometime. If you want, we can exchange thoughts, my email is sm9619 at gmail. Best of luck. Are you just graduating from university this year?
I’m in the same situation as AQ; I’ve recieved invitation for an interwiew at ECHA (Jr Scientific Officer AD5). If anybody has experienced such interview, please post something about it, thanks.
I have just received an email from epso saing that it is now possible to update relex 08 cv “This facility has been made available in response to a number of requests received from people who having successfully passed a CAST RELEX 08 selection, are currently eligible for recruitment”. What does it mean..do they have the results already?
Dear AQ,
congratulations for the Start.
I have had two interviews at two different executive agencies (nit ECHA though) and I must say that they were quite different.
My guess is that it depends pretty much on the profile are you applying for? If Project Adviser, FG IV I could tell post how my interviews went.
Anyway, good luck
So I just got invited for an interview at the european chemicals agency-ECHA. Does anyone have any advice for what to expect, how to prepare? This is my first time interviewing for a european agency.
Thanks
Btw, regarding re-opening the CVs. Shortly after the initial CAST27 round for some incomprehensible reason the CAST CVs were frozen — you couldn’t update it after the deadline. I’m 99% sure this was done for some even more incomprehensible technical reason with a lame justification. Anyhow, seems they figured out it was time to allow people to update their CVs. Doesn’t indicate any high chances of getting a job or anything related if you ask me.
Nothing personal, but I find it indeed rather arrogant to acknowledge nepotism in the EU as a real and unofficially accepted practice.
As for CAST27, for almost one year now I was contacted only once by somebody with an offer to maintain a fish database in a lovely Italian community which I cordially rejected (still, it was advetised as FG III, whereas I’m FGIV). Still, the person who contacted me was very nice, thanked me for the response and wished me happy x-mas holidays, which was quite a pleasant experience given my typical communication flow (or lack of such thereof) ranging from ‘radio silence in effect’ to the usual infringement of Article 21 when I write in one language and receive a reply in another. :-] Anyhow, personally I wouldn’t bother lobbying for a CAST position mainly due to the questionable renumeration of CAs (then again, different folks, ages and goals).
On a more positive note, I do sense some serious positive changes going on internally in EPSO. Publishing the satisfaction survey, having vacancies actually being enforced and exclusively limited to laureates on the CAST lists is a pretty hard push on the wheel. My gut feeling tells me somebody’s giving the general recruitment process and EPSO in particular a much needed push in a positive direction.
@riviere
I believe you are talking about CAST 27. I have passed this competition
for Press&Communication FG IV and I have received an email, then phone calls
related to the same offer, from the European Commission. i never contacted
them. This happened even before updating my CV .
However, if you really want a job there, you should write to different
heads of unit in RELEX. I thinks we have members in this forum who works
directly at RELEX so maybe they can give you targeted information which
would be the right Heads of Unit to write to.
Good luck!
Dana
Stefano, you seem to be knowledgeable on these matters… could you describe the workings of nepotism at the commission (or perhaps limited to DG relex) and give us an estimate of its size.
Riviere,
You should “lobby”. I strongly suggest to get a wax and put on your funkiest wig once the ballroom season is reopened in Brussels.
@Pedder
The passmark for the 1440 in EPSO/AD/126/08 was 21,33333…