The results of the concours for administrators are now out, and – surprise, surprise – I did not manage to pass. Here’s the extract of the letter:
The selection board for the above competition has now finished marking the pre-selection tests in which you participated. I regret to inform you that although the marks you obtained in these tests were above or equal to the pass mark, you were not amongst the top 630 candidates.
Point B.1 of the competition notice stipulates that only those candidates with the 630 highest marks in the pre-selection tests would be asked to submit a full application with a view to their possible admission to the competition.
Your marks are as follows (1):
Test a): 38.333 /60 (pass mark 30)
Test b): 15.263 /20 (pass mark 10)
Test c): 30.769 /40 (pass mark 20)Total: 84.365/ 120
For your information, the candidates who obtained the 630 highest combined scores had at least 92.611 points.
I would add that the Selection Board’s decision does not preclude you from taking part in any future competitions organised by the European Personnel Selection Office.
It’s beyond me how one can get 15.263 / 20 when there were 40 questions, but anyway, c’est la vie. All the best to all the geeks who know who won the Sakharov prize in the year X or other equally useful everyday facts.
FILE DOWNLOADS
Blog commenter ‘viking’ has made some new test files available for download, and he had also supplied the manual for electronic Reserve Lists. Some additional test files have been provided by Sorina (see comment #1003) – download 342kb, ZIPped. Enjoy!
SOCIAL NETWORKS
If anyone is a member of Facebook there’s the ‘So I won’t be a Commission official’ Facebook Group, and the EU Integration Traveler IQ challenge (you need to add the Traveler IQ Facebook application) – a more fun way to revise for the concours…
NOTE
Due to such an enormous number of comments here I have had to divide the comments function. The latest few hundred comments are below, and all the older comments are archived here. All should work technically now.
Carmen, if you do tell, just make sure it’s not over the phone…. other than that, no problemo I’d say.
Carmen: better don’t answer here. you never know who is reading this…
Were you pregnant when they did the medical test?
@Ms Question,
I do not have to pass the medical test. I’ve done it before and it is still valid. I just have to decide if I appear there the first day pregnant or I tell it before.
Carmen:
before you sign your contract you will have to pass a medical test…
I don’t know what will happen next, but in case they don’t accept you because you are pregnant, if you already have all the other “yesses” that would be discriminatory, but I am not an expert in the matter.
Hi everybody.
I have been offered a job in the Commission and I said yes. The HoU called me and asked if I want to job. I have not received the formal offer yet, but it seems they are working on the recruitment because DG ADMIN asked me to provide more documents. They have also updated my EPSO profile and wrote that I am in the process being recruited.
I have a dilemma. I am pregnant, quite advanced, but at the interview they did not notice, and obviously I did not mention it. I was planning to tell about it when I start working, but it seems the recruitment takes longer then expected. I do not want to create problems, because I know it takes time to find somebody to replace me, but on the other hand I do not want to take the risk that they change their mind about the job offer. Can they still change their mind after red-flagging me?
What do you think I should do? Insiders, do you know if there are any rules about when to tell about pregnancy that applies to newcomers? I suspect I have no obligation to tell before I start working, but I feel a kind of moral obligation to minimize the trouble.
@Frustrated,
Yes you’re right about Hous, probably they have to be proactive too.
The idea of calling HR services sounds good too, but it seems a bit invasive, and it exposes yourself to preposteous and discouraging reply.
Besides, you’ll get these preposterous replies from some fresh (?) HR officers: “we do not engage in this kind of communocation, etc…..”. It’s the HoUs that have to survive in this crazy bureaucratic system, they’re the ones cutting corners.
@ jepson,
HR is OK for calling if you want to make general enquiries (how are recruitment quota evolving, what do they think will be the coming year’s number of new recuits at their DG etc.), but it’s the HoU that will initiate you being reserved on that list for an official meeting… rarely the other way around.
@Frustrated,
Well mate, you surprisingly passed from nihilism to constructive mode. Your idea of HoUs lobbying for us from the inside is very charming and it demonstrates that, under the bark, there is still a vein of optimism. I share it and I am proceeding as you say (the frustrating approach). However I am going a bit slowly because I am trying to overcome some weaknesses in my CV, i.e. improving languages. I am also facing a strong lack of time, like evrybody else, I suppose.
About HoUs, do you think they are good addressees? I believed applications were to be sent to DG’s Human resources units.
Good luck to you too!
I thought that applicants with the highest score in the pre-selection test get a chance to take the written exam, if they meet the criteria stated in the Official Journal which is citizenship and university degree. Seems pretty straightforward and I would say fair enough. However, there is a different story when you take a look at the application. Besides proving your citizenship and university degree, they want you to prove your work experience. Seems like not a big deal, except in this case I don’t know if my work experience will play a role in there decision making at this point, or they will refer to it in some later stage if I continue further in this process. In other words, there is only one and final application, and they want to have all of my paperwork needed at the same time. Any thoughts ?
Jepson,
“Even if I have no contacts at all,”
Start mailing HoUs… depending on the profile-unit match and some euh “imponderabalia” (stuff you were born with and you can’t help), you may get a recation every 10th or 100rd mail. The ones replying “interesting profiles, but…” are the ones you want to meet with informally. If you throw in a convincing pitch, they’ll start lobbying internally for you. I hate to say this, but if your “imponderabilia” aren’t up to scratch, it’s probably the only way to get a foot in the door, because they automatically seem to assume laureates have access to vacancies and often don’t even bother checking the reserve list (and when they do, I have the impression they only screen for “imponderabilia” ,;-) ).
This is time-consuming and annoying, but it’s how the game is played. I should hope in time they’ll just hire based on selection rank and fire based on…. (but that’s me and my boll of yarn again).
Disclaimer: all of the above based on AD laureate experiences, NOT a septalingual secretary with 10 years of private scetor experience (their skills are actually needed at that place, the other folks are ornamental).
Good luck
@Kiwi
Thank you for your response, I guess the safest way is to get confirmation letters from all the places I worked for. Luckily I only changed three jobs for the past seven years.
Ms Question: Actually the salaried employment wasn’t too bad (just 2 letters from employers) – it was the years of freelance work that were a problem as had to provide certified copies of all my bank statements plus all the invoices!
Hello…
… to everyone who took the EPSO/AD/147/09 – BG pre-selection test for applicants with Bulgarian citizenship!!
I passed the pre-selection test to the point that I was invited to submit my application. Whether my score will be sufficient to get an invitation for the written test after my application is examined remains questionable. I guess a lot of you are in the same situation, besides of course those with top possible scores and utter confidence in their success. In the hope to get an idea of the distribution of test scores, and hence likelihood of succeeding, I have created this opinion poll. The participation of every candidate is valuable. I hope this opinion poll will be useful for all of you!
Best of luck with further stages of the admission process!
Accessing the forum requires a simple registration, which I guess a lot of you already have. The link is : http://epsoforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=85&t=1379
Hi,
when I passed an AST 1 concour I only submitted a reference letter from current employer (4 yrs), it was sufficient enough.
I think it is also worth trying this category, job is challenging and have time to pass an AD in the future. 🙂
Nitta
Kiwi:
yes, that is something, when they ask you the exact day and month when you started and finished a work God knows when. I had the same problem. I had to go through all my old papers… and also calculate exactly how many weeks/ months you worked in each place…
@AAA
I was asked to provide an official letter from each company (where the experience was relevant – I didn’t do one for a job I did 15 years ago at a low level), which had to state the exact start and end dates, the nature of my duties and whether it was full-time or part-time.
I also passed EPSO/AD/147-151/09 first round. The official journal doesn’t mention any professional experience; however the application has a section where to list all professional experience. Plus they need photocopies of supporting evidence for that work experience.
Is there anyone battled with this issue? Are tax returns enough evidence, or they need official letter from all Companies I worked for?
I appreciate your help!
@A
Thank you very much for your answers.
I understand the minimum eligibility requirements (only 3 years diploma), but I only wondered, if the working experience doesn’t matter in the evaluation, why does the application form contain a category regarding this topic. And also, I have obtained a Masters degree, but not yet the diploma (physically) and it will be a lot of trouble to obtain it on short notice. So, should I try to get it, or not go through all that trouble because it doesn’t matter anyway? So, I’m a little confused…
Regarding the score, I am aware that it depends on the other candidates’ scores. I just needed some reassurance, maybe somebody did pass with such a low score? :)… But actually I think it is very low and I have no chance if the details of the application don’t matter….
@nova
For the competition EPSO/AD/147/09 the minimum pass mark was 15 – 5 for test a) and 10 for test b). But a friend of mine was rejected with 16.
By the way A:
I recommend you reading a book to practice how to write essays. It is called “THE WRITTEN TEST for European institution competition” by Emmanuel Hetru.
I have nothing to do with the author, but I can tell you that it gives you really good advice on how to write the essays, what to avoid, and pages to practice.
On my last epso exam, I practiced from the book which was really good. Then I spent more time studying about the EU because test A was multiple choice. After finishing the exam, I regreted having studied so much for the EU and not enough essay practice from the book, as it is really important.
Then, there is this other page called http://www.eutest.eu where they give you all these examples of themes that could come up. I don’t remember though if you have to pay to see them.
I studied all these themes like: should Turkey join, should Island join, Lisbon, the smoking ban in Europe, and I don’t know how many other themes. All for nothing.
Well, not for nothing… Now I know more about Turkey, Island, etc etc…
Thanks Frustrated and Christos for your clear indications,
Even if I have no contacts at all, I understand in which direction I have to increase the efforts. Sorry Christos, I have not understood your indication ” 1&2=my definition of “network inteligently” “.
@participants EPSO/AD/147/09 (RO)
does anyone know what the lowest mark was to be invited to send full applications? i’ve heard the Bulgarian one before because i took the test with a Bulgarian friend who didn’t pass, but since for Romanians there are over 1400 ‘pre-preselectees’ it would be nice to know if i should get my hopes up with my lousy 23.6…. even though i know that every concours is different and it depends on the other candidates and so on ….
@Breach
Many thanks for your suggestions, especially since they are based on your successful exam experience! And thanks for writing on Sunday!
Have a good Sunday afternoon!
A
@A,
Sorry meant, to address your questions too:
– ‘You choose one subject and then what’ – You make sure this is indeed the topic you are best prepared about. You sit back and take your five minutes to plan it out – what argument which in what paragraph, etc.
– How many pages? – As many as you have time for, there’s no strict rule, I think I wrote 3 or 4 — try to have 5 or so minutes to read your essay again at the end and correct any errors.
– Should the main points be underlined (or bulletpoints)? Or rather a plain text? Should one include subtitles? – I did use a sub-title for the different paragraphs, but as long as they are clearly defined, you don’t really have to. Subtitles = annotations? I don’t think so, it’s an essay after all, then again with a Law essay, I guess you might want to refer to case law cases Treaty Articles and the like?
@A,
I can only share only my personal opinion on what the essay should be like. I would advise you to have several (at least 5 essays) prepared in advance on various hot topics. E.g. energy, Lisbon, climate change etc. This way you can both practice and actually go there even prepared in case you hit the jackpot So: I guess the critical requirements for the essay are a) Clear and sound logical structure and b) well-presented and arguments-supported presentation. Pay attention to grammar and style of course. Also, try not to run out of time — there isn’t really much, and you do want to finish your essay before handing it over 😉 In terms of structure — intro (make your point), defend it (several clearly defined paragraphs, e.g. 2-3), conclusion (reiterate your argument from the introduction). If you know facts and figures, it’s always best to use them, but don’t overdo it and make sure you use them where it actually makes sense — this is supportive information, and dry facts listing shouldn’t become the core of your essay just to show off how much useless data you know. Good luck!
@Breach
Have you taken the written exam (essay) yourself? I guess yes since you are talking about being in the Commission already? Tell me please in a few words. What is your advice for the optimum strategy for essay writing? You choose one subject and then what… How many pages? Should the main points be underlined (or bulletpoints)? Or rather a plain text? Should one include subtitles? Thanks. And congratulations on having the job! (Probabion is in the overwhelming majority successful.)
@nova
My sister took it and didn’t pass (got 18.000 and the minimum was 18.333). I have 24/30 myself (not that it matters, since I have a job with the Commission already, but hey, I might fail probation, so better play it safe and keep taking ’em exams 😉
@Breach
It is ok. Thanks anyways.
A
@Ana2
When I responded to your question, I mentioned AD5 concour for translators by mistake. Sorry. I don’t want to leave it like this, so I’ll correct myself. You were asking about a general concour in AD5 in all fields. So, in this case I am sure that one’s experience is not taken into consideration as no professional experience is required. You just have to have a university diploma (minimum 3 years of studying) in the field of the competition (matching the duties to be performed).
As far as the chances with a given score are concerned, I have nothing to add to what I’ve already said. The organizers of the competition will not be able to determine the lowest score to be admitted before they get the applications. Say (complete hypothesis!) that 100 persons with the highest scores do not send their application, so people with the lower scores will have better chances.
@Breach
Thank you, how did you know it?
@A, sorry, Law is not my thing 😉
@nova at least for BG Public Administration the minimum was 18.333.
@nova
My friend told me the results of 147-151/09 were out a few days ago (the emails informing about this were sent a bit later). I don’t remember her score, but it was low (around 20) and she is still all right with it at this stage.
Do you have topics of written exam in law of 46-47/06?
All the best!
A
@participants into EPSO competitions AD/147-151/09 (BG & RO)
The results of the preselection tests are out.
Does someone know what was the minimum number of points required in order to be invited to send full application?
Many thanks!
@Breach
It is impressive how quickly you responded! Thanks a lot.
Actually I forgot to mention something that was most important for me.
I need these topics in the field of LAW. Would you have it? It would be so nice.
Anyways, let me please say it again correctly.
Could you please give the topics for written test b (essay) in LAW for the concour epso/ad/46-47/06 public adminstration and law (for RO and BG)?
Thanks!
@A
Subject 1
What are the current obligations for the European officials in terms of knowledge of languages?
How would you organise language courses in your Directorate in order to serve 27 Member States, bearing in mind the increasing implications of globalisation and bilateral agreements with third countries?
Subject 2
To what extent does the European Union have a coherent external policy?
Subject 3
How and why are powers distributed among the European Union’s institutions? Illustrate your answers with reference to specific policy areas.
Subject 4
To what extent is the principle of subsidiarity laid down in the EC Treaty consistent with the single market? Discuss with reference to one or more Community policies.
Subject 5
Describe and comment on the way in which the EU budget is drawn up and implemented.
RE: concour epso/ad/46-47/06 public adminstration and law (for RO and BG)
Could someone who took this concour be so nice and give the topics for written test b (essay) here?
Thanks!
I do hope most of the posters are aware that quite often informal meetings are arranged for, which is another thing I dislike in their recruitment practices: assuming all other variables equal, this puts laureates living far out of Brussels/Luxemburg at a disadvantage.
Jepson,
I strongly urge you to seek direct contact. You need a foot in the door, some-one lobbying for you on the inside.
Don’t be overly polite or timid, be direct and assertive. I resent this too, but it’s part of the game.
@jepson
Is it polite to search direct contacts? I do not think that it is uncommon, especially if you try to find contacts in the areas of your speciality.
To try to get introduced by someone? I do not think that the person you are going to be introduced will have an empty position immediately waiting for you, but having an enlarged network could help in the long term. Anyway, these people will soon become your collagues 🙂 It does not hurt, if you already know them.
1&2=my definition of “network inteligently”
Other tip: Have a CV ready at all times! You never know when you would need it.
Hi friends, many thanks CARMEN and BREACH to for replies. Just like the other friends here I am eager to get this very attractive job, so at the end I think I will keep on sending mails.
FRUSTRATED indignation has given me a lot of more info on the situation. I completely sympathize with him, since I am just arriving on RL (let’s say less than 6 months) and already feel a certain disappointment; btw I liked his ‘prose’.
So far, I have honestly to say that the competitions I passed have been very-very fair (I just needed to study a lot!). I understand what you (Frustrated) said about this point, but as an experienced (national) civil servant, I would like to tell you that ‘friends of friends’ are not generally capable/used to compete on a fair playground. Furthermore, I know mates on my list that have simply been called for an interview just after passing the concourse.
Again, after reading latest posts I repeat my previous question about ‘pro-active search’ in a very direct way: Is it polite to search direct contacts? To try to get introduced by someone?
I hate the idea at all, it is not nice to postulate after passing through a hard competition. From the other half, in some way we have already won the comp. Is it what you mean CHRISTOS for ‘network inteligently’?
PS: If some EPSO agent is really reading, we should appreciate a qualified reply.
@ A,
I’ll fully admit to that. It’s the rare combination of a competitive package and job security that attracts me. If it weren’t for those two elements, I wouldn’t touch a commission official’s desk with a twelve foot pole. I am currently in a darwinian rat race that will either see me independently wealthy or dependently unhealthy by the age of 50. Life on easy street has a strong appeal to me.
See, I’m nasty, but honest (you’d think 😉 )
And the saying goes: If you don’t know what it’s all about, it’s about money!
Cristos,
” passed an external competition without previously knowing about the EU and/or having worked in any EU-related instance.”
You are intelligent enough to realize this sort of argument is anecdotal at best. Again, I challenge DG ADMIN to do some number crunching and invalidate statements by the likes of hoodlums like me.
Let’s not forget the Ban reports contain anecdotal elements pointing the other way. These quotes & soundbites are based on prospective qualitative research of some sort and donned with an academic halo. Worse, there are publicaly accesible for miscreants like me. Hence, one would say what is stopping DG ADMIN in debunking these supposed myths?
😉
Have you seen The Wire, Christos?
“The Greek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Bill Raymond. The Greek is the head of an international criminal organization involved in narcotics and human trafficking.[1] Despite his moniker, he claims that he is not of Greek origins though he might have been joking.”
Anyhow, some hail from a field where opinions/analyses/statements are routinely accompanied by conflict-of-interest statements, nothing personal to it.
Greetings from the “Greek guy” 🙂
I practice and write my own believes. I passed an external competition without previously knowing about the EU and/or having worked in any EU-related instance.
Forgive me for being naive enough to believe in the relative transparency and fairness of the system.
Finally, I would like to comment that the only reason I wrote the book was in order to give “good candidates” a fair change in the Oral competition. I.e. if it would have been for the money, I would not have been charging these ridiculous low prices, but instead go for the 35€ to 50€ range, as some other books that exist in the market.
Anyway, it’s person is judged by his actions. Scripta manun.
I close my intervention, by proposing to “frustrated” to start seeing the glass as half-full and NOT as half-empty.
Study hard, network inteliigently, share info and good luck is in your hands.
@A
Again, can’t really comment as yes, I believe “they” are reading along. Wouldn’t you if you were working as an HR officer for an organisation and there would be this type of forum?
As far as the “Greek guy” is concerned… I respect his efforts, but let’s not forget he has a direct interest in the fact that people would keep believing the EU recruitment practices are fair. If the lottery is known to be crooked, not a lot of scratching bills will be sold… same goed for people selling books on how to survive concours. Yes, I am a nasty, politically incorrect, individual. To the pillory with me. 😉
@frustrated
Indeed, there you go again! 🙂
But it is interesting to read that!
Do you think someone from ec is reading what we say here? Besides, the greek guy who wrote the book…
By the way, I think that the lack of recruitment in your case (but the future is yours!) is probably connected with the fact that you want a particular profile in your field of expertise. If I am not mistaken, that’s hard. I think many people with the concour just take whatever in any institution. Perahaps you wait for a particular narrow field of activity, which makes your chances smaller.
@Ana2
1. It is not possible to judge your chances based on your score at this stage. How can one say how many people got higher score than you? It varies from concour to concour, really! Just send your papers, you have nothing to loose! (Besides the postage fee).
2. I think that nothing more than your passport (or another ID) and your university diploma is needed for a regular translators’ concour. Anyone with any 3-year university study is eligible. But have a look at the notice of competition to see if they require education matching the tasks that a translator will do. Now they publish the notice of competitions in the target language only, so not everyone can check it.
But seriously, boys ‘n gals, through my tribulations (there I go again 😉 ) as a laureate I have come to the following conclusions:
Competitions serve two purposes, in order of importance: 1) instill a perception of objectivity 2) weed out the worst candidates (minimize false-positives), not to select the best.
The above objectives are honourable given the 1) historic background of culturally very different countries 2) daunting logistics EU-wide selection entails.
However, the snag is in the recruitment part. I strongly believe laureates should be recuited by rank of selection results. If a laureate performs below par, he/she should more easily be let go in the probationary period provided a transparent, fact-based, written procedure is set in place. I believe this in time will emerge naturally as the sole modus operandi for the commission as laureates will become more informed and litigatious, not to mention the Pandora’s box of how to define an ethnic minority in weary old Europe the commission is about to open. DG ADMIN should look into the example the French Ministry of Finance provides in this respect. If it doesnot take the lead on this, it will eventually be bogged down in a quagmire of legal actions and general disbelief for what should constitute good governance.