Related FAQs

How do I evaluate the level of my languages?

For each of your languages (including your mother tongue), we ask you to evaluate the three following language skills using the self-assessment grid which is part of the application form: understanding, speaking, writing. Each language skill must be assessed from A1 (beginner) to C2 (expert).The lowest of the three skills is taken into account to determine whether you can take the tests in this language (see example grid below). Generally, we require at least level B2 for the tests (see the competition notice).LanguageUnderstandingSpeakingWritingLevel taken into account by...

What is an e-tray?

An e-tray exercise is a computer-based simulation of a real work situation and replicates an email inbox which contains information relating to a particular issue. Candidates need to find solutions in the best way possible within a fixed amount of time. The exercise is taken in language two of the candidate and is designed to measure four competencies:Analysis and Problem SolvingDelivering Quality and ResultsPrioritising and OrganisingWorking with Others

Can candidates decide which language is their mother tongue?

EPSO doesn’t impose any rules or restrictions in this regard.A candidate's mother tongue is impossible for a selection board to verify, as it does not always correspond with citizenship. Some candidates may have multiple mother tongues, and some candidates may prefer to take tests in the language of their daily work, rather than the language they speak, or spoke, at home.The Institutions agreed it is fairer to leave the decision on the language of these tests to the candidates themselves.

What are the competencies candidates must demonstrate during the competition tests?

The institutions are looking for candidates who are talented, motivated, and who can demonstrate the following general competencies:Analysis and Problem Solving: Identify the critical facts in complex issues and develop creative and practical solutionsCommunicating: Communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writingDelivering Quality and Results: Take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard of quality within set proceduresLearning and Development: Develop and improve personal skills and knowledge of the organisation and its...

Can you give me an example of how EPSO will choose the languages?

Let’s take the following candidates:CandidatesLanguages indicated in the application at the required level (Part 1)List of languages (and number of candidates who declared them) in descending orderLanguages this candidate can declare as language 2RosarioEN, IT, ES, PTEN (5)DE (3)FR (3)ES (2)IT (2)EL, GA, PL, PT, NL, CS, SK, FI, DA, SV (1)EN, IT, ESJeanEL, EN, FREN, FRMaureenGA, ENENPiotrPL, EN, DEEN, DESamuelFR, IT, ESFR, IT, ESGertrudDE, NLDEMariaCS, SKDisqualifiedJari-PekkaFI, DA, SV, ENENMathieuEN, FR, DEEN, FR, DE The five most-requested languages in this example are: English (5),...

What work will I do if I'm recruited through this competition?

This is a competition for a generalist profile, this means that it is not for one specific post, but rather for an administrator capable to work in any type of sector of EU policies.If you are recruited at this grade following this competition, you will be working as part of a team in one of the following areas of work in the EU institutions:1. policy formulation,2. operational delivery,3. resource management.Find more information here.

What happens if I do not speak one of the languages proposed by EPSO?

Only the candidates who have declared one of the languages chosen by the Institutions in the first part of the application will be invited to continue their application for the competition. If you do not have at least one of these five languages, you will be eliminated. Based on our analyses of previous competitions, we expect a very low rate of elimination for this reason, as almost all candidates know at least one of the most common languages for Europeans.It is therefore important that you declare all the languages you speak and in which you are prepared to take the tests. It will no...

I risk having to take my assessment centre/phase tests against competitors who may take the tests in their mother tongue. Isn't that unfair?

The selection panel do not assess your proficiency in the language: no points are added (or deducted) for the language level. The role of the assessment centre/phase is to assess candidates solely on the basis of their competencies (see competition notice) and not to compare them with one another.

Why propose five languages for the Assessment Centre/ phase and not all the 24 official languages?

It is essential to have a limited number of vehicular languages to ensure that the candidates and the selection board can communicate with each other and that future recruits can work with their future colleagues.The number of languages proposed by EPSO is a balance between the logistical and financial resources on the one hand, and the desire to allow a maximum of candidates to participate in the competition on the other hand. Having more (if not all) languages would involve an additional effort, disproportionate in relation to the number of additional candidates who could thus...

Why not oblige the candidates to use a language other than their mother tongue for the assessment centre?

As the concept of a mother tongue is difficult to define (some candidates speak several languages at a high level, while others have only a limited knowledge of their mother tongue and would prefer to sit the tests in their usual working language), EPSO has thus opted to test the candidates in languages common to a majority of them. This choice is the most faithful representation possible of the actual working environment within the Institutions.Finally, at the assessment centre the candidates are not assessed on their language skills (apart from the linguists, of course), but on their...

What happens if the most-frequently declared languages do not meet the needs of the services?

If the five languages most frequently declared by the candidates are not validated by the Institutions because they do not meet the needs of the services, EPSO will propose the sixth and then the seventh most-declared language and so on until a list of five languages is obtained. These languages, together with the justified decision, will be published on the EPSO website and communicated to all the competition candidates.

Can you tell me which five languages will be proposed for the assessment centre tests and the e-tray exercise?

We have to wait until the end of the first phase of registration to collect the data from all the applications before drawing up a list of the languages most frequently declared by the candidates. In the 2017 graduates' competition, the most frequently declared languages were English, French, Italian, Spanish and German. You may also consult the European report on the languages most widely known and used, which may provide guidance though no guarantee. Furthermore, it is up to the Institutions to validate the five languages proposed by EPSO on the basis of the data extracted from the...

Can I declare all the languages I know?

Yes, during the first phase of the application, you can declare all your languages (minimum 2 and maximum 10) amongst the official languages of the European Union.For example, let’s suppose you speak the following languages:French (excellent level - C2)Dutch (excellent level - C2)English (very good level - C1)German (intermediate level - B2)Portuguese (beginner level - A1)First of all, congratulations on being so multilingual! You can declare all these languages during the first phase of your application.After the first phase of application, EPSO will draw up the list of the 5 languages most...

Can I participate if I graduate only this summer?

Yes, students in their final year at university (bachelor degree) can take part in the competition provided that their diploma is awarded by 31 July 2019.

How do I finalise my application form for the competition?

Candidates who have been invited to complete their application form must undertake the following steps:Log in into your EPSO AccountUnder "Applications", click on your applicant number (in blue). This will bring you to the application form you submitted as part of the first registration phase. Your application might be down the list of applications in your EPSO account after your validated applicationsComplete your application form as follows:In the "Registration data" tab: indicate your languages 1 and 2 for the purposes of this competition ;Under the "My Profile" tab: fill in your...

There is an issue with the calendar in the application form. Why can I not select a date after 24/06/2019?

The main purpose of the application form is to determine if a candidate fills all conditions as set out in the Notice of Competition, on the date of closure for applications.In the light of the above, please note that:The deadline for applications was 25/06/2019.The date taken into account to determine if a candidate fills the conditions is the last full day before the deadline: 24/06/2019.No professional experience is required to apply for this competition.Candidates who wish to add professional experience can do so with latest end date 24/06/2019.Candidates can also add a CV...

My application disappeared – can you please reactivate it?

Please check the full list of applications in your EPSO account by scrolling down. As long as the competition's application process is ongoing, the application and related messages may be in the middle of the list – after any previous validated applications you may have.

In which language/s do I have to fill in the application form?

You can fill your application in any of the 24 EU official languages.Your whole application form will be accessed by the Selection Board (during the competition) and by the HR services of the European Institutions (for recruitment in case you are a successful candidate) who work in a limited number of vehicular languages as explained above.In case you succeed in the competition and your name is placed on the reserve list, you will be asked to provide a translation of the application form into your language 2 (chosen from among the 5 languages offered) to the recruiting services if you have...

Which languages do I take my tests in?

The tests will take place in two different languages:- One language for the numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning (most of the multiple-choice questions test - MCQ): you choose this language from the 24 official languages of the European Union.- One language for the situational judgment test, the e-tray test and the assessment centre tests: you choose this language in the second part of the application from among the languages you indicated in the first part of your application.

Why can I not edit my language skills anymore in the second part of my application form?

In the first part of the application form, we asked candidates to declare their knowledge of all official EU languages. After the validation of this first part of the application, the declared languages could no longer be edited.Based on the declarations of the candidates, 5 languages are now offered for the competition tests.In the second part of the application form opening on beginning of July (please check your EPSO account for further details), only candidates who declared minimum of 2 languages (one at minimum level B2 and one at minimum level C1) of which at least one is amongst the...

What are the language arrangements for competitions for generalists?

In which language do candidates take the tests in the competition for generalists?A candidate for the competition for generalists will take the tests in two different languages:Language 1 : Most of the multiple-choice question tests (MCQ - verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests) will be in the candidate’s Language 1, which must be one of the 24 official languages of the European Union.Language 2 : One multiple-choice question tests (MCQ – situational judgment test), the e-tray test and the assessment centre tests and the e-tray test will be in one of the other languages indicated...

How will the languages for the assessment centre tests be chosen?

First, all the candidates must state in their application the languages in which they would be prepared to take the tests (notably for the assessment centre tests), in the knowledge that the minimum level required is B2.At the end of this first registration phase, EPSO will compile all the data from all the applications to extract the languages most frequently declared by the candidates. The five languages most frequently declared by the applicants will be proposed to the Institutions. If they approve these languages, they will be offered to the candidates for their tests at the assessment...