The advice below will help you make the most of your preparation time in the run up to the selection process.
Familiarise yourself with the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO).
EPSO is in charge of the recruitment process, so understanding its procedures will help you make the most of your time. Make sure you are fully aware of what is required of you at each stage to be focused and targeted in your preparation.
Becoming a member of the EU Careers Facebook group will allow you to receive updates whenever a new selection procedure starts.
Application
Read the 'Notice of Competition' carefully from A to Z: it may be complex but it contains a wealth of useful information.
Your application is something you can start preparing even before registration is open – although the actual form is not available until the selection process goes live. It's useful to start thinking about writing up details of your education, professional experience and so on. The section on your education and professional experience is similar to the one used in the Europass format CV that you can find online here. Filling in a Europass CV will help you prepare your application ensuring you have all the relevant information to hand. It's especially useful because if you are successful you'll be required to have one anyway.
Write it in a word document before you upload it onto the electronic form to benefit from the spell check.
Before completing the application form read the 'Online Application Manual' which has all the details to help you fill it in to the best of your ability.
Preparing for and booking your computer based reasoning test
Soon after you submit your application you will receive a message on your EPSO account telling you when you need to go online to book your test: check your account so that you don't miss this message!
If you don't have much flexibility due to work or other commitments, make sure you book your date for your reasoning tests early so you have the maximum choice of dates available to you.
Taking your computer based reasoning test – stage 1
Time is of the essence here, so practise using the correct length of time for each test.
The reasoning tests are multiple-choice questions. If you get stuck on a question, note down the answers you have already eliminated in your mind, so when you return to the question you will have a smaller choice of options to focus on.
An example of the type of tests you will take can be found here. These tests are very similar to the type of questions you will face when sitting the computer based tests.
There are a wide range of resources available online to help you prepare for verbal, abstract and numerical reasoning tests, some of the content is free and some you have to pay for. Please fully investigate any paid-for content before you buy it. We do not endorse any paid-for product.
You will also have to sit a situational judgement exercise which will test your decision making in certain situations. This will be held in your second language. An example of these tests can be found here. (Please note that this practice test is in English however when you take the official test it will be in your second language).
Assessment centre – stage 2
Before the assessment centre takes place, read some reports and journals in the language you're going to be assessed in (French or German). Getting used to taking in large amounts of information in a second language will be very useful.
Case study:
• Practise speed-reading techniques as you will have a lot of material to go through to answer the question - about 20 pages.
• Structure your answer with an introduction and a conclusion.
Use the data (numbers, graphs and so on) to back up your arguments
Group exercise:
This exercise tests your persuading and influencing skills. You need to show your assertiveness and use robust arguments for the brief you are given, but also show your negotiating skills and your ability to work with others to achieve an objective.
Oral presentation:
In this exercise, you'll be given a paper file and asked to extract information and do a 10 minute presentation. You won't be able to take the file with you during the presentation so write down the data you are going to use on the paper provided.
Structured interview:
Practise some questions to check your competence examples work and make sure your answers actually reflect the competence you are trying to illustrate. It's very easy to get lost in the details of the situation, when in fact what matters is your actions and the results. Sample questions are easy to find online. Use the STARE model (Situation, Task, Action, Results, Evaluate) to structure your answers.
Practise a mock interview with a friend. It might at first feel strange but saying things out loud does help.
Preparation for the assessment centre is vital to boost your chances of succeeding. There is help available to prepare you for the assessment but you will have to be proactive in taking part.
Once you have passed the computer-based testing then please contact the UK representation to the EU (UKREP) on the details listed here: Delphine Galon, tel (32) (2) 287 8207, Sandrine Thill, tel (32) (2) 287 8354 - general enquiries, who will be happy to provide support to UK nationals.
There are online communities who discuss the assessment centre and the best way to approach it and can also put you in touch with other people who are in the same situation. Again please speak to our colleagues at UKREP and visit the EU career Facebook page here.
Content produced by EU Careers.
