Why is the UK government so keen for British graduates to consider a European career? We asked Jill Morris, deputy director (Europe) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Why is the Foreign Office promoting European careers?
We currently represent just over 12% of the EU population yet we only have 4.8% of staff in the EU institutions. The majority of these are in senior grades and will retire in the next five to 10 years. The situation at the junior management grades is even worse with only 1.8% of staff being UK nationals. So since 2010 we have been raising awareness of European careers, which has resulted in a increase in applications of more than 30% in the last year. But we are also improving what we give British candidates in terms of tailored training and support, so we've seen a rise too in the number of British graduates being selected for the assessment centre stages.
What is the attraction of working in Brussels?
I worked in Brussels from 2005 to 2008 and was there during the last UK presidency, so worked very closely with the European institutions. I saw then just how varied, challenging and interesting jobs in the European institutions can be. I also saw how highly-regarded British staff are for their professionalism and skills – and how having English as a native language gives a real competitive advantage as the majority of drafting is done in English.
Short-term contracts are available too, for graduates who may not want to make a long-term commitment. When you work in European institutions, you develop a network of contacts for life and that's also very attractive. Even if you don't see yourself spending the rest of your career there, you will be working with some of the brightest and best people in Europe and many continue to stay in touch.
How difficult is it to pass the concours entrance exam?
Changes to the concours means that British students graduating now will be better placed than their predecessors. It used to be a very dense, technically-focused exam but has been radically altered to focus more on skills, abilities and potential, rather than whether you know what's on p41 of the Lisbon Treaty or in-depth knowledge of MEPs.
You still need a good level of French or German to be able to sit the exam, but the UK government is now offering extra language training support.
Why is it important for UK graduates to work for European institutions?
There are opportunities to work in a wide range of fields, from international development and cybersecurity to trade or culture. The Commission employs many generalists, but we are also keen to focus on specialists, particularly economists, interpreters, financial specialists such as auditors and statisticians and lawyers. The UK's unique legal system means we must ensure that an understanding of British culture and law understanding is well represented in Brussels.
It's about maintaining British influence and mainstreaming British attitudes and ways of thinking that are formulated upstream in policy and legislation. It's far better to have British experts involved when legislation is being shaped and drafted right at the beginning of the process – than have to negotiate and challenge to change it later.
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