These are always advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities, to which you can subscribe. However, cheaper and easier ways to find out about the competitions (concours) are:

• in the timetable published by the European Communities Personnel Selection Office (EPSO): telephone: +00 32 (0)2 229 31 31.
• on the EPSO website http://europa.eu.int/epso/.
• by signing up for our free newsletter.

There are 3 multi-choice answer tests (2 for translators), which cover the subjects shown below.

In each test you normally have a choice of 4 answers to every question.

Each of these tests usually comprises 40 questions, though the number does occasionally vary a little.

As a rule, the overall time for the tests is about two and a half hours.

Only those, who pass each multi-choice test and achieve a satisfactory overall mark can proceed to the next level (written tests) of the competition.

2.   EU Knowledge

• this is generally a combination of verbal (two-thirds) and numerical (one-third) qiestions - generally a total of 40 questions.
• the verbal questions test by giving you a series of texts and asking you to pick the answer which best summarises or matches a selected part of the text.
• the numerical questions test your ability to interpret information from simple graphs and charts and to carry out some mental arithmetic.
• some of the numerical questions are pure "word problems" where no graphic is involved.
• this test is usually taken in your second language, as indicated on your application form.

Stage 2: Written Tests

These tests frequently takes the form of one or two essays, often based on a dossier of information you are given. The subject matter relates directly to the field of the competition.

If a dossier test is not used, you are given some questions, on which to write one or two essays. Often you are given a choice of questions. Sometimes you are asked to write a summary of one of your essays in your second language.

The best candidates scoring the best on the written test admitted to the next stage - the interview.

Sometimes the Recruitment Board simply picks the candidates, who produce the best results in their essay(s).

On other occasions, however, their mark in this Written Test is added to their mark in the Specialized Field Test (see above) and those candidates with the best aggregate marks are then invited to the interview.

Stage 3: The Interview

This usually is held at the institution itself. It would not be unusual to find yourself faced with an interview panel ranging from 3 to 8 people. Some of them may not ask questions.

Interviews tend to last up to 45 minutes and, though they are mainly in your mother tongue, you will generally be asked to speak for a few minutes in your second language (or any additional languages you may have chosen).

The Reserve List

The names of successful interviewees are published on a Reserve List, which appears in the Official Journal. Admission to a Reserve List does not guarantee you a job.

Once your name has appeared on the Reserve List, you are strongly advised to contact the Units/Directorates, where you wish to work. Such lobbying can often get you a job much more quickly than waiting for someone from the institution to contact you!