IMPORTANT: this article refers to the previous EPSO exam system before March 2010 and may only be partially relevant for the new one
The pre-selection test, being the first step of the EU recruitment process,
is the one where most candidates fail. Passing this phase increases your chances 10x to eventually succeed in the exam. The first and foremost hint is that you don't need to know everything about the European Union - you "only" need to know what is necessary for the written exam's multiple choice test!
Forget long analyses about acedemic aspects...focus your time and attention on facts, figures and a comprehensive understanding of how EU institutions work. If you are short on time, start your preparation with some excellent summaries found in our Useful Websites section.
Get a good grip of what is the role of each institution, with special regard in each case of the following:
- Who is its President and how is (s)he elected?
- How long is the President's mandate, how long is the Members' mandate?
- How are Members of that institution elected? Which institutions have a role in the election?
- Where is that institution's official seat?
- How many Members does that institution have?
- Which are its main organs/internal bodies?
Knowing all this information about the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the European Council, the European Court of Auditors, the Court of Justice, the General Coirt, the Civil Service Tribunal, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank will give you a solid overview and a great start in your preparation.
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