EU public administrator, lawyer, economist, external relations officer etc.
Permanent officials of the EU Civil Service are divided into different functional groups and must pass a recruitment competition. Administrators (AD) make up one of these groups.
AD-level officials are engaged in drafting policies, implementing EU law, analysing and advising. They could be a trade expert, a lawyer dealing with competition cases or an auditor checking on the EU budget.
Anyone who meets the general eligibility criteria and has a bachelor’s degree can apply for the EPSO AD selection competitions. AD Generalist competitions are announced each year in March, with the pre-selection exams taking place in April/May.
To apply for an Administrator competition applicants must have a college or university diploma issued on the basis of minimum 3 years of study. Additional qualifications may also be required depending on the AD competition’s grade. EPSO AD selection competitions are advertised from grades AD5 to AD16:
- AD 5 is an entry level role ideal for University graduates.
- AD6 / AD7 are more specialist roles and require several years of relevant experience.
- AD 9 / AD 12 are middle management level roles and require previous management experience.
Every EPSO competition starts with its Notice of Competition being published in the Official Journal of the EU. The Notice of Competition is the official and authentic document in which the details and conditions of that specific competition are outlined: such as the exams to be undertaken, the number of people EPSO plans to place on the reserve lists, the language requirements, the application due date etc. Make sure you consult each AD competition’s Notice of Competition for the full details.
In addition to the specific requirements for any given competition, to become an EU official applicants must also meet some basic eligibility criteria. These include:
- EU citizenship. Applicants must be a citizen of one of the EU's 28 Member States.
- Not having a criminal record.
- The ability to speak at least 2 official EU languages (one fluently, the other on a strong conversation level).
- Must have fulfilled all military service requirements.
What differentiates the AD selection process from other profiles is an ‘intermediate’ test stage, which comprises of an E-tray exercise. After the pre-selection exams have been sat, those who scored the highest progress to this intermediate test stage. EPSO invites to this exam about 10-11 times the number of places advertised in any given advertised AD Notice of Competition.
Getting a job at an EU institution is no easy task, but working in EU affairs is a great career choice. Find out every-thing you need to know about EU careers from Online EU Training, the leader in EU selection preparation and advice.
We offers a wealth of practice materials for all stages and levels of the EPSO selection exams, as well as an online community to share ideas and experiences, FREE e-books, helpful tips & tricks articles, e-learning materials and free guidance to help EPSO candidates excel. If at any point you have a question or need additional help to understand the EPSO processes, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please Note: Online EU Training is an independent organisation and not part of EPSO or the EU Institutions.