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Are you applying for the European Union internship or graduate programs or exploring professional opportunities? Look no further than this comprehensive guide.
The text below provides a full candidate recruitment, assessment, and preparation guide and practice for those applying to jobs, internships, apprenticeships, and other graduate programs in the European Union across Europe.
Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessment tests, interviews, and assessment center exercises that can be used to practice and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process.
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Not sure if you should practice preparing for the European Union interview process? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.
A recent study (Bradley et al, 2019) found that candidates who do not practice assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers.
In a nutshell:
The European Personnel Selection Office uses a variety of aptitude assessment tests. These may include:
You may get rejected after these aptitude tests. These tests sift out 50-80% of candidates. The only proven way to get to the next round is practice.
EPSO makes use of a variety of competitive exercises in the assessment centre to find the right candidates. Ensure that you practice a variety of exercises including:
Prepare for the EU interviews by practicing answering questions that typically come up in interviews for these roles. Your answers need to flow and be timely. Avoid filler words. Your verbal communication should be convincing, and filled with content that presents you in the best way for the job.
For your EU interview practice, use:
Hone your communication skills. Be aware. Not many candidates get to this stage. The competition is very fierce.
Continue reading to find out the solutions to the following critical questions:
Practice all our assessments above for your European Union application with our Go Premium package.
Before we dive into the process, letโs find out more about the EU!
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU was founded in 1957 and established the European Economic Community (EEC). The EEC was intended to create a single market for goods, services, capital, and labour among the member states.
The European Union has over 60,000 employees. These employees work in a variety of institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Court of Justice.
At the EU, there are a wide variety of roles you can apply for. These include careers in:
Did you know? Tailoring your responses to align with the EUโs values holds the key to leaving a lasting impression during your European Union recruitment process.
But what are these values? Let us find out in the next section.
Integrity:
The EU prioritises trust, honesty, and goodwill, with a clear focus on the interests of the service and client institutions.
Professionalism:
The EU conducts fair and efficient selection procedures, employing best practices and showcasing innovation and dynamism. The organisation is dedicated to achieving its full potential.
Quality Service:
The EU is committed to providing excellent standards of service to client institutions promptly. Continuous improvement, guided by stakeholder feedback, is integral to maintaining high-quality service.
Diversity & Respect:
The EU values diversity within its team, supporting all staff members regardless of background. Respectful professional behaviour is the cornerstone of all working relations at The EU.
Collaboration:
The EU fosters internal and stakeholder collaboration, promoting quality partnerships and shared platforms for effective communication. Deepening synergies drive proactivity, client focus, and a culture of excellence.
Now that we know more about the EU, letโs dive into the recruitment process with the first step: the European Union online application!
For your EU job application, you must create an account on their website to apply for a position. Once you have found a role that interests you, you can apply by filling out your:
You will also be required to upload documents such as your resume and a cover letter at this stage.
European Union Online Application Form
Source: European Union
Did you know? At the European Union, all the selection procedures are managed by the Employee Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) for Permanent officials, and the Contract Agent Selection Tool (CAST) for contract/ temporary staff.
The eligibility criteria for applying to various positions in the EU may vary based on the distinct job roles and their corresponding requirements.
However, there are some general requirements to be eligible for this opportunity:
EU Application Tip: You may apply to multiple selection processes for which you are eligible, unless stated in the Notice/Call. Please note that you may have to submit one application per profile and/or function group.
Check out our video below to get started on crucial research tips you can use to boost your EU application:
Now let’s move on to the next step; the EU online aptitude tests, a crucial step in the recruitment process.
The EU online aptitude tests are developed by EPSO. The time limit and test sections for these assessments can vary depending on the role you are applying for. These may include a reasoning skills assessment and role-specific tests.
The EPSO analyses your skills using the following assessments:
Good to Know: The reasoning test questions are typically assessed in a single Reasoning skills assessment, which will have a time limit of 65 minutes for both Generalist and Specialist roles.
Let’s delve into more details about these EU online tests, starting with the EPSO verbal reasoning questions.
The EPSO verbal reasoning questions are part of the Reasoning Skills assessment and aim to measure your ability to understand and interpret written information. The questions typically consist of a series of short passages followed by multiple-choice questions.
This EU test section comprises 20 verbal reasoning questions, making it the most extensive among all the test sections. You will be asked to identify the main point of the passage, draw inferences from the information provided, and evaluate the arguments presented.
Donโt miss our short video below for an overview of verbal reasoning tests used by employers such as the European Union:
Practice FREE verbal questions with GF or try out the example EU-style question our team has designed for you below.
EPSO-Style Verbal Reasoning Question Example
Got the answer? Check the bottom of the page to see if you got it right!
Looking to further your EPSO verbal test practice? Weโve got you covered.
The verbal test questions are just the start of your application process, letโs now discover more about how to ace your EPSO numerical reasoning questions.
The EPSO numerical reasoning test will examine your ability to use numerical skills and ability to interpret data from tables and charts. Within this assessment, you will be required to choose the most appropriate response from the five options provided, tackling a total of 10 questions.
Discover more about numerical reasoning test questions and how EPSO uses these to hire with this short video:
Practice FREE NUMERICAL QUESTIONS when you register with GF today to enhance your numerical skills or have a go at this example question our team has developed below!
EPSO-Style Numerical Reasoning Question Example
Think you nailed it? Check the bottom of the page for the answer!
Looking for more EPSO numerical test practice?
After completing this EPSO online test, the following assessment section you will likely be headed for are the EPSO abstract reasoning questions.
The EPSO abstract reasoning test assesses your ability to observe a pattern, connect the missing parts, and respond to questions without tapping into prior knowledge. You will have 10 abstract reasoning questions to solve as part of the reasoning skills assessment.
Check out this short video below which covers tips to pass an abstract reasoning test:
Practice FREE logical reasoning questions that assess skills similar to EU abstract reasoning tests with GF or try out the example logical reasoning question our team has designed for you below.
EPSO-Style Abstract Reasoning Question Example
For this test example question, you will be required to observe the diagrams in the sequence carefully to uncover a shared pattern to determine which of the options would be the next diagram in the sequence.
In the pattern above, you will only have around 45 seconds to notice that:
Think youโve cracked it? Check the bottom of the page for the answer!
After successfully completing the EU reasoning skills tests, the subsequent assessment you are likely to encounter, specifically for Generalist roles, is the EU knowledge test.
The EU knowledge test is an essential assessment for Generalist roles, which is used to assess your understanding of the European Union’s core principles, institutions, and policies. The knowledge test comprises 30-40 questions, and you’ll have 40 minutes to complete the test.
Now, letโs move on to another crucial part of your EPSO online assessment: EPSO field-related multiple choice questionnaire.
The EPSO field-related multiple choice questionnaire is used for Specialist roles which measures your inherent talent and acquired knowledge relevant to the job duties. Each question offers four options, and you need to pick the most accurate one.
You can expect 30-40 multiple-choice questions with up to four answer options within 40 minutes. This test could cover areas such as:
In the context of your job role, the possibility of taking the EPSO Digital Skills Test might arise. Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of what this entails.
The EPSO Digital Skills Test is an online assessment used for Generalist roles to evaluate your digital skills for various EU generalist positions. This EU digital test consists of 30-40 questions to complete within 30 minutes.
The EU digital skills assessment is designed to measure the following areas:
Once youโve aced your EU online tests, you will shortly be invited to the next stage of your application journey: the EPSO assessment centre.
The EPSO assessment centre is the final stage of the EU selection process for many graduate positions. At this stage, you will undergo various exercises designed to comprehensively evaluate their suitability for the specific role they have applied for.
During each exercise, you will be assessed systematically by at least 2 trained evaluators.
The EPSO assessment centre typically consists of 4 parts:
Important to Know: The EU assessment centre exercises are often held remotely, except for specific job roles requiring in-person testing in Brussels or Luxembourg.
Keep on reading below to discover more about each of the final stages of the EPSO assessment test process.
The EPSO case study exercise round is included for graduates, students and interns. This is a crucial component of the EU selection process and requires you to demonstrate your analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills in a simulated work environment.
Good to Know: For some roles, this may take up to 45 minutes and you may be invited to complete this case study exercise during the EU online assessments stage.
Alongside your case study exercise, youโll be tasked with an EPSO presentation exercise.
The EPSO presentation exercise aims to evaluate your communication skills, and ability to present complex information in a concise manner. You will be provided with information related to a specific EU policy or issue. Based on this you need to prepare your presentation within the allotted time.
Given that certain roles at EU involve writing skills, you may encounter an EPSO In-tray exercise as part of the assessment process.
The EPSO In-tray Exercise is a common component of the assessment centre for AST (assistant) positions within EU institutions. It aims to evaluate your capacity to efficiently manage and prioritise multiple tasks, analyse complex information, and make sound decisions under pressure.
Youโve made it to the final step! Follow us through to the finish line with the EPSO competency-based interview.
The EPSO competency-based interview is a key component of the selection process for many EU roles. It aims to assess your suitability for the position by evaluating your competencies and past experiences in a structured and focused manner.
So how do we prepare for the EPSO Interview? Keep reading to find out!
Nail your EPSO online interview with the GF video interview preparation tool to record answers to top competency-based interview questions and gain feedback on your technique.
Now that you know more about EPSO’s final interview round, letโs explore some commonly used EPSO interview questions with example answers!
Tip to Answer: Focus on a specific example where you used your communication skills to achieve a positive outcome. We can use the STAR+R method to outline what we did to showcase effective communication and the result.
Good Answer:
Situation:
As an intern on the marketing team for a non-profit organisation, I was involved in planning and executing a fundraising event. The team consisted of individuals with diverse backgrounds and communication styles.
Task:
My task was to facilitate effective communication among the diverse team to ensure that everyone was working on the set project plan. I needed to clearly convey the project for this event, encourage participation, and collaboration.
Action:
To establish clear communication channels during the planning phase, I organised regular team meetings for open communication. I also valued and sought feedback throughout the execution stages as well. I created opportunities for brainstorming, delegated tasks, and recognised contributions made by each team member.
Result:
The fundraising event was a resounding success, exceeding our initial fundraising goals and raising awareness for our organisation’s cause. The team worked cohesively, demonstrating strong communication and collaboration skills.
Reflection:
Effective communication was crucial for the success of the fundraising event. I learned the importance of adapting my communication style to different personalities and ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued.
Tip to Answer: To best respond to this question, use the STAR+R (Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Reflection) approach. Think of an example that demonstrates flexibility/ adaptability and problem-solving skills.
And with this, your EU application comes to a close! Once youโve impressed in your interview, you may shortly receive an offer from the EU.
But wait, before you go!
Keep reading below to discover the range of career opportunities the EU currently offers for freshers and students.
The EU traineeship or the EU internship programmes offers a wide range of exciting opportunities that provide young professionals with valuable experience in European policymaking. These programs give graduates hands-on experience in various policy areas and institutions.
Whether you’re just starting out after graduation or seeking a career shift, the EU institutions and associated organisations present a variety of possibilities through the following areas:
Here’s a closer look at 3 of the key EU traineeship programmes you can apply for:
Letโs check out these EU internship opportunities provided for students and graduates in detail below!
The EU Blue Book Traineeships are paid, 5-month programmes offered by the European Commission. The trainees work in different Directorates-General (DGs) of the Commission, depending on their qualifications and interests.
There are two sessions for the Blue Book traineeship program each year:
Important to know: You can claim points for more than one mother tongue in EU applications. Ensure to provide written evidence in the โOther languagesโ section of the application form.
The EU Schuman Traineeships are paid, 5 months programme. The trainees will be assisting Members of the European Parliament with legislative work, committee meetings, and constituent relations.
The students can receive in-depth understanding of the legislative process, direct interaction with MEPs, and valuable networking opportunities.
Applicants for a Schuman traineeship must:
The EU traineeships are paid, a 5-month programme designed to give recent graduates practical experience in various policy areas and institutions across the EU.
The programme helps to enhance your employability in international organisations and other sectors.
To be eligible for the traineeship programme, you must typically meet the following criteria:
And with that, weโve covered all youโll need to know about the EU recruitment process.
Check out more answers to some of the most commonly asked questions below about the European Union recruitment process!
For graduate and summer internship programs, the ANZ online tests include a game-based asEU knowledge is understanding the EU’s history, institutions, policies, and values. It’s important for candidates because it demonstrates their commitment to the EU project and their ability to contribute effectively to its work.
Non-EU diplomas need recognition from NARIC. Exceptions: lower level diplomas if you already have a recognized EU diploma, or UK diplomas awarded before 2021.
The EU assesses applicants based on five key digital skill areas:
EPSO organises selection processes for ten EU organisations and institutions:
If hired, you may be hired in Brussels and Luxembourg. For more information, refer to the Notice of Competition.
Do you want to pass your EPSO assessment tests the first time? Take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, and situational judgement practice tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practise with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests. Correct answers to example questions: Verbal Reasoning Test: B Numerical Reasoning Test: C Logical Reasoning Test: C
Do you want to pass your EPSO assessment tests the first time? Take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, and situational judgement practice tests today with GF, the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practise with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Correct answers to example questions:
Verbal Reasoning Test: B
Numerical Reasoning Test: C
Logical Reasoning Test: C
Start Preparing Today
