Online

Application
Manual

http://www.eu-careers.eu
 CONTENT

1. Introduction: Tips to help you with your application 3

2. The EPSO account 4

3. The interactive tests 6

4. The on-line application form 7

A. REGISTRATION DATA 7

B. MY PROFILE 8
1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING 8
2. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 8
3. EDUCATIONAL OR CAREER BREAKS 8
4. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 8
5. LANGUAGE SKILLS 8
6. TALENT SCREENER 9

C. MOTIVATION AND STRENGTHS 9

1. EXPERIENCE 9
2. INTEREST 9
3. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE EU 9
4. STRENGTHS 10

D. ELIGIBILITY 10
1. GENERAL CONDITIONS 10
2. SPECIFIC CONDITIONS 11

E. OVERVIEW 11

F. DECLARATION 11
—2—
 1. Introduction: Tips to help you
with your application

This Manual will help you while you apply for the competition or selection procedure that
interests you. It will guide you through all the stages of the on-line application procedure.
It is divided into three parts:
 How to create an EPSO Account
 A guide to the Interactive Tests
 How to apply for a competition or selection procedure.
You can print the manual or open it as a separate page to consult on-screen.

HERE ARE FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

1. You will need to have an EPSO Account before applying.
2. Read the Guide to open competitions and the Notice of competition1 or the Call for expres-
sion of interest carefully.

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3. Check that you have all the necessary documents at hand (qualifications, contracts of em-
ployment, references etc.) and start your on-line application in good time. You may need sev-
eral hours to complete it. Don’t forget to save it regularly!
4. All the boxes marked with an asterisk (*) must be completed or you will not be able to validate
your application.
5. Validate your application before the deadline. Before validating it be sure to
check all the information you have entered. After validation you will not be
able to change or delete it.

1
The Guide to open competitions is only applicable to open competitions
and not to other selection procedures.
 2. The EPSO account

The EPSO Account is the electronic interface between

you and EPSO. It holds your personal details, allows
them to be updated, keeps a record2 of the applications
that you have validated and enables EPSO to communi-
cate with you.
You can create your EPSO account at any time, even if
there are no competitions or selection procedures open.
Go to https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/
It is strictly forbidden to have more than one EPSO account. All applications for different com-
petitions or selection procedures must be done through the same account.
If you create more than one EPSO account you will be excluded from the competitions or
selection procedures concerned and all your accounts will be cancelled.
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CREATING YOUR EPSO ACCOUNT

EPSO Login (user name)
Your login is important. It is used to identify you when you log in to your EPSO account. Choose
a login that is easy to remember, your email address for example. You can check to see if the
login you have chosen is available by clicking on this icon “ ”.
If you forget your login you can find it again via the website.

Password
Choose a password with at least eight characters. Try to make it one you can remember easily.
You will be asked to enter it a second time.
If you forget it you can reset it via the website.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
You should enter information about yourself, including your first name, your surname and your
date of birth. Make sure the information is the same as on your passport or identity card or on
any other valid official document bearing your photograph that you use to prove your identity.
You will need to show this at EPSO’s request.

Main Language
Your main language must be one of the 23 official languages of the European Union.

2
In accordance with Personal Data Protection regulations.
For further information go to http://europa.eu/geninfo/legal_notices_en.htm#personaldata
Citizenship
Your citizenship must be the same as that shown on your passport, identity card or other valid
official document.

Second Citizenship
If you have a second citizenship you should enter it in the box intended for this. It also must be
the same as shown on your passport, identity card or other valid official document.

Your Residential Address

This must be the address where you currently live. It must be updated whenever you change
your address. It will be used to propose an examination centre for the admission tests. This ad-
dress will also be used later in the selection process to calculate any contribution to your travel
expenses, should this be applicable.

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Your Email Address, Telephone and Fax Numbers
You should use a valid email address. Please give the international and area codes for telephone
and fax numbers.

SAVING YOUR PERSONAL DATA

If you have completed all the information correctly please save by clicking on the button.
Your EPSO account has been created.
If you have to make changes to your Family name at birth/Family name/Date of birth/Citizenship
send us, by email (EPSO-PERS-DATA@ec.europa.eu) or fax (No +32 (0) 2 2979617), a copy of an
official document justifying the change (copy of your passport, national identity card, legal de-
cision, etc.).
Once your request has been accepted by EPSO, the change will be visible in your EPSO Account.
Please note that your request for change of personal details will be denied if no proof is pro-
vided within five days.
All subsequent changes to your personal information, residential or email address must also be
saved in your account.
 3. The interactive tests

The admission tests give access to the open competition or selection procedure. They are a
series of multiple-choice tests3.
According to the competition or selection procedure chosen you may have to undertake
one or more of the following tests:
 Verbal reasoning
 Numerical reasoning
 Abstract and logical reasoning
 Situational judgement
To assist you in preparing for the admission tests we have provided interactive tests which are
designed to help you gain an understanding of the nature of the computer-based admission
tests and the level of difficulty that you will be faced with depending on the competition or se-
lection procedure that you have chosen. They are available in English, French and German only.
We recommend that you take them in a language other than your main one.
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Please note that for some competitions there may also be admission tests in your main lan-
guage and even, for some competitions for linguists, in your second and third language. EPSO
provides a separate interactive test in order to help you assess whether your knowledge of the
language chosen as your main language is sufficient for the level of difficulty of the competition.
These tests are not compulsory but we strongly recommend that you try them before starting
your on-line application. There is no penalty for wrong answers given in the interactive tests. At
the end of the tests EPSO will give you feedback to help you decide whether to apply.

3
The languages for the admission tests will be indicated in the Notice of competition or Call for expression of interest.
 4. The on-line application form

A. REGISTRATION DATA
Check that you have chosen the right competition or
selection procedure and the right field, option and/or
channel.
Please be aware that as soon as you start your applica-
tion, the system will give you a temporary reference
number (T-XXXXX). When your application has been
validated this number will change to your actual application number. Your application number
will appear on the screen, at the top of the form. It is the same as the temporary reference
number but without the “T”.
You should enter the number of your passport, identity card or other valid official document
bearing your photograph that you will use to prove your identity when asked to do so by EPSO.

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You are requested to indicate the CBT test centre at which you are likely to take the admission
tests.
Language 1 is your main language. It must be one of the 23 official languages of the European
Union. You should have at least a thorough knowledge (level C14) of it. For some competitions,
you will need to have a perfect command (level C24) of it.
You should have at least a satisfactory knowledge (level B24) of your choice for Language 2. For
some competitions for linguists, you will need to have a thorough knowledge (level C14) of it. It
must be different from Language 1.
For more information about the choice and the required level of languages you should refer to
the Notice of competition or Call for expression of interest.
For some competitions, selections or calls for expression of interest, notably linguist competi-
tions, other language skills may be requested. Again, please refer to the Notice of competition
or Call for expression of interest.
For the language for correspondence with EPSO you can choose English, French or German.

Special requirements
If you need any special assistance when taking part in the tests please indicate this here. You will
need to send a certificate from the competent authority or a medical certificate to EPSO in
order for your request to be taken into consideration. For more information go to
http://europa.eu/epso/discover/selection_proced/equal/index_en.htm

4
See Section 4.B.5 Language Skills.
 B. MY PROFILE

1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Firstly you should enter the qualification that gives you access to the competition or selection
procedure. Check that it matches the qualification requirements of the competition or selection
procedure. Then you can enter all other qualifications that you consider relevant.
You should enter each stage of your education or training (provided you have a certificate for it).
Start with the most recent but it is not necessary to mention your primary schooling. You should
concentrate on the qualifications that are most relevant to your application.

2. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
If professional experience is required you should describe all the jobs you have had that you
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consider relevant to your application, starting with the most recent.

If you are looking for your first job you can mention any contact you have had with the working
environment, such as work experience or work placements.

3. EDUCATIONAL OR CAREER BREAKS (if applicable)

Please give details of time not accounted for (including
start and end dates) when you were not in gainful employ-
ment or attending educational institutions. This informa-
tion is of particular relevance for your career record over
the past five years.

4. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
(if applicable)
Please provide details of training, voluntary work and other
activities which demonstrate that you can build positive
relationships and contribute creatively to society. This may
include activities such as sports and charitable work. You
may mention skills and non-work related experiences or
qualifications that you feel are relevant to your application.

5. LANGUAGE SKILLS
You must enter here all your language skills even though
you have already entered certain languages in the first part
of the application form under the section “Registration
Data”. You must enter your main language here too.
There is a self-assessment grid on the EUROPASS website to help you evaluate your skills. Go to
http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Downloads/CEF/LanguageSelf
AssessmentGrid.csp;jsessionid=FC8C4D286437ADCCE3192124AB38F945.worker_portal_cms
To remind you – you must have at least a thorough knowledge (level C1) of your main language
and a satisfactory knowledge (level B2) of your second language. EPSO does not take into ac-
count any languages where your knowledge is at level A1.

6. TALENT SCREENER
This section is not applicable for all competitions or selection procedures. If you have chosen
a competition or selection procedure for specialists you will be asked to give certain details
about, among other things, your qualifications and your professional experience.

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C. MOTIVATION AND STRENGTHS
This information is very important as your answers will be read by the Selection Board and may
be used at subsequent stages of the selection process. Please take time to think carefully about
how you want to present yourself and what you want to write here. We encourage you to use
the full word count to answer each question and to give all the information you feel necessary.

1. EXPERIENCE
How is your education and training relevant to this particular profile?

2. INTEREST
You should explain why you have decided to apply for work in the European institutions/agencies.
You should also explain why this particular profile interests you.

3. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE EU

What specific contribution do you think you could make to the work of the European institu-
tions and agencies?
 In what role could you best contribute?
What particular strengths would you bring to your work?

4. STRENGTHS
Outline two of your main achievements. Describe what they are, the process you went through
and their positive outcomes for you and for others.
For AD and AST3 competitions or selection procedures you should describe a project or activity
that you were involved in and where you undertook a leading role or made a decisive contribu-
tion. Set out the main steps and explain your input from the beginning to completion.

D. ELIGIBILITY
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In order to be able to validate your application you have

to fulfil these conditions. Click on the button in each case.

1. GENERAL CONDITIONS
You need to fulfil all the conditions when you apply.
For condition a you will need to prove your citizenship
with a valid official document (passport, identity card or
other valid official document).
For conditions b, c and d, no proof will be required at this stage. You will need to provide proof
upon request before recruitment.
a. I am a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.
b. I enjoy my full rights as a citizen of the European Union.
c. I have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service.
You must have already fulfilled any military service obligations required by your
Member State. If you do not have military service obligations you should answer “yes”.
d. I meet the character requirements for the duties involved. For detailed information
concerning character requirements please see “Title II” of the Staff Regulations:
Rights and Obligations of Officials. Go to http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/
en/consleg/1962/R/01962R0031-20060701-en.pdf
2. SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
You will also need to prove (with diplomas and/or contracts of employment), when asked to do
so, that you fulfil conditions e and f.
e. I meet the minimum requirements concerning Qualifications as specified in the Notice of
competition/Call for expression of interest (including professional experience or training
if applicable).
f. I meet the requirements concerning Professional experience as specified in the Notice of
competition/Call for expression of interest (if applicable). If no professional experience is
required you should answer “yes”.
The specific requirements for qualifications and experience for each competition or selection
procedure are set out in the Notice of competition or Call for expression of interest.
g. I meet the language requirements as mentioned in the Notice of competition/Call for ex-

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pression of interest. Please refer to Section 4.A. Registration Data.

E. OVERVIEW
You have an overview here of all the information you have entered. If anything is in red it means
you have not filled it in correctly. You will need to complete it in order to be able to validate your
application. All obligatory information must be completed.

F. DECLARATION
You must click on the button “validate application” for it to
be validated and taken into account. Please remember
that after validation you will not be able to change
anything because the application will be processed
by EPSO. It is at this point that you will be able to see
your actual application number at the top of the screen.
From this point on you will not be able to delete your ap-
plication. Everything you enter in your online application
form must be accurate and comply with the supporting
documents that you provide when asked to do so. EPSO informs you that should this not be the
case, your application for the competition or selection procedure will be considered null and void.
For those competitions or selection procedures with admission tests you will receive in good
time the link to use to book a date for the tests. Please note that your proposed examination
centre will be based on the residential address in your EPSO Account. It is your responsibility to
ensure that this is kept up-to-date.
 To print your on-line application form click on the button “Print application form”. A new win-
dow will open with a printable version of the form.
Unless it is otherwise stated in the Notice of competition, EPSO will inform you when you need to:
 print out,
 sign (your signature must be handwritten),
 attach supporting documents and
 submit
a copy of your application form.
You will be able to view your application form via your EPSO Account at any time throughout
the selection process.
If you have any questions please contact us. You will find information on how to do this on our
website in the section “Candidate Contact Service”.
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EPSO wishes you good luck!

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