The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has just released the
EPSO/AST-SC/08/19 Notice of Competition – calling forward applications for the EPSO Parliamentary Ushers competition.
- Reference Number: EPSO/AST-SC/08/19 - SC1 and EPSO/AST-SC/08/19 - SC2
- Open for Applications: 11 July, 2019
- Application Deadline: 10 September, 2019 (12-noon Brussels Time)
- Grade: SC1 and SC2
- This notice covers two grades. You may only apply to one grade.
- This competition includes a Talent Screener
Under the EPSO Parliamentary Ushers competition, the following grades and reserve lists have been advertised, from which the European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the European Union may recruit new members:
| Competition Reference Number & Grade | Candidates Sought |
| EPSO/AST-SC/08/19 - SC 1 | 20 |
| EPSO/AST-SC/08/19 - SC 2 | 27 |
Below we will explore the specifics of this competition and the selection process that you will need to undertake.
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Snapshot of the 2019 EPSO Parliamentary Ushers Competition
The deadline for registrations is 10 September 2019, at 12 midday (CET).
This competition is being held to recruit Parliamentary Ushers to assist Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and other dignitaries during plenary sessions, at meetings of parliamentary bodies, and during the various events that take place on the European Parliament’s premises. It is essential for persons entrusted in this position to respect the procedural rules and adhere to the security principles.
Parliamentary Ushers are expected to be flexible in terms of working hours and will be required to travel between the Parliament’s three regular places of work - Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg - as well as elsewhere. Wearing a uniform supplied by the European Parliament is mandatory.
Successful candidates will be recruited as Parliamentary Ushers at SC1 and SC2 grade.
Those that successfully make it through the EPSO selection process and get recruited will primarily work for the European Parliament, furthermore successful SC2 grade candidates may also be recruited for similar duties by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg.
Please see ANNEX I of the Notice of Competition for more specific information regarding each field of expertise.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates will need to satisfy the following:
- Have EU citizenship
- Fulfilled any military service requirements
- Meet the character requirements for the duties concerned
- Have knowledge of at least THREE official EU languages:
- Language 1: Have a thorough knowledge (minimum C1 level) of one of the 24 official EU languages - will be defined as your Language 1.
- Language 2: Have a good command (minimum B2 level) of either English OR French and MUST BE different to your Language 1 choice - will be defined as your Language 2. (Please note that the application's Talent Screener component must be filled out in Language 2)
- Language 3: have a basic knowledge (minimum A2 level) of one of the 24 official EU languages and MUST BE different to your Language 1 AND Language 2 choices - will be defined as your Language 3.
- Qualifications & Work Experience:
Parliamentary Ushers - SC1 Grade:
- Have a level of education which corresponds to secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, followed by at least 3 years’ professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties concerned OR
- Professional experience of at least 8 years directly related to the nature of the duties concerned.
Parliamentary Ushers - SC2 Grade:
- Have a level of education which corresponds to secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, followed by at least 7 years’ professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties concerned OR
- Professional experience of at least 12 years directly related to the nature of the duties concerned.
It is important to note that the professional experience required for both grades must be directly related to the duties of an usher as described in ANNEX I. Plus, experience in the management of colleagues performing the tasks of an usher will not be taken into consideration.
Please consult ANNEX IV of the Notice of Competition for examples of minimum qualifications.
Selection Process
Please note: You must complete the Talent Screener in your Language 2 – this means in either English OR French.
1. PRE-SELECTION EXAM
This phase of the competition is made up of a series of computer-based multiple-choice questions and reasoning tests. If the number of candidates exceeds a certain threshold, these tests will be held at the start of the competition process otherwise it will be held at the Assessment Centre phase.
|
Tests |
Language |
Question |
Duration |
Pass mark |
|
Verbal Reasoning |
Language 1 |
20 questions |
35 min |
10/20 |
|
Numerical Reasoning |
Language 1 |
10 questions |
20 min |
Numerical + Abstract Combined |
|
Abstract Reasoning |
Language 1 |
10 questions |
10 min |
The results of the computer-based MCQ tests are eliminatory and will not be taken into account in your final overall marks.
However, you must reach the minimum pass mark in all tests in order to qualify for the next stage of the competition.
2. ELIGIBILITY CHECK
EPSO will check the data provided by each candidate via their online application against the eligibility requirements of this competition. Remember that you can fill out your application in any of the 24 Official EU languages - except for the Talent Screener!
3. TALENT SCREENER
You MUST complete your Talent Screener in Language 2 - English OR French.
The selection board assigns a weighting to each selection criterion and based on the information provided in the Talent Screener each candidate will receive a score. Only those candidates with the highest overall marks will go through to the next stage. Therefore, you should include all relevant information in your Talent Screener answers, even if you have already mentioned it in other sections of your application form. The questions are based on the selection criteria included in this notice - see ANNEX II for the list of criteria.
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4. ASSESSMENT CENTRE
Those who scored the highest marks in the Talent Screener will be invited to the Assessment Centre. A maximum of 3 times the number of successful candidates sought for each grade will be invited to this phase.
Please note that the Assessment Centre will most likely take place in Brussels and will need to be completed in your chosen Language 2 and Language 3.
7 general competencies, as well as specific competencies required for this line of work, will be tested through 4 tests:
- General Competency-Based Interview (Language 2)
- Field-Related Interview (Language 2)
- Role-Play Exercise (Language 2)
- Language-Specific Oral Test (Language 3)
5. RESERVE LIST
After checking candidates’ supporting documents, the selection board will draw up a Reserve List (for each grade) of the eligible candidates who obtained the highest overall score, until the number of successful candidates sought is reached.
How Can You Apply?
Make sure to ALWAYS check the official Notice of Competition and understand the rules relating to the exams. For full details on this profile and the selection procedure read the official Notice of Competition and the General Rules Governing Open Competitions to ensure you have the required qualifications and satisfy the eligibility criteria before applying.
To start the application process, click below for the different grades:
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If you have a question or need additional help in understanding the EPSO processes, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Useful reading:
The Motivation Challenge - What To Write In Your EPSO Application?
How To Make The Most Of Your EPSO Talent Screener
13 Best EPSO Preparation Resources - Free and Paid