What's Coming Up in February 2023 - EPSO Rundown

EU Training

EU Training's monthly EPSO updates - February.

We all have our fingers crossed while sitting on pins and needles hoping that EPSO will be our Valentine... and finally make the big announcement. EPSO is having their board meeting tomorrow, 31 January 2023, and shortly after we hope to hear what big changes will be put into action this year regarding the selection process. In the meantime, many candidates are still waiting on pins and needles simply to hear the results of eligibility checks - which means maybe not too many changes at the time of writing. But, despite the usual EPSO waiting game, there have been, are and will be CBTs and AC interviews happening in the coming weeks. Find your competition in the list below and click to see what's happening.

Quick Links

--> COMPETITIONS IN PROGRESS​

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LINGUISTIC ASSISTANTS (EPSO/AST/152/22)

Eligibility checks are done and dusted, now comes the next step - the Assessment Centre. This will include a Case Study (CS) and a Competency-Based Interview (CBI). 

Important dates >>>

  • Competency-Based Interview: end of January 2023 to mid February 2023 (depends on which language)
  • Case Study: 21 February 2023

Here's how to prepare >>>

Competency-Based Interview Simulation | Two-Hour Workshops

  • Thursday | 9 February | 12:30 PM - CONFIRMED

CASE STUDY

The Case Study Preparation Toolkit

Before you start training for this test, we greatly recommend that you invest a little time into understanding the exam's methodology. This way you'll know what the EPSO Assessors will be looking for and will be able to apply valuable strategies to complete this task correctly.​ For this we have created The Case Study Preparation Toolkit. Follow the steps in the kit to achieve EPSO Case Study exam success!

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ADMINISTRATORS IN THE FIELD OF AUDIT (EPSO/AD/399/22 - AD7)

Audit candidates heaved a collective sigh of relief after their CBTs ended this past Friday, 27 January. The next step in the Assessment Centre will be a Field-Related Interview (FRI), a Competency-Based Interview (CBI) and a Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI) - and guess what?! The SCBI Assignment was released this past weekend!

Important dates >>>​

  • Assessment Centre: beginning 1/2023 - end 4/2023 (indicative)

Here's how to prepare >>>

---> PREPARE FOR YOUR ASSESSMENT CENTRE

Situational Competency-Based Interview Simulation | Two-Hour Workshops

Field-Related Interview Simulation | Two-Hour Workshops

Competency-Based Interview Simulation | Two-Hour Workshops​

  • Thursday | 9 February | 12:30 PM

Additional resources >>>

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ASSISTANTS IN THE FIELDS OF OPERATIONAL / TECHNICAL SECURITY AND OPERATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Ready, steady and.... CBTs are a go!! These candidates are currently in the midst of their EPSO CBT testing period. This will be followed by the Assessment Centre, no indicative dates published on the EPSO website yet, at time of writing.
These are the three EPSO profiles for this competition:

  • Operational Security (EPSO/AST/155/22 - 1)
  • Technical Security (EPSO/AST/155/22 - 2)
  • Occupational Health & Safety (EPSO/AST/155/22 - 3)

Important dates >>>

  • CBT testing period : 30 January - 07 February 2023

Here's how to prepare >>>

There's still time to get some methodology training in...

  • FULL DAY | Verbal+Numerical+Abstract | Saturday | 4 February

Pro-tip CBT Webinars:

Practice Test Questions

Additional resources >>>

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ASSISTANTS (EPSO/AST/154/22)

Having finished up the CBTs in December, these candidates are still playing the EPSO waiting game... No updates have been published on the EPSO website. We do know from the Notice of Competition that the Assessment Centre will include a Field-Related Interview (FRI), a Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI) and a Case Study (CS). 

Here's how to prepare >>>

Since we don't know any indicative dates yet, here are some resources that will be useful for you once the dates are released by EPSO:

---> ASSESSMENT CENTRE (AC)

Additional resources >>>

 

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ICT EXPERTS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS (EPSO/AD/398/22 - AD7 / AD8) 

ICT EXPERTS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS (EPSO/AST/151/22 - AST4)

Similarly in a holding pattern, these candidates have been waiting quite some time to get some news from EPSO. When the results are finally released, tthe Assessment Centre will commence at some point. The AC will include the Computer-Based Test (CBT), a Field-Related Interview (FRI), a Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI) and a Case Study (CS).

Here's how to prepare >>>

Since we don't know specific dates yet, here are some resources that will be useful for you once the dates are released by EPSO:

---> PREPARE FOR YOUR COMPUTER-BASED TEST

---> ASSESSMENT CENTRE (AC)

Additional resources >>>

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ENERGY, CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT AD6 (EPSO/AD/401/22)

This competition is also in the eligibility checks phase / waiting game, which will be followed by the talent screener review. If deemed eligible, candidates can continue on to the Assessment Centre phase, which will include the following exams: Computer-Based Test (CBT - strictly eliminatory), Case Study (CS), Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI) and Field-Related Interview (FRI). The AC phase will hopefully start soon... just keep on waiting, keep on waiting... in the meantime you can check out some additional resources below.

Additional resources >>>

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HEADS OF ADMINISTRATION IN EU DELEGATIONS (EPSO/AST/153/22 - AST4)

Similar to many other competitions these candidates have also been waiting a while to hear news, any news, about what is happening. All we know from the Notice of Competition is that 120 candidates, those with the highest TS scores, will be invited to continue the selection process at the Assessment Centre phase where the following tests will happen: Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI), a Field-Related Interview (FRI) and a Case Study (CS).

Here's how to prepare >>>

Since we don't know any indicative dates yet, here are some resources that will be useful for you once the dates are released by EPSO:

Additional resources >>

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EXPERTS & ADMINISTRATORS IN THE FIELDS OF SPACE AND DEFENCE INDUSTRY (EPSO/AD/400/22)

Another competition in the EPSO holding pattern. Eligibility checks have been completed and the number of candidates that will be invited to the Assessment Centre has been published on EPSO's website. There have been no invitations sent, as far as we know - but let us know if that is not the case! Any moment now EPSO will be posting the indicative timeline... we really hope! For these candidates the Assessment Centre consists of the following exams:

  • Computer-based tests (CBT), which are abstract, verbal and numerical reasoning tests. 
  • Oral Presentation (OP)
  • Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI) 
  • Field-related tests or field-related assessments, which are conducted in English.
    • Field-Related Interview (FRI)
    • Written Test in the Field (WT)

Here's how to prepare >>>

Since we don't know specific dates yet, here are some resources that will be useful for you once the dates are released by EPSO:

---> PREPARE FOR YOUR COMPUTER-BASED TEST

---> ASSESSMENT CENTRE (AC)

  • The Oral Presentation is slightly different in an online setting.
  • The SCBI, which is a situational competency based interview,  is a special kind of interview with a background document scenario and they ask you questions in relation to that information pack.
    • Download our recently published FREE ebook about this interview.
    • Once the assignment is released by EPSO we will hold interactive SCBI workshops. Write to us if you'd like to be put on a waiting list to be notified when these become available for registration.
  • The FRI an interview broadly based on the talent screener, but not limited to it as such. They can ask anything about your professional background, or your knowledge in the field. That's where they truly check that you meet all the criteria, the professional substantive criteria that they have outlined.
    • When the AC dates are released we will schedule competition-specific FRI Simulations. Write to us if you'd like to be put on a waiting list to be notified when these become available for registration.
    • Get expert advice and feedback from the best EPSO coaches available: schedule an Assessment Centre personal coaching session.
  • Finally, there is the written test in the field, which will most likely be online. We don't have much info on this exam yet. As soon as we do, we'll be sure to post about it. 

Additional resources >>>

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EPSO CAST COMPETITIONS

- Educational Psychologists (FG IV)
- Proofreaders (FG III)
- Translators (FG IV)
- Building management (FG II, FG III, FG IV)
- Finance (FG II, FG III, FG IV>
- Communication (FG III, FG IV)
- Political affairs / EU policies (FG III, FG IV)
- Law (FG III, FG IV)
- Information and communication technology (FG III, FG IV)
- Manual and administrative support workers (FG I)
- Child care staff (FG II)
- Project/programme management (FG III, FG IV)
- Administration / Human resources (FG II, FG III, FG IV)
- Secretaries/Clerks (FG II)

The last round of computer-based tests are happening mid-December.

Important dates >>>

  • You can book your slot for a Computer-Based Test 14 to 18 April 2023
  • Testing will take place between 19 and 25 February 2023
  • Results are announced on 5 May 2023

Here's how to prepare >>>

We've received a lot of great feedback about these sessions, and most people say this is the best way to START your preparation, because it gives you a thorough and sturdy base to guide you through your preparation process. So, when you are testing yourself with practice questions your not just stumbling about blindly in the dark.

Join an interactive online training session to get the hang of Verbal, Numerical and Abstract reasoning with an expert trainer who will guide you through the methodology which you get to put straight into practice with test simulations. You can ask questions from the trainer throughout.

Two-Hour Workshops | Weekdays Starting at 5:30 PM

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European Commission INTERNAL COMPETITIONS

Some candidates may be preparing for the COM internal competitions which were announced in the second half of 2022. Candidates can prepare for each component of the Oral Test. We are now also offering IN-PERSON training sessions for the first time since the pandemic, in Brussels at the Ambiorix Centre. These on site sessions cover both components of the Oral Test.

Here's how to prepare >>>

INTERVIEW SIMULATIONS (online):

​ORAL PRESENTATION SIMULATIONS (online):

​IN-PERSON ORAL TEST CLASSROOM TRAINING IN BRUSSELS:​

Additional resources >>>

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Good luck on your exams!