JULY EPSO update: Summer slowdown, but EU careers news still rolling in
It’s July, the espresso machines are going quiet in Brussels, and EPSO’s inbox is probably full of out-of-office replies. But before everyone disappears to the coast or countryside, a few things actually did happen.
Top of the list: the AST3 Communication competition is now open for applications. Scroll down for full details and prep resources to help you hit ‘Submit application' with confidence - before the deadline.
This competition, while a smaller one, is likely to serve as a handy guinea pig for EPSO’s shiny new partnership with its test provider, Open Assessment Technologies. The EU-based company officially signed on mid-June, and the focus now is on integrating them into EPSO’s testing systems. The aim? A smoother, more user-friendly experience for candidates, including those needing special accommodations.
And speaking of things kicking off after summer, keep your eyes firmly on the AD5 Generalist competition. That little bombshell dropped during the Discover EU Careers summit, held mid-June, where EPSO’s new Director, Olivier Salles, shared updates with more than 1,800 would-be EU officials. The big news: the AD5 competition is coming post-summer. No previous work experience required, just an EU passport and a university degree in any subject. If you’ve been waiting for your moment to break into the institutions, this could be it.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in EPSO land: more CAST exam dates have quietly been added to the calendar—check the section below if you're still waiting for your invitation or looking to plan ahead.
As for the COM Internal competition, candidates are in very different boats. While some have already received their results, others only just re-sat their exams after technical issues disrupted the original test date. That means Oral Test dates, which include both an interview and an oral presentation, are unlikely to be announced before September. But no harm in getting a head start: our dedicated Oral Test workshop is the perfect way to kick off your prep. Click below for more info.
Quick Navigation:
- AST3 Communication - open for applications
- Lawyer-linguists CJEU
- CAST
- COM Internal Competitions
- Upcoming EPSO competitions
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EPSO AST3 Communication
On 25 June 2025, EPSO opened a new competition to recruit 435 assistants (AST3 level) in the field of communication covering three profiles: Graphic design and visual content production, Social media and digital communication, and Webmaster. Applications are due on 29 July 2025 at 12:00 (midday) Brussels time. Successful candidates will be placed on reserve lists from which EU institutions can recruit for permanent roles.
Free resources
If you're considering applying, it's well worth watching our free webcast, where EU careers expert András Baneth walks through the full selection process as outlined in the Notice of Competition.
To support your preparation, we also recommend checking out our free articles and webinars covering key EPSO exam strategies for reasoning skills.
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EPSO Lawyer-Linguists AD7 | CJEU
Candidates in this Lawyer-linguist competition (EPSO/AD/424/25) had their first round of tests on 8 July, which included verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, along with the Translation tests. This competition covers eight language profiles: Czech (CS), Danish (DA), Estonian (ET), Finnish (FI), French (FR), Italian (IT), Latvian (LV), and Swedish (SV).
The next step is Test Day 2 on 17 September at 10:00 CEST: the Translation Review. In this test, candidates will review a legal text in their main language (Language 1), originally machine-translated from Language 3.
You can check out this sample scoring grid put together by András Baneth—just an illustrative example to help you get a better sense of what assessors might be looking for.
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CAST (Contract agent selection tool)
If you're sitting the CAST exam on 16 July, there’s still time to brush up on your reasoning skills. Check out these webinars, some are even free!
EPSO has also confirmed the next CAST test dates:
11 September, 15 October, and 19 November.
Here’s a quick reminder of the test format (pass/fail):
- Verbal Reasoning: 20 questions | 35 minutes | Pass mark: 10/20
- Numerical Reasoning: 10 questions | 20 minutes
- Abstract Reasoning: 10 questions | 10 minutes
- Combined pass mark for Numerical + Abstract Reasoning: 10/20
Make sure to plan ahead and stay consistent with your practice. Good luck!
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COM Internal Competitions
Oral Test dates for the COM internal competition are expected to be announced soon, with testing likely to begin in mid-September or early October. This isn’t official yet, but it's a good time to start preparing.
To help you get ready, we've created an Oral Test Q&A workshop with our expert trainer, Susanne. She’ll walk you through the key elements of the interview and oral presentation, and highlight what assessors are really looking for.
When you're ready to practise, you can book a simulation session where you’ll take part in a realistic test scenario and receive a recording of your performance to review and improve.
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UPCOMING EPSO COMPETITIONS
EPSO has released its indicative competition schedule for the remainder of 2025. While dates and details may still change slightly, here’s what’s currently in the pipeline:
October 2025 (date to be confirmed):
- A competition for secretaries (AST/SC1) is expected to be launched.
Later in 2025 (month/date to be confirmed):
- A generalist administrators competition (AD5)
- A building specialists competition (AD7), with four profiles:
- Project management in the building sector
- Architecture and project management
- Electrical engineering and project management
- HVAC engineering and project management
A Luxembourg-specific competition (profile still to be confirmed), expected towards the end of the year.
As always, we’ll keep you updated once official Notices of Competition are published.
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If you have any questions about EPSO competitions or how to begin your preparation, our Customer Support Team is here to help. We typically reply within 24 hours.
You can get in touch with us here.