APPLICATIONS OPEN! Heads of Administration in EU Delegations (AST 4)

The European External Action Service (EEAS), with the support of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has just released an official Notice of Competition calling forward applications to work in EU Delegations as Heads of Administration. This is a very exciting opportunity, especially for those who wish to live and work abroad, outside of the EU!

​Below we explore the specifics of this competition and the selection process that you will need to undertake.

Getting ready for this competition?

Access practice packages here, view methodology webinars here - some are even FREE! or join a simulation session. 

To help candidates understand and decode all the information presented by EPSO in the Notice of Competition, EU Training held an Information Webcast on 15 July, 2022.

You can watch the full recording here, as well as get access to a long list of additional resources, including the transcript of the recording and the webcast presentation slides. 

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Competition Snapshot

Please refer to the Notice of Competition's "what tasks can I expect to perform" (point #2) section for details on the main roles covered, as well as ANNEX I which expands on the "typical duties".

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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 TWO official EU languages:
  1. Language 1: Have a thorough knowledge (minimum C1 level) of one of the 24 official EU languages - will be defined as your Language 1.
  2. Language 2: Have a good command (minimum B2 level) of ENGLISH or FRENCH, which MUST BE different to your Language 1 choice - will be defined as your Language 2.

Qualifications & Work Experience:

• A level of post-secondary education of at least two years attested by a diploma in one of the following areas: law, business administration, human resources management, finance, accounting, logistics, building management, or engineering, followed by at least six years of relevant professional experience related to the duties described in Annex I.

OR

• A level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education followed by at least nine years of relevant professional experience related to the duties described in Annex I.

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Selection Process

IMPORTANT: You can complete your application in any of the 24 official EU languages, BUT your Talent Screener MUST BE completed in ENGLISH or FRENCH

1. 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, which needs to be completed in English or French. Candidates that are deemed eligible will move on to the next round of the competition. 

2. TALENT SCREENER

You MUST complete your Talent Screener in 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.

Getting this part wrong can easily jeopardise your chances of moving through to the next stage of the selection process - which you don't want to risk. To better understand how the EPSO Talent Screener works it is advised that you view this webinar recording - Everything You Need To Know About EPSO's Talent Screener.

Need help with your EPSO application or Talent Screener?

Take a look at our Application Assistance service

3. ASSESSMENT CENTRE

As part of the Assessment Centre, you will need to complete a series of computer-based multiple-choice reasoning tests in your chosen Language 1 (any official EU language other than English). 

• To progress in the competition and be invited to undertake the other Assessment Centre exercises you MUST reach the minimum pass mark in all tests.
• The results of these three tests will NOT be added to the marks obtained in the other Assessment Centre tests when calculating your final overall score.

Those progressing forward in the Assessment Centre will be tested on seven general competencies through four tests:​

• Situational Competency-Based Interview (SCBI)
• Case Study
• Field-Related Interview

These exercises will need to be completed in ENGLISH OR FRENCH (your chosen Language 2).

Each general competency will be awarded a mark out of 10, with a total pass mark required of 35/70. 

In addition to this, the Field-Related Interview will require a minimum pass mark of 50/100.

4. RESERVE LIST

After checking candidates’ supporting documents, the selection board will draw up a Reserve List of eligible candidates who obtained the highest overall score, until the number of successful candidates sought is reached.

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How Can You Apply?

Make sure to ALWAYS check the official Notice of Competition to fully understand the rules related to your specific competition and the exams. For full details on this 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 here: Heads of Administration in EU Delegations (AST 4)

Are You New to EPSO Competitions?

EU Training offers a wealth of practice materials for all stages and levels of the EU institutions’ selection exams.

Check out our FREE E-books, webinars, webcasts and e-learning materials to help you excel.

If you have a question or need additional help in understanding the EPSO processes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Want to see what these EPSO Pre-Selection exams look like? 

Try our FREE EPSO Exam Demo

Unsure how the EPSO selection process works? 

View our short video - ‘New To EPSO Competitions’

Useful reading:

How To Make The Most Of Your EPSO Talent Screener

The Motivation Challenge - What To Write In Your EPSO Application?

13 Best EPSO Preparation Resources - Free and Paid

What EU Job Applicants Should Always Keep in Mind

6 Reasons Why EU Exam Candidates Fail

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