APPLICATIONS OPEN | EPSO Translators AD5

On 3 December 2024, the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) opened applications to select translators (grade AD5) for a reserve list from which EU institutions, bodies, and agencies can recruit.

This competition, based on qualifications and tests, aims to create reserve lists with a total of 1,177 available positions - a significant opportunity for aspiring EU permanent officials.

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Notice of Competition Summary

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Competition Snapshot

• Open for Applications: 3 December 2024
• Application Deadline: 14 January 2025(12 PM Brussels time)
• Grade: AD5
• This competition covers 8 language profiles - you may apply for only one - and you cannot change profiles after you have validated your application.

Under this competition, the following reserve lists have been advertised:

Find section 2 in the Notice of Competition to find out what duties will be expected of you as a translator.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

General criteria:

• Have EU citizenship
• Fulfilled any military service requirements
• Meet the character requirements for the duties concerned

Language Requirements 

Candidates must know at least THREE official EU languages. And here is where it gets complicated, because some profiles have different language requirements

• Language 1: The language of the profile you choose for the competition, C2 level (native speaker)
• Language 2: English or French, minimum C1 level. Exceptions:
  • EPSO/AD/416/24 | English (EN) profile: Any official EU language other than English, minimum C1 level
  • EPSO/AD/418/24 | French (FR) profile: English, minimum C1 level
• Language 3: Any of the remaining 23 official languages of the EU at a minimum level of C1.
  • Must be different from your chosen Language 1 and Language 2!

Qualifications & Work Experience

• You must have a minimum three-year university diploma, issued no later than 10 April 2025.
• Annex II provides examples of the minimum qualifications required.
• No prior professional experience is necessary.

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SELECTION PROCESS

1. APPLICATION

Candidates must submit their applications online, through their EPSO account, no later than 14 January 2025 at noon, Brussels time. 

Scanned copies of documents that support the declarations made in your applications must be uploaded and linked to your application through your EPSO account no later than 10 April 2025 at noon, Brussels time.

2. TESTS

All candidates who have validated their applications on time will be invited to sit a series of tests:

Reasoning skills test | Language 1

Language knowledge test | Language 1

The language knowledge test consists of multiple-choice questions in Language 1, designed to assess candidates' skills in vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, expressions, idiomatic usage, and register.

• 25 questions
• 25 minutes
• Pass mark: 13/25

Language comprehension test | Language 3

The language comprehension test includes multiple-choice questions in Language 3 to evaluate candidates’ reading skills, vocabulary, grammar, and appropriate language use. The questions are based only on the information in the text and do not require any extra knowledge.

• 12 questions
• 25 minutes
• Pass mark: 6/12

Translation test | From Language 2 to Language 1

• 60 minutes
• Pass mark: 50/100

Revision test | From Language 2 to Language 1

• 30 minutes
• Pass mark: 20/40

3. TEST SCORING OVERVIEW

General Rules:

• Failing to achieve the required pass score in any test ends a candidate’s participation in the competition.
• Test results will only be shared with candidates at the end of the competition, regardless of how far they progressed.

Scoring Sequence:

• Reasoning skills tests: Scored first.
• Language knowledge & comprehension tests:
  • Scored only for candidates who pass the reasoning tests.
  • Candidates must pass both tests to proceed.
• Ranking for translation tests:
  • Candidates are ranked based on their language knowledge test results.
  • Only up to twice the number of successful candidates needed will have their translation tests scored.
  • Candidates outside this group are eliminated.
• Translation test:
  • Scored only for candidates within the ranking threshold.
  • A pass score is required to proceed.
• Revision test:
  • Scored for candidates who pass the translation test.
  • Passing is required to move to the next phase of the competition.

4. ELIGIBILITY CHECKS and RESERVE LIST

Eligibility and scoring

Candidates who pass the revision test will have their overall score calculated.

The overall score (maximum 152) is the sum of:

• Language comprehension test (max 12 points)
• Translation test (max 100 points)
• Revision test (max 40 points).

Ranking and reserve lists

Candidates are ranked per competition in descending order of their overall scores.

• Eligibility checks will be conducted in order of ranking until the required number of candidates is reached, or the list is exhausted. 
• Reserve lists will include eligible candidates with the highest scores who passed all tests.

Eligibility verification

The Selection Board will confirm eligibility by comparing:

• Declarations in the application form
• Supporting documents provided as per the competition rules.

Reserve list details

• Candidates on the reserve lists will be listed alphabetically.
• Reserve lists are shared with recruiting services.
• Being on a reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.

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HOW CAN YOU APPLY?

ALWAYS read the official EPSO Notice of Competition thoroughly to be sure you are eligible before submitting your application. It's also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the General Rules Governing Open Competitions.

Application tips: Read EPSO expert Luc Gillis' article 7 tips for EPSO applications.

To start the application process

• Make sure your EPSO account is created and ready to go then click on your chosen profile
• Head to the Open for Applications on the EPSO website to find your language profile, and click on the link on your profile page

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EPSO EXAMS!

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