The 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 for everyone, and specially for young people. The main problem is that young people have not heard about them. For this reason, last week we decided to organize a meeting from Smokinya Foundation in order to spread and share, all what the European Union can offer to their citizens in terms of training and professional development. We can not be more satisfied.
Despite the activity was planned for an hour and a half, we finally spent more than two hours talking, discussing and debating about how to achieve a 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 in the EU institutions, bodies and agencies, how to prepare a 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, what are the formal 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 to apply for these vacancies and of course, how to become a 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 of the European Union.
Concentrating and simplifying all the selection procedure was not easy, but thanks to our Smokinya volunteers and our motivated guests, the time flew. During all the evening, we were explaining what kind of permanent positions there are, when the deadlines for applying to the European entrance exams are opened, how to fill in all the strange fields about motivation, personal contribution and skills that we will need to complete through the online application… And the 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 itself, naturally.
As we told our guests in Smokinya Club, 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 form the first part of the selection procedure in charge of EPSO (𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲). A confusing and demanding test where candidates have to demonstrate their abilities to understand different types of information, resolve mathematics problems, analyse patterns of colours and geometrical figures and deal, as well as possible, with typical professional and social conflicts that can show up in daily life of EU workers. Everything, logically, in a very limited period of time.
We are aware that it can seem quite difficult at first view, but like our followers were able to notice thanks to some simulation exercises that we did all together, it is only a matter of time, experience, practice, strategy, cleverness… And patience. From EPSO, they will try to overwhelm the candidate with extra unnecessary information, words with similar sound but different meanings and situations in which all choices look correct. Nothing that can not be overcome with study! Here you can find 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 for practising.
Nevertheless, like all worthwhile things in life, the journey does not end here. As we could see last Thursday, to accomplish a permanent place in the European Institutions applicants will also have to pass through two evaluation parts after the test. First, candidates have to face the 𝗘-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘆, a proof 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝘅 where they will receive a huge amount of technical information that they have to read, process and finally classified identifying the best way to act, besides the worst one and the neutral options.
Continuing with the battle against circumstances and probabilities, during the last Smokinya Club meeting we finally talked about the last phase. Normally, at this point applicants use to be more nervous, and it is normal, but it is precisely when they have to put under control their nerves and emotion in order to achieve a successful ending. So, in this third part of the selection process, candidate must travel to Brussels and pass through various interviews, both alone and with more candidates, from in the 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 and the 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹/𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄, to the 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 or the 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵.
A dense assessment, in summary, where we will have to show to the employers that we are able to deal with stressful situations, work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, prepare, write and present documents about official information on time and, particularly, explain why we want to be part of the EU staff and what can we offer to them. Once this phase has been completed, the process will have finish. What do you think about it?
Yes, we know, it is long, uncommon and demanding… But not impossible! As we said to our Smokinya followers at the end of the meeting, if you want to be involved in the European issues and work at the service of the EU institutions, do not hesitate, take the step and begin the adventure; this is the way. Moreover, from Smokinya Foundation we are compromised with moving all EU opportunities closer to the youth, so pay attention to our posts, we will organise 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗨 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻!
Do you have extra questions? Do you need more in depth information? Please feel free to write to our email 𝗱𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱@𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮.𝗰𝗼𝗺. We will be glad to help you as much as possible!
And if you are curious about what exactly we do in 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯, you can read more here. We await you on Thursday next week, as always. Join us!
