Notice of open competitions — Conference interpreters (AD 5/AD 7) — EPSO/AD/311/15 — Czech-language (CS) — EPSO/AD/312/15 — Croatian-language (HR) — EPSO/AD/313/15 — Lithuanian-language (LT) — EPSO/AD/314/15 — Maltese-language (MT)
Date: 2015-07-09
Institutions: European Personnel Selection Office
Subjects: Croatia, Czechia, EPSO, Lithuania, Malta, administrator, competition (EU), information profession








CA2015224EN.01000101.xml










9.7.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CA 224/1





NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS
Conference interpreters (AD 5/AD 7)
EPSO/AD/311/15 — Czech-language (CS)
EPSO/AD/312/15 — Croatian-language (HR)
EPSO/AD/313/15 — Lithuanian-language (LT)
EPSO/AD/314/15 — Maltese-language (MT)
(2015/C 224 A/01)


Deadline for registration: 11 August 2015 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time


The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising open competitions, based on tests, to draw up reserve lists from which the European Parliament, European Commission and Court of Justice will recruit new members of the civil service as administrators working as 
‘conference interpreters’
 (function group AD).
This Notice of Competition, together with the General Rules governing Open Competitions published in Official Journal of the European Union C 70 A of 27 February 2015
 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2015:070A:TOC), forms the legally binding framework for these selection procedures.

All eligible candidates who succeed in the interpreting tests and general tests in the Assessment Centre will be placed on the reserve list.

These competitions contain two grades each with two options. You may only apply to one competition, grade and option. You must make your choice when you apply online and you will not be able to change it after you have confirmed and validated your online application form.
However, if you apply for grade AD 7 of one competition and if you give your consent during the online application process, the selection board may reassign your application to grade AD 5 of the same competition via one of the pathways described below:

First pathway: Verification of the information given in your online application form shows that you do not meet the conditions for admission for grade AD 7 but you do meet those for grade AD 5,

Second pathway: If you have failed one or both interpreting tests in the same language for grade AD 7 but your results qualify as a pass in the corresponding AD 5 grade,

Third pathway: If you have passed all the interpreting tests and the Assessment Centre tests, but verification of your supporting documents show that you do not meet the conditions for admission for grade AD 7, but do meet those for grade AD 5, and your results qualify as a pass for the AD 5 grade.

WHAT TASKS CAN I EXPECT TO PERFORM?

The principal duty of a conference interpreter is to ensure that the discussions held at various meetings are correctly interpreted into an official language of the European Union. This can entail either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. Interpreters will be expected to study both the subject matter of meetings and terminology lists in advance.
Please see ANNEX I for more information about the typical duties to be performed.

AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

You must meet ALL of the following conditions when you validate your application:






General conditions








—


Enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State of the EU










—


Meet any obligations under national laws on military service










—


Meet the character requirements for the duties concerned








Specific conditions:
languages


Candidates for these competitions must have a perfect command (mother tongue or equivalent knowledge) of the language of the competition, both written and spoken and must be able to justify this knowledge.
There are two language options per competition and grade:
Option 1: interpretation into the language of the competition (A) from two or three passive languages (C) respectively, depending on the grade.
Option 2: interpretation from the language of the competition (A) into a second active language (B) and interpretation into language A from B or from B and C respectively, depending on the grade.
Please see ANNEX II for the specific language levels and combinations required per competition, grade and option.




Specific conditions:
qualifications & work experience








a)




Four years full-time
 completed recognised university undergraduate course in conference interpreting attested by a diploma;
or










b)




Completed recognised Master’s degree
 in conference interpreting attested by a diploma;
or










c)




Three years


full-time
 completed recognised university undergraduate course attested by a diploma 
followed by


at least


one year’s professional experience
 as a conference interpreter, evidenced by documents clearly indicating the number of days worked as a conference interpreter.
or










d)




Three years


full-time
 completed recognised university undergraduate course attested by a diploma 
followed by
 successfully completed academic postgraduate conference interpreting training of 
at least one year
 (other than a Master’s degree), evidenced by a certificate or other documentary proof.





For details on diplomas, see Annex I to General Rules governing Open Competitions (
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2015:070A:TOC).

Grade AD 5







—



No additional professional experience required, except for the one year required under point c above.






Grade AD 7







—



Four years’ graduate-level professional experience since obtaining one of the diplomas mentioned above. That professional experience must include at least 100 days of conference interpreting since the date when the condition set out in a), b), c) or d) above was fulfilled.




The four years’ experience must be additional to your training as a conference interpreter evidenced by the relevant qualification and the one year of experience working as a conference interpreter required under c) above.

The following will not be considered as experience as a conference interpreter: court interpreter, liaison interpreter, company interpreter, or interpreter for social or other public services.





The language chosen for the Assessment Centre must be 
English, French, or German
. These are the main working languages of the EU institutions and, in the interests of the service, new recruits must be immediately able to work and communicate effectively in their daily work in at least one of them.
Please see ANNEX III for more information on languages in EU competitions.

HOW WILL I BE SELECTED?

1)   
Preliminary interpreting test


If you validate your application form within the deadline and meet the eligibility requirements according to the data in your online application, you will be invited to sit a preliminary interpreting test in one of EPSO’s accredited centres. This test involves the simultaneous interpretation of a recorded speech and may involve the use of audiovisual material.








Test


Language


Duration


Pass mark




Simultaneous interpretation of a recorded speech


Option 1: from C1 to A
Option 2: from B to A


Approx. 10 min each


10/20




If you reach the minimum pass mark in the preliminary interpreting test, you will be invited to the next stage of the competition; however, the marks scored for this test will not be added to those obtained in the interpreting tests (point (2)).
Candidates in possession of interinstitutional accreditation as an auxiliary conference interpreter (ACI) at the time of validation of their application form will be exempt from sitting this test. Interinstitutional accreditation is organised by the ‘Inter-Institutional Test Office’ of the European Union interpreting services.
2)   
Interpreting tests


If you have passed the preliminary interpreting test, or hold an interinstitutional accreditation as an auxiliary conference interpreter (proof of the accreditation will be requested as part of your supporting documents), you will be invited to sit interpreting tests in one of EPSO’s accredited centres.








Tests


Language


Duration


Pass mark




Consecutive interpreting test


From each C language and/or B language into A, and from A language into B (where applicable)


Max. 6 minutes speech


10/20




Simultaneous interpreting test


From each C language and/or B language into A, and from A language into B (where applicable)


Max. 12 minutes


10/20













Weighting for the interpreting tests (specific competencies)


75 % of the overall mark





The simultaneous interpreting tests may be based on audio/video recordings of speeches.

3)   
Assessment Centre


If you have scored the minimum pass marks in the interpreting tests, you will be invited to attend an Assessment Centre for 1 day, most probably in 
Brussels
, where you will take computer-based multiple-choice question (MCQ) tests in your 
active A language
 and the other Assessment Centre tests 
in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE)
.


Computer-based MCQ tests











Tests


Language


Questions


Duration


Pass mark




Verbal reasoning


Active A language


20 questions


35 min


10/20




Numerical reasoning


Active A language


10 questions


20 min


Numerical + abstract combined: 10/20




Abstract reasoning


Active A language


10 questions


10 min




The results of the computer-based MCQ tests are eliminatory but will not be taken into account in the overall total score; however, you must reach the minimum pass marks in all tests to stay in the competition.
Eight general competencies will be tested at the Assessment Centre over 
3 tests
 (oral presentation, competency-based interview and group exercise) as described in the following matrix:
The marks for these tests will be combined with the marks already received for the interpreting tests (see point (2)) to give candidates their overall score:








Competency


Tests


Language










1.


Analysis and problem solving






Oral presentation


Group exercise


EN, FR or DE










2.


Communicating






Oral presentation


Competency-based interview


EN, FR or DE










3.


Delivering quality and results






Oral presentation


Competency-based interview


EN, FR or DE










4.


Learning and development






Group exercise


Competency-based interview


EN, FR or DE










5.


Prioritising and organising






Oral presentation


Group exercise


EN, FR or DE










6.


Resilience






Oral presentation


Competency-based interview


EN, FR or DE










7.


Working with others






Group exercise


Competency-based interview


EN, FR or DE










8.


Leadership






Group exercise


Competency-based interview


EN, FR or DE













Pass mark


40/80




Weighting for the general competencies


25 % of the overall mark




4)   
Reserve list


After checking candidates’ supporting documents, the selection board will draw up a 
reserve list
 per competition, grade and option containing the names of the eligible candidates who passed all the Assessment Centre tests. Names will be listed alphabetically.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN I APPLY?

Apply online on the EPSO website http://jobs.eu-careers.eu by:


11 August 2015 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time.



ANNEX I

DUTIES

The principal duty of a conference interpreter is to ensure that the discussions held at various meetings are correctly interpreted into an official language of the European Union. This can entail either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. Interpreters will be expected to study both the subject matter of meetings and terminology lists in advance.
The job of interpreter calls for exceptional adaptability (frequent meetings covering a range of subjects and irregular hours) and the ability to grasp varied and often complex issues, to react swiftly to changing circumstances and to communicate effectively. You must be able to work frequently under pressure, both independently and as part of a team, and to adjust to a multicultural working environment. You will be expected to upgrade your professional skills — including technology — throughout your career. You may also be asked to expand your language combination to meet the needs of the service. Indeed, for successful candidates recruited by the European Parliament, this will be considered a service requirement.
For all the institutions, a thorough knowledge of languages other than those required by this competition notice would be an advantage (even if they are not official EU languages).
Interpreters may in addition be required to evaluate the work of auxiliary conference interpreters (ACI) and to carry out administrative duties associated with interpreting.
Working as a conference interpreter can involve frequent travel, except in the case of interpreters at the Court of Justice, who will work primarily in Luxembourg.

For recruitment to the Court of Justice, a good understanding of written French is required. This is due to the fact that French is an essential working language of the service, and recruited candidates are therefore required to possess a good command of this language.
You can find more information on the European Union’s interpreting services on the website of the institutions concerned: http://europa.eu/interpretation/index_en.htm
End of ANNEX I, click here to return to main text.



ANNEX II

LANGUAGE COMBINATIONS REQUIRED BY COMPETITION, GRADE AND OPTION:


‘Language combination’ refers to the languages used by conference interpreters in their work. Working languages are either ‘active’ or ‘passive’ languages, and are defined below as ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’ languages.

‘A’ language: Your main language (mother tongue or an exact equivalent), of which you have a perfect command and into which you work from all your working languages, both simultaneously and consecutively.

‘B’ language: Although not your main language, a language of which you have a full command and from and into which you interpret from language A, both simultaneously and consecutively.

‘C’ language: Language from which you interpret and which you understand fully.

EPSO/AD/311/15 — CZECH (CS) — Grade AD 5


Option 1 (A+CC)


Active A language: Czech

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and Slovak)





Option 2 (A+B)


Active A language: Czech

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

EPSO/AD/311/15 — CZECH (CS) — Grade AD 7


Option 1 (A+CCC)


Active A language: Czech

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and Slovak)










—



C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1, C2 and Slovak)





Option 2 (A+B+C)


Active A language: Czech

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

Passive C language: an EU language (must be different from languages A, B and Slovak)

EPSO/AD/312/15 — CROATIAN (HR) — Grade AD 5


Option 1 (A+CC)


Active A language: Croatian

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1)





Option 2 (A+B)


Active A language: Croatian

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

EPSO/AD/312/15 — CROATIAN (HR) — Grade AD 7


Option 1 (A+CCC)


Active A language: Croatian

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1)










—



C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2)





Option 2 (A+B+C)


Active A language: Croatian

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

Passive C language: an EU language (must be different from languages A and B)

EPSO/AD/313/15 — LITHUANIAN (LT) — Grade AD 5


Option 1 (A+CC)


Active A language: Lithuanian

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1)





Option 2 (A+B)


Active A language: Lithuanian

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

EPSO/AD/313/15 — LITHUANIAN (LT) — Grade AD 7


Option 1 (A+CCC)


Active A language: Lithuanian

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1)










—



C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2)





Option 2 (A+B+C)


Active A language: Lithuanian

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

Passive C language: an EU language (must be different from languages A and B)

EPSO/AD/314/15 — MALTESE (MT) — Grade AD 5


Option 1 (A+CC)


Active A language: Maltese

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1)





Option 2 (A+B)


Active A language: Maltese

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

EPSO/AD/314/15 — MALTESE (MT) — Grade AD 7


Option 1 (A+CCC)


Active A language: Maltese

Passive C languages:







—



C1: English, French or German










—



C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1)










—



C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2)





Option 2 (A+B+C)


Active A language: Maltese

Active B language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

Passive C language: an EU language (must be different from languages A and B)
End of ANNEX II, click here to return to main text.



ANNEX III

LANGUAGES

In the light of the judgment given by the Court of Justice of the European Union (Grand Chamber) in Case C-566/10 P, Italy v Commission, the EU institutions wish to state the reasons for limiting the choice of the second language in this competition to a small number of official EU languages.
Candidates are informed that the second language options in this competition have been defined in line with the interests of the service, which require new recruits to be immediately operational and capable of communicating effectively in their daily work. Otherwise the efficient functioning of the institutions could be severely impaired.
It has long been the practice to use mainly English, French, and German for internal communication in the EU institutions and these are also the languages most often needed when communicating with the outside world and dealing with cases. Moreover, English, French, and German are the most common second languages in the European Union and the most widely studied as a second language. This confirms what is currently expected of candidates for European Union posts in terms of their level of education and professional skills, namely that they have a command of at least one of these languages. Consequently, in balancing the interests and needs of the service and the abilities of candidates, and given the particular field of this competition, it is legitimate to organise tests in these three languages so as to ensure that all candidates are able to work in at least one of them, whatever their first official language. Assessing specific competencies in this way allows the institutions to evaluate candidates’ ability to be immediately operational in an environment that closely matches the reality they would face on the job.
For these same reasons, it is reasonable to limit the language of communication between candidates and the institution, including the language in which applications are to be drafted. Furthermore, this ensures uniformity when comparing candidates and checking their application forms.
To ensure equal treatment for all candidates, everyone — including those whose first official language is one of the three — must take some tests in their second language, chosen from among these three.
None of this affects the possibility of later language training to enable staff to work in a third language, as required under Article 45(2) of the Staff Regulations.
End of ANNEX III, click here to return to main text.