Notice of open competitions — EPSO/AD/325/16 — Danish-language (DA) Translators (AD 5) — EPSO/AD/326/16 — Irish-language (GA) Translators (AD 5) — EPSO/AD/327/16 — Croatian-language (HR) Translators (AD 5) — EPSO/AD/328/16 — Lithuanian-language (LT) Translators (AD 5) — EPSO/AD/329/16 — Maltese-language (MT) Translators (AD 5)
Date: 2016-06-09
Institutions: European Personnel Selection Office
Subjects: EPSO, administrator, competition (EU), information profession, translation








CA2016205EN.01000101.xml










9.6.2016   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CA 205/1





NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS
EPSO/AD/325/16 — Danish-language (DA) Translators (AD 5)
EPSO/AD/326/16 — Irish-language (GA) Translators (AD 5)
EPSO/AD/327/16 — Croatian-language (HR) Translators (AD 5)
EPSO/AD/328/16 — Lithuanian-language (LT) Translators (AD 5)
EPSO/AD/329/16 — Maltese-language (MT) Translators (AD 5)
(2016/C 205 A/01)


Deadline for registration: 12 July 2016 at midday, Brussels time


The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising open competitions, based on tests, to draw up reserve lists from which the institutions of the European Union will recruit new members of the civil service as ‘translators’ (function group AD).
This notice of competitions, 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. However, please note that Annex II to these general rules does not apply to these competitions. It is replaced by the provisions in the Annex to this notice.

Number of successful candidates sought for each competition and option:








 




Option 1






Option 2







EPSO/AD/325/16 — DA




13




13






EPSO/AD/326/16 — GA




45




17






EPSO/AD/327/16 — HR




8




6






EPSO/AD/328/16 — LT




11




5






EPSO/AD/329/16 — MT




13




13







Please note that the posts which may be offered to successful candidates will be based either in Brussels or in Luxembourg.


This notice contains five competitions, each with two options. You may only apply to one competition and one option. You must make your choice when you apply online and you will not be able to change it after you have validated your online application form.

WHAT TASKS CAN I EXPECT TO PERFORM?

AD 5 is the starting grade for a career as an administrator — linguistic or other — in the European institutions.
The principal role of linguistic administrators (translators) is to deliver high-quality translations by the deadlines set and to provide linguistic advice so as to enable the institution or body for which they work to fulfil its mission.
Their duties include translation from at least two source languages into their main language, revision of translations from those languages, terminology research, helping with training measures and the development of IT tools. The texts involved, which are often complex, generally deal with political, legal, economic/financial, scientific or technical subjects encompassing all the European Union’s areas of activity. Performing these tasks requires the intensive use of specific IT and related tools.

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



Option 1







—


Language 1: minimum level — C2 of the competition language










—


Language 2: minimum level — C1 in English, French or German;










—


Language 3: minimum level — C1 in English, French or German; must be different from language 2





Option 2







—


Language 1: minimum level — C2 of the competition language










—


Language 2: minimum level — C1 in English, French or German;










—


Language 3: minimum level — C1 in one of the 24 official EU languages; must be different from language 1 and not English, French or German;





For details on language levels, see the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages


(
https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-language-levels-cefr)
You must fill in your application form in 
English, French or German.


The second language chosen 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 the ANNEX for additional information on the languages required for these competitions.




Specific conditions: Qualifications & work experience








—


A level of education corresponding to 
at least 3 years’
 completed university studies attested by a diploma (must be awarded by 31 December 2016 at the latest)





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)






—


No professional experience required









HOW WILL I BE SELECTED?

1)   
Computer-based multiple-choice question (MCQ) tests


If you validate your application form within the deadline you will be invited to sit a series of computer-based MCQ tests in one of EPSO’s accredited centres.
The computer-based MCQ tests will be organised as follows:











Tests






Language






Questions






Duration






Pass mark






Verbal reasoning


Language 1


20 questions


35 min


Verbal + abstract combined: 15/30




Numerical reasoning


Language 1


10 questions


20 min


4/10




Abstract reasoning


Language 1


10 questions


10 min


Verbal + abstract combined: 15/30




Language Comprehension


Language 2


12 questions


25 min


6/12




Language Comprehension


Language 3


12 questions


25 min


6/12




The results of the numerical reasoning test 
will not be taken into account
 in the calculation of your total MCQ tests mark; however, you must reach the minimum pass marks in all tests in order to be able to qualify for the next stage of the competition.


Approximately 3 times, but no more than 4 times
, the number of successful candidates sought for each competition and option will be invited to take the translation tests.
2)   
Translation tests:


If you meet the eligibility requirements according to the data in your online application, and if you scored one of the 
highest total marks
 for the computer-based MCQ tests, you will be invited to sit two translation tests in one of EPSO’s accredited centres.










Tests






Language






Duration






Pass mark












(a)


Translation test with dictionary






From language 2 into language 1


60 min


40/80










(b)


Translation test with dictionary






From language 3 into language 1


60 min


40/80






If you fail test (a), test (b) will not be marked.


You must score one of the 
highest total marks
 in these tests to qualify for the next stage of the competition.


Approximately


2 times, but no more than 2,5 times
, the number of successful candidates sought for each competition and option will be invited to take the tests at the assessment centre.
3)   
Assessment centre


If you scored one of the 
highest total marks
 in the translation tests, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre for 1 day, most probably in 
Brussels
, where you will take tests held in your 
language 2.


Eight general competencies, each marked out of 10 points, will be tested at the assessment centre through 
3


tests
 (oral presentation, competency-based interview and group exercise) as described in the following matrix.
The marks for these tests will be added to the marks already received for the translation tests to give candidates their overall score:









Competency






Tests












1.


Analysis and problem solving






Oral presentation


Group exercise










2.


Communicating






Oral presentation


Competency-based interview










3.


Delivering quality and results






Oral presentation


Competency-based interview










4.


Learning and development






Group exercise


Competency-based interview










5.


Prioritising and organising






Oral presentation


Group exercise










6.


Resilience






Oral presentation


Competency-based interview










7.


Working with others






Group exercise


Competency-based interview










8.


Leadership






Group exercise


Competency-based interview




Pass mark


40/80




4)   
Reserve list


After checking candidates’ supporting documents, the selection board will draw up a 
reserve list
 for each competition and option of the eligible candidates who have obtained the highest overall marks following the assessment centre until the number of successful candidates sought is reached. Names will be listed alphabetically.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN I APPLY?

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


12 July 2016 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time.




ANNEX
JUSTIFICATION OF THE LANGUAGE REGIME FOR THESE SELECTION PROCEDURES
These are competitions to recruit translators. The requirements set out in the ‘AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?’ section of this Notice of Competitions are in line with the EU institutions’ primary requirements for specialist skills, experience and knowledge and the need for new recruits to be able to work effectively, in particular with other members of staff.
For this reason, candidates are required to select their second competition language from a limited number of EU official languages. This limitation is also due to budgetary and operational constraints and the nature of EPSO’s selection methods described in points 1, 2 and 3 below. The language requirements for these competitions have been adopted by the EPSO Management Board taking into account these factors and other specific requirements relating to the nature of the duties or the particular needs of the EU institutions concerned.
The main purpose of these competitions is to create reserve lists of translators for the European institutions. Once recruited, it is essential that the translators are operational immediately and are able to communicate with their colleagues and managers. In the light of the criteria on the use of languages in EU selection procedures set out under point 2 below, the EU institutions consider that English, French and German are the most appropriate second language options for these competitions.
Given the large volume of translations and documents received in English, French and German and the fact that they are the languages most frequently spoken, translated and used for administrative communication by staff in the EU institutions, candidates must offer at least one of them among their two compulsory languages. The other competition languages that candidates may choose depend on the specific needs of the language units concerned.
Candidates must use their second competition language (English, French or German) when filling in the online applications and EPSO must use these languages for mass communication to candidates who have submitted a valid application and for some tests described under point 3.
1.   Justification for selecting languages for each selection procedure

The EU institutions believe that the decision on the specific languages to be used in each individual selection procedure and, in particular, any restriction of the choice of languages, must be made on the basis of the following considerations:
(i)   Requirement that new recruits be immediately operational

New recruits need to be immediately operational and capable of performing the duties for which they were recruited. Therefore, EPSO must ensure that successful candidates possess adequate knowledge of a combination of languages that will enable them to carry out their duties in an effective manner and in particular that successful candidates are able to communicate effectively in their daily work with their colleagues and managers.
It may therefore be legitimate to organise some tests in a limited number of vehicular languages to ensure that all candidates are able to work in at least one of these, whatever their first official language. Failure to do so would create a high risk that a substantial proportion of successful candidates would be unable to undertake the tasks for which they are recruited within a reasonable timeframe. Moreover, it would neglect the evident consideration that candidates applying to work in the EU civil service are willing to join an international organisation that must make use of vehicular languages in order to work properly and carry out the tasks entrusted to it under the EU Treaties.
(ii)   The nature of the selection procedure

In some cases, limiting candidates’ choice of languages may also be justified by the nature of the selection procedure.
In line with Article 27 of the Staff Regulations, EPSO assesses candidates in open competitions which it uses to evaluate candidates’ skills and better predict whether candidates will be capable of performing their duties.
The assessment centre is a selection method that consists of evaluating candidates in a standardised manner, based on various scenarios observed by several selection board members. The assessment uses a competency framework drawn up in advance by the appointing authorities and a common scoring method and joint decision making.
Assessing specific skills in this way enables the EU institutions to evaluate candidates’ ability to be immediately operational in an environment that closely matches the reality of the job. A substantial body of scientific research has shown that assessment centres simulating real-life working situations are the best predictor of real-life performance. Assessment centres are therefore used worldwide. Given the length of careers and the degree of mobility within the EU institutions this kind of assessment is crucial, in particular when selecting permanent officials.
To ensure that candidates can be assessed on an equal footing and can communicate directly with assessors and the other candidates taking part in an exercise, candidates are assessed together in a group with a common language. Unless the assessment centre takes place in a competition with a single main language, this necessarily requires that the assessment centre be organised in a restricted number of languages.
(iii)   Budgetary and operational constraints

For several reasons, the EPSO Management Board believes it would be impractical to organise the assessment centre phase of a single competition in all EU official languages.
Firstly, such an approach would have very serious resource implications, rendering it impossible for the EU institutions to meet their recruitment needs within the current budgetary framework. It would also not be reasonable value for money for the European taxpayer.
Secondly, conducting the assessment centre in all official languages would require a substantial number of interpreters to work on EPSO competitions and the use of appropriate premises with interpreting booths.
Thirdly, a much higher number of selection board members would be needed to cover the different languages used by candidates.
2.   Criteria for selecting languages for each selection procedure

If candidates are required to choose from a limited number of official EU languages, the EPSO Management Board must determine on a case-by-case basis the languages to be used for individual open competitions, taking into account the following:






(i)


any specific internal rules on the use of languages within the institution(s) or bodies concerned;










(ii)


specific requirements related to the nature of the duties and the particular needs of the institution(s) concerned;










(iii)


the languages most frequently used within the institution(s) concerned, determined on the basis of:






—


the declared and proven language skills at level B2 or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of permanent EU officials in active employment;










—


the most frequent target languages into which documents intended for internal use within the EU institutions are translated;










—


the most frequent source languages from which documents produced internally by the EU institutions and intended for external use are translated;














(iv)


the languages used for administrative communication within the institution(s) concerned.




3.   Languages of communication

This section describes the general rules concerning the use of languages for communication between EPSO and prospective candidates. Other, specific requirements may be set out in each notice of competition.
EPSO takes due account of candidates’ right as EU citizens to communicate in their mother tongue. It also recognises that candidates who have validated their application are prospective members of the EU civil service who benefit from the rights and obligations conferred on them by the Staff Regulations. The EU institutions therefore believe that EPSO should, wherever possible, communicate with candidates and provide candidates with information concerning their applications in all EU official languages. To achieve this, stable elements on the EPSO website, competition notices and the general rules governing open competitions will be published in all official languages.
The languages to be used when filling in the online application forms are specified in each notice of competition. Instructions on filling in the application form must be provided in all official languages. These provisions will apply during the transition period required to put in place an initial online application procedure in all official languages.
In order to communicate quickly and efficiently, once a candidate’s initial application has been validated, mass communication from EPSO to large candidate populations will be in a limited number of official EU languages. This will be either the candidate’s first or second language as set out in the relevant notice of competition.
Candidates may contact EPSO in any official EU language but, in order for EPSO to handle their query more efficiently, candidates are encouraged to choose from among a limited number of languages for which EPSO staff is able to provide immediate linguistic coverage without the need to resort to translation.
Certain tests may also be held in a limited number of official EU languages in order to ensure that candidates have the language ability needed to participate in the assessment phase of open competitions. The languages for the various tests will be specified in each notice of competition.
The EU institutions believe that these arrangements ensure a fair and appropriate balance between the interests of the service and the principle of multilingualism and non-discrimination by language. The obligation on candidates to choose a second language that is different from their first (normally mother tongue or equivalent) ensures that they can be compared on an equal footing.
End of the ANNEX, click here to return to main text