How to get a job in Europe

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…of your career!

There are several ways to find a job within the EU or at a national level (look at http://www.rijkstrainee.nl or look for vacancies on several sites of the public authorities). This document may help you on your way in Europe.

And please remember: It never hurts to discuss your interests with the staff of European Studies, so feel free to contact us.

Working for the EU

To work for the EU institutions, candidates normally need to:

-	be EU nationals. Note: The institutions sometimes recruit staff from candidate Member States before they have formally joined the EU.

-	have a thorough knowledge of one official EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another. This does not mean you have to be fluent in your second language.

-	possess the required educational qualifications, depending on the grade (see: http://www.eu-careers.com/workingfortheeu.htm).

-	have fulfilled any military service requirements in your own country.

The EU provides information for purposes of work, study or training via so-called portals. Have a look at:

EURES: http://europa.eu.int/eures, this is the portal of the European Commission containing the European database of job opportunities. Its aim is to facilitate the free movement of workers within the 27 countries of the European Economic Area & Switzerland.

PLOTEUS: http://europa.eu.int/ploteus, this portal, counterpart of EURES, aims to facilitate navigation among existing information resources on learning opportunities. Identification and classification of information resources is done by Euroguidance:

EUROGUIDANCE: http://www.euroguidance.org.uk, if you are interested in moving within EU/EEA for purposes of work, study or training, please see the access details for the National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance in your home country.

These are examples to learn about finding a job within the EU. In order to work for EU institutions, you also need to take part in the (in)famous concours, sometimes typified as a test with a French twist and funnily enough sometimes credited as concours des boules. Online preparation for the EU recruitment competitions can be found on:

http://www.eu-careers.com. Here you learn more about the tests given, as well as strategies & tips to guide you in preparing for and actually taking the preselection test, the written tests and the preparing for the interview. Click forward to ‘Examples of jobs’ to get an idea of EU-related jobs.

http://www.eu-exams.com. Here, a variety of study packages is provided to help you pass the concours. The site offers you more or less the same information as the one mentioned above.

http://europa.eu.int/epso/index_en.htm. EPSO organizes open competitions to select highly qualified permanent staff for recruitment by all institutions and bodies of the EU. Via their site, you can obtain information on career opportunities in the European institutions. See the brochure at http://europa.eu.int/epso/brochures/epso_26-11-04_en.pdf

More and more often, it is possible to upload your Curriculum Vitae in a vacancy pool (in Dutch: vacaturebank) and the employer finds you instead. Examples are:

http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

http://www.academicjobseu.com

http://www.ezilon.com/jobs

Google around and you will find many more. Other information about EU recruitment is available from:

·	Recruitment for any EU Institution Info-Recruitment European Personnel Selection Office C80 0/48 B-1049 Brussels Belgium Telephone: +32 (0)2 299 31 31 Fax: +32 (0)2 295 74 88 Open Monday-Friday, 9.00am - 4.00pm

·	Recruitment Service Council of Ministers 175, rue de la Loi B-1048 Brussels Telephone: +352 285 6674 Fax: +325 285 6676

·	Recruitment Service European Parliament Bâtiment Robert Schuman Plateau de Kirchberg L-2929 Luxembourg Telephone: +352 4300 23 944 or 4300 23 170 Note - Please call only on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday between 09.00 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 17.00 hours

·	Recruitment Service European Court of Justice Boulevard Konrad Adenauer L-2925 Luxembourg Telephone: +352 4303 3660 Fax: +352 4303 2710 Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 09.00 - 12.00 hours

·	Recruitment Service European Court of Auditors 12, rue Alcide de Gasperi L-1615 Luxembourg Telephone: +325 4398 45 656 or 4398 45 359)

·	Recruitment Service Economic & Social Committee 2, rue Ravenstein B-1000 Brussels Telephone: +32 (0)2 546 95 93 Fax: +32 (0)2 546 97 71)

·	Committee of the Regions rue Belliard 101 B-1040 Brussels Telephone: +32 (0)2 282 22 11

·	European Commission (Research Posts) NNPR Secretariat SDME 4/31 B-1049 Brussels Fax: +32.2.296.22.39

Information about the EU and its Institutions can also be obtained from the following locations:

·	The EU Info-Point on rue de la Loi in Brussels

·	The European Commission Representations (in the EU) and Delegations (outside the EU)

·	EU information outlets in many public libraries and universities

·	Reputable bookshops

·	Each member state’s Office of the Permanent Representative to the EU (based in Brussels)

It is of course also possible/plausible to find a job and via a Member State. The relevant Government Department in the Member (and candidate member) States is often - but not always - the Foreign Ministry.

Below is a list of useful contacts for further information on traineeships and jobs via the Internet.

·	European Union http://europa.eu.int/

·	European Commission - http://europa.eu.int/comm/stages

·	Schedule of Recruitment Competitions - http://europa.eu.int/epso/

·	Internships (the “Stage”) - http://europa.eu.int/comm/sg/stages/

·	Council of Ministers - http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm or http://ue.eu.int/cms3_fo/showpage.asp?id=321&lang=en&mode=g

·	European Parliament - www.europarl.eu.int/stages/default.htm

·	European Court of Justice - http://europa.eu.int/cj/ or http://curia.eu.int/en/indexaz/index.htm

·	European Court of Auditors - http://www.eca.eu.int/services/job/job-competitions_periods_en.htm

·	Economic & Social Committee - http://www.ces.eu.int/tgj/trainees/index_en.asp

·	Committee of the Regions - http://www.cor.eu.int/en/service_tools/contact_us-recruitment_traineeships.htm

·	Directorate-General Research - http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/

·	European Ombudsman http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/trainee/en/default.htm

·	The Brussels Europe Liaison Office – access to regional representations

http://www.blbe.irisnet.be