The following ‘ Dos & Don’ts’ have been put together to bring your attention to some of the core aspects of the new testing environment and to ensure that candidates can have a positive testing experience. The ‘Dos & Don’ts’, including the recommendations do not replace in any way the notice of competition, and the instructions issued by EPSO and by the test provider to candidates, before and during testing sessions. Candidates should always read those documents carefully and follow the instructions and information contained.

To facilitate your testing experience, below are some general recommendations based on our experience and contacts with potential and existing candidates. Keep your EPSO Account always up to date and make sure that you can access it. How can I change personal data in my EPSO Account? Always read the notice of competition carefully before applying. Subscribe to Upcoming selection procedures to be always up to date on planned selection procedures and subscribe to the page of your selection procedure. Make sure to check the following core pages on EPSO’s website: Introducing a faster, leaner, and...

Many of us use corporate computers for tasks unrelated to work, such as consulting our personal e-mail accounts, booking airplane tickets, making personal appointments, browsing the internet, etc. In a similar vein, many candidates could expect to be able to use their corporate computers to sit EPSO’s online selection tests, known as remotely proctored tests [1]. These tests require a third party – an external contractor – to take control of your computer while you take the test. Among other things, this prevents candidates from browsing the internet or running applications outside the remit...

In September 2023, EPSO introduced automated proctoring for its online tests. EPSO is committed to providing candidates with an optimal testing experience. This innovation was in line with that goal. It aimed at removing overcomplex person and environmental checks associated with human proctored testing. In the past few weeks, many candidates have brought to our attention various technical difficulties when sitting our tests. EPSO has made all possible efforts to resolve the reported issues with the external contractor responsible for test delivery. Some improvements have been made, but not...

EPSO is always looking for ways to improve the candidate experience. We will switch to automated remote proctoring for our tests, starting with CAST exams between 13-14 September 2023. Instead of using human proctors, proctoring will now be fully machine-assisted. This innovation will offer candidates a smoother testing experience (e.g. a simple ID check and confirmation, no person checks, no interruptions by a proctor during testing), whilst maintaining the necessary security requirements (candidates will be recorded while testing). Learn more about Remotely proctored testing.

It came to EPSO’s attention that cybercrime groups have been targeting potential candidates to EPSO competitions with sophisticated cyberattacks. These attacks take place predominantly via LinkedIn, where these groups create fake profiles and then reach out to unsuspecting candidates. This includes sending malicious files, infected PDF documents, and seemingly innocuous materials such as coding tests embedded with malware. If you have been the recipient of such outreach attempts please note that EPSO does not engage directly with candidates via social media platforms (with job offers) nor does...

Following the cancellation of competition EPSO/AST/154/22 (AST3) – Finance, Accounting and Communication, EPSO has received several queries from candidates, as well as from other stakeholders, about the decision. Some of those are the result of misunderstandings that EPSO considers necessary and useful to clarify. This note is aimed at providing answers to the most common queries received. You will also find information on the cancellation of this competition in our press release of 31 March 2023: Cancellation of Competition EPSO/AST/154/22 – Assistants (AST3) | EU Careers (europa.eu) If you...

Many of us use corporate computers for tasks unrelated to work. For that reason, many candidates to EPSO’s competitions could expect to be able to use their corporate computers to sit EPSO’s online selection tests, known as remotely proctored tests. However, that is often not the case. These tests require a third party – an external contractor – to take control of your computer while you take the test. Among other things, this prevents candidates from browsing the internet or running applications outside the remit of the tests. In the digital environment of EPSO’s institutional clients (i.e...

EPSO has received several queries as regards possible plans to align the competitions it published in 2022 with the new competition model adopted on 31 January 2023. For reasons of legal certainty, the answer to this question is that the former competition model – i.e. selection procedure with Assessment Centre (oral tests) – will be kept for those 2022 competitions. This means that there will be no changes to their respective notices of competition, and selection procedures will proceed as planned initially. You can always find information on ongoing selection procedures by EPSO here: In...

Contract Agents are recruited to perform temporary manual or administrative support tasks or to provide additional capacity in specialised fields whenever there is an insufficient number of officials with the required skills, and they are selected with the CAST Permanent procedure by the EU institutions, bodies and agencies. The word CAST stands for Contract Agents Selection Tool. Permanent means that there is no deadline to apply, so candidates can submit an application at any time. The procedure requires creating an EPSO account and inserting personal, professional and educational...