"I am Krystle and I work as a communications assistant at the European Commission in Brussels, I have reduced mobility and I have been working for the European institution since 2002.

I highly recommend applying! No physical handicap is an obstacle, competitions are based on knowledge, not a marathon. Everyone is accepted, nationality, color, gender, physical disability, ... nothing is an obstacle. All EU nationalities from all horizons are represented, the difference is positive. Maltese PRM or Estonian visually impaired, it has no importance. Multicultural means working with others, without making any distinctions. The Institutions have set up services that welcome all types of people, equal opportunities are a real right."

Angela joined the Civil Service of the European Institutions in July 1993 in the department for the Environment in the European Commission. After two years, she moved on to more HR related issues and began her career in the Recruitment service of the European Commission - which was later to be integrated into what is now the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). She has held a variety of positions within EPSO, from being a member of the Task Force responsible for the implementation of the EPSO Development Programme (EDP), Head of the Selection Management office in charge of monitoring all competitions and selections, Head of Unit for the e-Selection and Test development unit, Head of the Planning and Coordination Unit to her current post as Head of the Test development and Delivery unit. Since November 2020, she has been deputising for the Director of EPSO.

Angela is married and has two children.

“Among many other interesting things I love of Brussels, from a cultural to an environmental point of view, as well from a social and professional angle, what I appreciate most is the fact of having the chance (in some areas of the city, not far from down town) to live like in a village (Watermael Boitsfort) where it’s easy to meet sheep, wolves or dears, to go through a peaceful little park to reach some of the Commission’s buildings, and to have plenty of sport facilities (and opportunities) everywhere. Moreover, the offer of (sport, cultural, musical, etc) stages during school holidays is impressive.”

Hi, I’m Michelle G. – I come from the tiny island of Malta. I have been working at the EEAS in the Strategic Communications Division for over a decade! Due to my academic background in communications and professional experience in video production with a local TV station in Malta, besides making part of the web team where I am responsible for the daily management of the EEAS website, providing web support to Delegations, and also writing web stories, I was initially going around the EEAS building carrying a camera and tripod for almost 5 years interviewing staff from different divisions, producing videos to allow colleagues to get to know each other and eventually moved on to planning and implementing digital campaigns. I think this is quite a great opportunity for those of you with a communications background to take the plunge and sit for this competition which will steer you directly where you wish to go!

“Do you like to travel? Do you like to feel a part of Europe? Then come to Luxembourg!

This small country is more international than any other country in Europe and maybe even in the world. You will never feel like a stranger here, you will always find a language to communicate.

Almost half of the population comes from other countries, you can easily use French, English, German and Luxemburgish everywhere: in the street, in the shops, at the doctor’s etc…

Within 20 minutes you can reach Germany, France or Belgium. Still want to do something more? Check the flight or train options. It is so easy to reach any destination for a weekend trip or for vacation. And you should also remember that public transport inside the country is free.

So come to Luxembourg and be at the heart of Europe!”

“Right after I joined DG ENER in 2019, the European Green Deal was adopted: Europe was the first continent to aim for carbon neutrality by 2050. Three years later, energy is still at the core of EU policy. Yet, we are facing new challenges, like security of supply and energy prices. Energy is everywhere in our lives, in our economies and in geopolitics. That it was makes it fascinating.”

“I am working since 2008 for the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), for the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion. In 2016, I passed a specialised EPSO competition for financial economics, and became an appointed official. My fields of work are on financial and capital markets and the budget of the European Union, but also issues related to strategic foresight.

In my job I work closely with the members of the EESC, that represent organised civil society, and that feed with their expertise into the EU´s policy making process. I give input in the process of drawing up opinions, organise hearings and conferences, and write speeches. It is of paramount importance to stay up to date to policy developments. To this end, I liaise closely with colleagues from the European Commission, but also with Parliament, think tanks, and civil society interest groups. I enjoy working in a multicultural working environment, with highly competent and interesting colleagues in my unit and the organisation. My job gives me insight to a range of topical policy matters that fit with my educational background.”

"Being a policy officer in the field of migration fully corresponds to what has been my main subject of interest ever since I studied refugee law at university. Gaining hands-on experience from both the Danish Immigration Service and UNHCR and witnessing a real refugee crisis in 1996-97 certainly gave me an insight I have used a lot since I started in the migration team in the Council Secretariat back in 2015, right at the beginning of a refugee crisis in Europe. It is also tough to do this line of work because you deal with a policy that affects many thousands of people directly every day and there are no easy solutions."

"I am from Italy and my hometown is Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region. 
I work as a legal assistant at the Boards of Appeal. My daily work mostly consists of drafting appeal decisions. In this position, I have the chance to deal with many legal grounds and complex cases relating to EU trade marks and registered Community designs. This makes my daily work very various and interesting under several aspects. I am also an accredited mediator and occasionally I have the chance to litigate before the General Court of the EU. In particular my role as a mediator makes my work closer to users and their most profound interests. As an IP professional and previously an attorney-at-law, getting back in touch with ‘clients’ and providing them with effective dispute resolution tools is a part of the work I was truly missing. 
 I really enjoy living close to the sea and enjoy Alicante’s beaches. Nevertheless, my favorite places in Alicante are its coves where the water is often crystalline, and one can enjoy a more natural, peaceful and private environment. I also like other sea spots in Alicante’s province such as Playa La Granadella or mountain natural springs in the interior such as El Toll Blau where the environment is greener and fresher.     
Becoming an IP specialist at the EUIPO is a unique opportunity to join a multicultural and very dynamic work environment and represents an important challenge for any IP professional who wishes to give a tangible contribution to the EU economy and IP ecosystem. The EUIPO has been awarded as the most innovative IP Office and I can agree that new professional paths are always possible here. Furthermore, working with such great experts from all over the EU and sharing different professional and personal backgrounds is a very enriching experience which makes me continuously improve my skills and broaden my competences."

“Working in the Budget and Cohesion Unit in the General Secretariat of the Council is not all about crazy Excel tables and getting caught up in figures. It is actually a very exciting policy post! People may think that budgetary affairs are boring, but the opposite is true. We work in a very political environment where the real priorities of the EU get decided: where the EU spends the money is what really matters, and we are right at the heart of that interesting and (sometimes) exhilarating decision-making process!”