CAST Permanent selection procedure attracts a high number of applications. However, the recruiting services only pre-select and shortlist a certain number of candidates whose profiles fit their needs.

You will receive your selection tests results for the contract staff selection procedure(CAST) via your Candidate account approximately 2-3 weeks after the tests.

Before publication, the results have been previously verified, approved and validated. Once the results communicated, the accuracy of the questions can no longer be challenged.

Candidates shortlisted by the recruiting services will be invited to sit a series of reasoning tests in a multiple-choice question format. Candidates will take these tests in their language 1. See more information on the IT and technical requirements for online testing.

Should you be successful in the tests organised by EPSO, the recruiting service may ask you to sit further tests that it considers relevant for the job, such as a drafting test, a driving test, a language test, etc. All the information about these tests will be provided by the recruiting services.

Please check our sample tests (‘Contract Agents’) for further information.

The recruiting services will search the database of all registered candidates and shortlist a certain number of candidates who fit the specific needs of their vacant post. Make sure to update your application every six months in order to remain visible and searchable in the database.

Only shortlisted candidates will be invited, via their EPSO Account, to sit a selection test organised by EPSO.

Check your EPSO account at least every three calendar days. If shortlisted, you will receive an invitation indicating your test date.

The indicative dates of the testing periods are published on the profiles’ pages on our web site. 

Please note that it is not possible to change the date and time of your tests. All candidates will be tested at the same time. 

Submitting an application for Contract staff selection procedure(CAST Permanent) does not in itself mean that you will be invited to sit the tests. Only those candidates shortlisted by the recruiting services will be invited to sit the selection tests if and when a need arises.

The selection process consists of the following steps:

1. Candidates complete and validate their application(s) and update them at least every six months to confirm their interest and to remain visible in the database.
2. When a need arises, the recruiting services pre-select (shortlist) from the database of all validated and visible applications a number of candidates whose profiles fit the requirements of the services.
3. Pre-selected (shortlisted) candidates are invited to the selection tests organised by EPSO around 10 days before the tests take place. These are multiple-choice questionnaires. See more information on the IT and technical requirements for online testing.
4. Candidates who pass the selection tests, will be invited to recruitment tests organised by the recruiting services. Such tests may comprise an interview and other forms of evaluation.
5. Candidates who are successful at the recruitment tests, may receive an offer of employment.

For competitions using the Single Candidate Portal:

Yes, you can modify your application form after submitting it, as long as the application deadline has not passed. Once the deadline has passed, the application form can no longer be modified.

If you edit your application after submitting it, don’t forget to click “Submit” again. Otherwise, your application will remain in draft status and will not be taken into consideration.

Note: You can update your CV in the Single Candidate Portal at any time. However, only the version submitted with your application will be taken into account when verifying eligibility for the specific competition you applied for. Any later updates will not affect your submitted application.

For contract staff selection procedures (CAST Permanent):
You can modify your application(s) and upload or update your CV within your EPSO Account at any time.

Don’t forget to update your application(s) at least every six months if you wish to remain visible to the recruiting services. This applies regardless of whether you have passed or failed the tests.

All application/s for EPSO/CAST/P/1-4/2015 (CAST for Executive Agencies) validated by 25.11.2016 (noon Brussels time) were automatically migrated to the CAST Permanent (EPSO/CAST/P/1-4/2017).

If you have already successfully passed the selection tests organised by EPSO for the EPSO/CAST/P/1-4/2015, your results remain valid.

The specific duties will depend on the profile you are interested in. See Annex I to the Call for Expressions of Interest for detailed examples of duties per profile.

Contract staff are employed for a limited period, with an initial contract of 6-12 months.

In some EU bodies, it may be possible for the contract to be renewed for an indefinite duration.

Contract staff positions are available for a wide range of jobs, requiring different levels of qualifications. They are divided into four function groups:

• I. manual and administrative support-service tasks
• II. clerical or secretarial tasks, office management and other equivalent tasks
• III. executive tasks, drafting, accountancy and other equivalent technical tasks
• IV. administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical tasks.

Please check the Notice of Competition or Call for Expression of Interest of your selection procedure for the number of questions, duration and pass scores for the tests.

All EPSO test are organised online. Please check the Online Testing – What you must to know. Detailed instructions for the online tests are sent together with the invitation for the tests via the candidates’ Accounts.