Glossary of terms commonly used in EPSO selection procedures.

The Competency Framework defines the competencies that are considered essential to perform effectively in any given job, by the EU institutions and bodies that EPSO serves.
Some of those competencies are assessed by EPSO during the selection phase, others are assessed by the EU institutions and bodies themselves during the recruitment phase.

The competency framework contains the following general competencies:

• Communication

• Critical Thinking

• Analysing & Creative Problem-Solving

• Decision-Making and Getting Results

• Information Management (Digital and Data Literacy)

• Intrapreneurship

• Learning as a Skill

• Self-Management

• Working with Others 

European permanent officials,  are classified into three groups: Administrators (AD), Assistants (AST) and Secretaries/Clerks (ASC-SC). 
Secretaries and clerks are generally involved in office management and in providing administrative and technical support. 
Their duties include finalising documents and files; supporting the unit’s or department’s activities (meetings, official travel, diary); compiling and disseminating information (updating databases, files); performing manual tasks. 

A secretary/clerk career ranges from grade AST/SC 1 to AST/SC 6. New staff usually enters at grades AST/SC 1 or AST/SC 2. 

See the related FAQs and the EU staff categories.