“My name is Mio, and I am Croat. I like Luxembourg very much since, although very modern, it is still developing and there is always something new to experience. My fear of languages disappeared since I found here a multilingual culture so, missing to speak some of the languages is completely normal

Before I became a Safeguards inspector, I was working in Nuclear Power Plants and in one research center on positions where improving the nuclear safety was the most important goal. After joining the EURATOM inspectors’ team in Luxembourg, I learned a lot about Nuclear Safeguards, and this made a big shift in my perception of the nuclear world. This job is enormously important. It has a high level of responsibility, a fair level of independence and a lot of inspections around the EU to fulfil my idea of a great job.

Moreover, the work environment with colleagues who are always happy to share their experience and take some time for new colleagues, make this job even greater.”

“Hi, I am Carmen, and I am Romanian. I joined Euratom Safeguards in 2021 as a nuclear inspector being responsible for planning and coordination of short notice inspections.

My position has a crosscutting function throughout the directorate, requiring continuous coordination and cooperation with all units and IAEA. Every day there are new challenges: use of innovative technologies, travelling to various locations etc. I am performing different tasks: from inspections on the field to meetings with specialists from all over Europe and beyond, while exchanging experiences and ideas.

We are working together to keep the world safer for us and future generations and this is very challenging and stimulating.

If you would like to do such amazing job, please join us.”

“Don’t wait for the perfect competition (it doesn’t exist!)

Keep an eye on the EU Careers website for upcoming competitions. If something fits your profile, give it a try! Each EPSO competition I failed taught me a lesson that I used in the next one.

Don’t get lost in the details

Remember, being an expert on a subject is one thing; demonstrating it in a limited amount of time and within a structured format is another. Take the time to understand the procedure, tests and expectations. Prepare yourself to clearly and concisely demonstrate your knowledge.

Be prepared for when you receive the ‘I am pleased to inform you’ letter

Passing an EPSO competition is just another step in your career. It is important to know what you want to do next, so that you have the first-move advantage. My target was to work in an EU Delegation, so having identified the position that I was aiming for and getting familiar with the process definitely helped me secure a position shortly after the publication of the results.”

“My journey within the EU institutions started 5 years ago with my Blue Book Traineeship at the European Commission. Not only did I experience firsthand the communication actions of the Commission’s Representation in Bucharest, but I also learned more about EPSO’s selection procedures and the opportunities for young people that EU offered. This was also the time when I applied to the Generalist Administrator competition. After many hours of studying and practicing interview topics, with a pandemic in between, I was finally successful and closer to my dream of working at the EU institutions and making a difference in people’s lives. As a policy officer at DG Research & Innovation in the European Commission, I am working on a challenging and very interesting file: the simplification of the Horizon programme. My advice for future candidates is to stay focused on every step at a time, prepare well in advance for tests and interviews, and, most importantly, remember that perseverance is the key.”

“An EU career seemed so unreal to me when I was a teenager, living in a nice Central European countryside. Fortunately, reality proved me wrong. A few years after completing an Erasmus Mundus Master programme, I managed to pursue my EU career. First as a Blue Book trainee, then as an interimaire, and later as a contract agent; eventually, I successfully passed a specialised AD competition in 2022. Patience was the most important quality in this journey. Thanks to it, I am now (7 years after my Blue Book traineeship), a team leader in DG Agriculture and Rural Development, dealing with a flagship report – EU Agricultural Outlook. And it is exciting for me to know that this is just the beginning of my professional journey in the EU institutions!”

“If you want to work in an international environment, handling topics relevant to the citizens of the European Union and beyond, then joining an EPSO selection procedure is the right step for you. 

There are all sorts of myths and anecdotes about it, and for sure it can be challenging. But the opportunities that you have once you’ve passed a competition are definitely worth the effort. 

For the procedure, make sure to use all available sources to prepare; sometimes there is even dedicated preparation support by your Member State. Approach it smartly by being confident about your strengths and actively working on elements you need to improve.

 Within the institutions, I am now working on climate change in the international context, an area that I love to work in – made possible through the EPSO selection procedure.” 

“Perseverance, an open mind, and a bit of luck – these are to me the key elements of a successful journey through the EPSO selection procedure. Joining the EU civil service allowed me to not only be in the middle of political and policymaking processes, but also to challenge myself daily and appreciate the value of collaboration with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds. And it is exactly this diversity - of views, personalities and opportunities lying ahead – that makes the work for the European Union exciting.” 

“I started my Commission career in DG ECFIN and have been working for DG Competition in the last ten years as a member of the Chief Economist Team. This group of roughly 30 economists is involved in those competition investigations that require in-depth knowledge of economic theory or complex empirical contributions. Working at the Chief Economist Team gave me the opportunity to work on mergers and acquisitions in several industries, from petrochemicals to stock exchanges, and to contribute to some of the most interesting antitrust investigations concerning Google’s and Amazon’s digital services. Besides the case-specific work we are also involved in policy projects, for example I co-authored a study on how industrial concentration changed in Europe in the last 20 years. As an economist trained in empirical industrial organisation and interested in competition policy, this is indeed a great place to work.”

“I am Gino from Leuven, Belgium, and I am delighted to introduce myself on this page. Currently, I work in the unit at INTPA responsible for Gender Equality, Human Rights and Democratic Governance as a programme assistant. Born with a disability, spasticity, my life has been a journey of challenging myself and, to a certain degree, my surroundings to achieve my dreams.
As a child, many believed I would never attend university. However, today I can proudly reflect on my accomplishments: a university degree from Leuven, an internship as a Blue Book trainee in the Commission, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and passing the AST competition in 2004.

I have always expected the EU institutions to treat me as I am—a curious and enthusiastic EU citizen who sometimes needs encouragement and support to succeed. This expectation has been met throughout my life and career. I have greatly appreciated the Commission's accommodations for my specific needs, such as allowing me to exercise and occasionally work from home.

In return, I bring my energy and passion to this thoroughly stimulating work environment. My next challenge is to become an AD official!
I encourage everybody, to believe that it is possible to pursue your passion, even if the road is different and sometimes cumbersome, is it worth it!”

I have been working in the European Parliament for five years. In my Unit, we advise and support the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the management of their local assistants’ and local service providers’ contracts. ‘Local’ in this context means that the operations are occurring in the countries in which the MEPs were elected. 

My role is to make sure that MEP’s requests are handled professionally and payments to their staff and service providers are made on time. An important part of my job is to verify and guarantee the legality and regularity of these transactions by ensuring that the appropriate rules are observed. 

The variety of situations and questions that I face daily, while having direct contact with MEPs and their assistants, is what I consider the most challenging but also interesting aspect of my job. Furthermore, it is rewarding to know that my work contributes to the sound and transparent management of the Parliament's finance and budget.