Helen, European Commission
What do you work with?
I am Deputy Head of Unit in the AI Office of DG Connect. We work with AI for the societal good, which means that we develop AI tools and models that would help society and will be of the service of the public good.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What’s nice about working in the Commission is that it’s multicultural, so you get to know people from all over Europe, and the world, who work in this organisation. You learn a lot about the different cultures in Europe, and this is a daily source of stimulation in your work. You also have the opportunity to learn new languages.
Another thing is that you are never bored because the work we do is multifaceted. You receive new tasks all the time, and you can move between many different jobs, so there are plenty of opportunities to develop and move forward.
One tip for someone considering applying for the ICT competition?
I think it’s very good to look at what we are posting on social media, on our website and, of course, at all the posts on X and LinkedIn, because they really give an impression of what we’re working on at the moment. Then, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to actually contact somebody, if you have the possibility, who already works here. Don’t be shy; it’s always a good occasion to get some more insight into what the job is about.
Helen, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Connect
Country of origin: Sweden
Marko, European Commission
What do you work with?
IT in the European Commission develops systems that are used by staff, Member States, and citizens. In IT at DG Research and Innovation, where I’m Deputy Head of Unit, we develop the eGrants system that is used for the EU grants management process.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really like the fact that my work is very impactful. For example, the eGrants system has over 2.5 million users from all over the world, it processes more than 20 billion euro per year, and it was even used to fund several Nobel laureates. And then there are the people. It is very satisfying to work with IT experts from all over the EU – it never gets boring.
One tip for someone considering applying for the ICT competition?
Don’t overthink it, just apply. But don’t underestimate the selection process. Prepare, prepare, prepare… and then prepare some more. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be working together!
Marko, Deputy Head of Unit, DG RTD (IT middle management)
Country of origin: Croatia