The job application procedure for officials in Brussels is changing in 2010. That is good news for Dutch nationals who would like a job 'in Europe'.John Wouters (38) was one of only 159 people left in the running after most of the more than 11,000 initial candidates had dropped out. After a 16-month selection process and an extremely difficult exam, Wouters now qualifies for a position in the administration of the European Union in Brussels. But that doesn't mean he is guaranteed a job: people who pass what EU employees call the `concours' are merely placed on a reserve list. Passing the concours means that Wouters is now allowed to apply for a job. Even though he still doesn't have a job in Brussels, Wouters is already part of a past generation: he was one of the last candidates required to take the infamous European knowledge test. Some of the questions in the test included: `How many presidents has the European Commission had to date?' or 'When was the Single European Act signed?' Outdated The structure of the concours will change starting at the beginning of next year. The knowledge test, the first round in which the majority of the candidates drop out, will disappear. In its place, the office that carries out personnel selection, EPSO, wants to put more emphasis on candidates' skills.
John Wouters (38) was one of only 159 people left in the running after most of the more than 11,000 initial candidates had dropped out. After a 16-month selection process and an extremely difficult exam, Wouters now qualifies for a position in the administration of the European Union in Brussels. But that doesn't mean he is guaranteed a job: people who pass what EU employees call the `concours' are merely placed on a reserve list. Passing the concours means that Wouters is now allowed to apply for a job.
Even though he still doesn't have a job in Brussels, Wouters is already part of a past generation: he was one of the last candidates required to take the infamous European knowledge test. Some of the questions in the test included: `How many presidents has the European Commission had to date?' or 'When was the Single European Act signed?'
Outdated The structure of the concours will change starting at the beginning of next year. The knowledge test, the first round in which the majority of the candidates drop out, will disappear. In its place, the office that carries out personnel selection, EPSO, wants to put more emphasis on candidates' skills.
Never mind that, what matters is that the concours is a fuddyduddy example of useless Brussels red tape. Message received.
