(This guest blog post was written by Joanne Fry in her private capacity. 5th part is here)
My AST1 Exam: Conclusions... for now
In a somewhat startling about-turn, I have decided for the time being not to pursue secretarial jobs, having made it to the AST1 reserve list. Believe me, this has been a very difficult decision to make, but it feels like the right one for, at least for now.
As much as I desperately want a job in the European Commission, so this is pretty heartbreaking, I have realised that to start in such a junior position would not make sense professionally, financially or personally.
I never really intended to go down this route anyway; I had hoped that I would succeed in the Administrator competition, and I think the fact that I let myself down at the first hurdle spurred me on in the easier AST1 competition. I managed to delude myself into thinking that if I could get in somehow, I could make it work. In reality though, I know that’s not going to be possible.
Instead, I am going to regroup and focus all my efforts on the next Administrator competition in 2012, starting with swotting up again for the fiendishly difficult CBT tests.
Having gone through the process once, I now feel that I’m in a very different place than I was a year ago. I know exactly what I’m up against; I know which areas I did badly in, so I know what I need to concentrate on. Hopefully that gives me something of a head start.
I know, for example, that I really need to shore up my numerical and abstract reasoning skills in order to have a chance of passing the AD5 pre-selection tests, and that I don’t need to spend too much time worrying about the verbal reasoning or the situational judgement aspects.
What has also been really good is that I have got my language skills down off the shelf in the back of my mind where they have been gathering dust for the past decade, and polished them up to a high level once more. The thought of the 40 minute interview in French at the Assessment Centre was the one thing that actually struck fear into me, but when the time came, I sailed through it and actually enjoyed it.
I now feel confident about preparing for the AD level exercises, if I manage to get through to the Assessment Centre, as I know that it won’t be such a daunting prospect if I were to be fortunate enough to be invited.
So, it’s back to the drawing board for me, and ‘Bon Courage’ to my fellow EPSO candidates who will be taking on the challenge in the next year. If you do want to ask me anything, please post a comment, I will always reply!
Adieu, for now anyway…..
Jo
Questions? Comments? Post them below!
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About Joanne: It has always been my ambition to work on a European level; during my MA studies in Public Policy and public Administration I found that the area I was most interested in was European Integration; the role of the Commission in European Public Policy is fascinating, and is the subject of great debate. I would relish the chance to work in such a fast-moving political arena. European Integration formed part of my MA Public Policy degree and I have written several Master’s level essays on the subject. In terms of having a familiarity with the European Union and its institutions, I worked in the European Parliament in Strasbourg for a year during my undergraduate degree, which gave me some insight and first hand experience of the way EU politics works.
By Julia | 26 Apr 2012
Hello,
I am placed at the reserve list for AST3 and nothing is happening for the last 6 months. Is it very likely that the reserve list expires and I have not receive a single offer?
By Online EU Training | 18 Apr 2012
@theonikol : We can assure you all these were written by Joanne and 100% true. If you have any questions, feel free to post it here!
By theonikol | 18 Apr 2012
I think all these confensions were fake...I can think of one or two reasons....
By Laurette | 09 Feb 2012
Moreover, this part required clarification:
"First, you can join the Institutions at an Assistant position, whose salary corresponds to AST but whose tasks ate more than secretarial: for instance some of my comp colleagues are AST but in practice case handlers as they have the right degrees. look for this. "
Your AST colleagues who are working as case handlers are either those who have passed an AST 3 (assistant) competition, or they are those who started in the institutions pre-2004 as so-called B-grade officials (i.e. assistants). Or they can be pre-2004 C-grades who have succeeded in the attestation procedure and now are the equivalent of an ex-B.
But an AST 1 competition laureate can not work as a case handler, which is a assistant post. As there is such a lack of secretaries, DG HR does not allow AST 1 laureates to be hired for anything else than posts with the profile "secretary".
By Laurette | 09 Feb 2012
Ygermaine, I'm afraid you are mixing things up.
"you have internal ways to move from AST to ad without a competition, which is called attestation procedure"
This procedure is called "certification", not "attestation". "Attestation" was the way for the ex-C (secretary) category to move to ex-B (assistant) category. But the last attestation excercise was in 2011, and no more will be organized.
To be eligible for the certification procedure (moving from the AST category to the AD category) the person must be a minimum of AST 5. So if Joanne started in the institutions as an AST1 today, she would be eligible for this procedure in about 15 years, after she has reached the AST 5 grade (this assuming that she would follow the normal career, i.e. a promotion after every 3-4 years). So it's hardly a quick fix to the situation.
By Ygermaine | 25 Jan 2012
Dear Joanne,
I read your blog with pleasure even if I am not directly concerned by Epso anymore, but remember my time as a candidate in 2007. Now I am an insider working as Ad in Dg Comp.
I understand your reasoning about not seeking a secretarial position for the moment, but if I may: think twice! First, you can join the Institutions at an Assistant position, whose salary corresponds to AST but whose tasks ate more than secretarial: for instance some of my comp colleagues are AST but in practice case handlers as they have the right degrees. look for this.
second: it is much easier in my view to progress or take an ad concours while being inside than outside the institutions. a large part of the assessment as you know is about behaviour at work, and it helps to be part of the eu to grasp what is expected.
Third: you have internal ways to move from AST to ad without a competition, which is called attestation procedure. In particular if ou perform autonomous tasks while being an AST you stand better chances. So all in all, if I were you I would seek an AST job now and try to become an AD later on.
By Loukia | 11 Jan 2012
Hi you guys..
I have recently applied for EU opening as (AST3)
Field: Project management...I have prepared nothing and I have taken no tests..I have submitted an application I prepared on my own based on my experience so far..I have an MBA degree, I have worked for more than 4 years as a product manager in multinational and other private companies in Greece...After reading your posts..I doubt I have any chances...No hope? Meanwhile, why start preparing for tests when I have no idea on whether I ma being accepted or not to the next stage? Last question, how many months does it take to announce to me whether I am proceeding to next phase (after personal application)?
By Jerry | 10 Jan 2012
I cannot believe I read this.... Sorry but we're back again to the essentials !
I btw totally agree with Laurette.
Joanne: good you have taken that decision and good also you informed EPSO (bec. most people wouldn't care about doing this)
but seriously ... I know situations can change but you should definitely have asked you these questions be-fo-re applying, like in any other job opportunity.
Of course wages are fixed, EU is a public administration. and so many other things but I'll stop here as I don't want to re-invent the wheel.
Seriously you could have gain one year in not applying which means tempting first an AD competition (which is good for experience even if you fail), or waiting and slowly training to be 500% prepared for the 'real' AD one, or having even more time with your family, friends etc
And I can understand your situation as i've got a university degree, I could go for an AD but I've been a secretary all my professional life and want to be. My partner or other friends would never consider going for an AST competition simply bec. it's not his key competences: it's not a question of low or upper jobs.
And again back to essentials as I said: what motivate You?
(and You means readers, not you Joanne who finally asked yourself the right question)
For ex I refused a permanent job at the EP bec. I woudn't be happy in the position. And if nothing else happens from now on,ok i'll stay with my job or search another one in the private sector, but sthg that makes some sense and interest to me :-)
This said , good luck to everyone and...be happy !
By makazl | 14 Dec 2011
thanks George for the answer. pity, not a lot. a year and a half (meaning he list is ussually for two years) only 5o percent, that is lets say 60 perc at the best ill be hired from your oldest list. I still think it is not fair to give those remainig 40 or whatever perc people who are on the list expectations...its better then to have less competitions then if the demand side doesnt meet the supply.
btw, are you located in BXL ? as it seems that beeing on the listand not in bxl diminishes the chances to be invited. although I though that AD lists are in greater demand than aST or CaSt
By Darío Silva | 12 Dec 2011
George has broken a myth. I thought that nobody was offered a job from a reserve a list, and the oldest one is only a year and a half old. In such a short period of time you have passed three differente competitions! Then, you are an authorised voice to recommend us how to prepare the tests.