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Succeeding in the EU Examinations
A discussion forum from the author of the books "Succeeding in the EU Oral Examinations" and "La Voie de la Réussite aux examens oraux de l'Union européenne".
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Request for feedback
2008-04-08 23:02:40
Dear readers of my book,I would be glad to get some feedback about my book, both good and not-so-good things you have spotted.Even though I am currently working on several new linguistic versions, I am also working towards preparing the forthcoming editions and to this extend I would be honoured to receive your constructive feedback.I putt forward such question, since my main concern is to better the areas that the readers find more interesting to develop.So, please let me have your thoughts, ideas, disagreement, advice and praise. ...
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Failing the competitions...
2008-04-08 22:31:01
I have recently received the following comment: On the contrary I have just been informed that my name has not been put in the reserve list for the translators' competition, as my mark for the oral exam was below pass mark. too bad. Dear readers of this blog that you did not pass the competition,Please remember that life has a lot of twists and that you should always try to harvest the positive elements (even from a failure) and dismiss the negative.I am persuaded that a failure is a failure, only if we feel like this. My personal advice is that after such a moment of a temporary set-back (it's not a failure :-) it is the time to take stock of why you had low grade for the orals.I strongly believe that this sometimes painful but useful exercise could help you in your future career irrespestively if you are pursuing more open competitions or if you are preparing for job interviews elsewhere.An interesting example is Jon, the author of the "So I won't be a Commission official" blog (alth ...
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So you passed! What next?
2008-03-01 20:39:56
So you were successful and you managed to include your name in the reserve list. Furthermore, you have even been offered a place to work in the EU Institutions.Do you just say Yes or do you your time to prepare a "plan"? It is evident that you need to evaluate all your options before relocating. In a way, you should make a cost/benefit analysis before replying to any offers.Some of these considerations could be evaluated if you answer the following questions:Do you know what is the cost of living in that country/city?Do you want to relocate to that country/city?Can your partner find a job in that country/city?Is there a school for your kids in that country/city?Happy to discuss further from your point-of-view. ...
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Equal opportunities
2008-02-29 21:25:36
In anticipation of the Women Day on 7 March, I would to start a discussion concerning equal job opportunities at the EU institutions.I have read a lot of comments and opinions concerning non-equal opportunities, between men and women, between EU-15 and EU-10 (or EU10+2) candidates, between speakers of the three working languages of the Commission and the rest, between Catholic/Protestant and Orthodox Christians, between "big" and "small" Member States, between different level of recruitments, between cabinets and "normal" officials, etc.What do you think? Do you believe that there are grey areas and/or problems? How do you propose that the EU Institutions should deal with them? ...
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Vacancies
2008-02-21 22:41:37
The more common set of successful candidates recurrent questions vis-à-vis job openings are:How do I find information vis-à-vis job openings?Why are the job positions not published externally?Am I allowed to postulate for a job opening?Please allow me to explain How the system of job openings works.The job opening is an internal position, that is open to internal candidates (officials) which are due for mobility. This is the reason why job positions are not published externally (with the notifable exception of same senior management positions). Thus, successful candidates are not allowed to postulate for such job openings.NB: The EU institutions apply a system of obligatory job rotation (normally every 5 years) for all sensitive posts in order to avoid among other things the building of "cliantele" relations.The simplified version of the whole "vacancy" procedure is as follows:In anticipation of a vacancy for a (permanent) post, the unit decides to make a (first) publication of a job ...
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Bibliographic resources for further studying
2008-01-26 11:59:08
In my quest for information to enhance the new editions of my book, I often come across books which I think could be of interest to candidates of EU competitions.However, potentials readers before dipping into further bibliographic research should remember: Candidates should go through these extra resources only after having study their basic texts.The latest list of books I have read are:How to get a job you'll love by John Lees from McGraw-HillEthics Matters by Paolo Giusta from European Court of AuditorsBody language at work by Adrian Furnham from Chartered Institute of Personnel and DevelopmentI hereby invite all readers of this blog to share their own bibliographic discoveries, especially if it concerns specialised competitions. ...
Resources
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Discoveries in the European blogosphere
2007-12-24 23:31:14
A lot of readers of my books ask either for places to discuss European issues and/or for discussion forums to find out which are the current issues on Europe.Why do you need this kind of information?Because the future official should be able to understand and tackle complex issues from many different angles.Because the jury will often pose questions related to "hot" general issuesOne of the "hottest" places to participate in such discussion is the European blogosphere.The best articles and blogs I have recently discovered are:Blogs: Filling the EU's 'communication gap'? [Français][Deutsch]Getting a grip of the Euro-blogosphereEnnui and some new EU blogsThe blogosphere and the media - An analysis from Italy on how traditional media are giving way to blogsBlogosphere: the voice of Europe? [Italiano] - A SWOT analysis of the European blogosphereThe Euroblogosphere - Advent of a social movement or source for expert information? - A Diploma thesisCartographie de la Toile européenne - An i ...
Blogosphere
Discoveries
European
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Communication is the prolonged arm of politics
2007-12-24 23:29:40
There have always been plans to "Better Communicate Europe" by explaining in plain words the Brussels-based EU institutions policies to European citizens. The objective is to win back popular support for the European project.Of particular interest is the effort to teach European integration at school via the usage of children and comics books, addressed at students of all ages from kindergarden to secondary education.L'Europe au quotidien (file://www.europarl.europa.eu/brussels/4/uploads/web-FR.pdf) / De 24 uur van Europa (file://www.europarl.europa.eu/brussels/41/uploads/web-NL.pdf) / Europa - Spuren im Alltag (file://www.europarl.europa.eu/brussels/43/uploads/web-DE.pdf) from the European Parliament Information office in Belgium.The publication describes how Europe is embedded and enriching the life of a typical European family. The story illustrates what the family is doing in their daily life from they time the get up until they go to sleep.La petite étoile en Europe from the Euro ...
Communication
Politics
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Type of interviews
2007-11-06 14:50:51
Dear Readers,I would like to invite you to share your fears and your experiences vis-à-vis the oral examinations that you have passed or are preparing for.An important point that needs to be clarified is the difference between a job interview and an oral examination.A job interview will try to align the specificities of a job to the competencies of a successful laureate, whereas an oral examination will try to see the possible fit of a candidate to the administrative culture of the EU institutions.Preparation for the two different interview types should be focus at different issues.Please note that oral examination type of interview is more common to open competitions, whereas the job interview type of interview is more common to the Contractual Agents competitions (aka CAST).Happy to discuss your views. ...
Interviews
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Corrigendum
2007-11-06 14:45:05
Because nobody is perfect :-)The following typos have been discovered:First English VersionThe question :"What is the Gutenberg stategy?" should read either as "What is the Göteborg stategy" or as "What is the Gothenburg stategy". Spotted by William Ritcher.Readers are invited to submit their remarks to this forum. ...
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Type of interviews
2007-10-25 15:45:56
Dear Readers,I would like to invite you to share your fears and your experiences vis-à-vis the oral examinations that you have passed or are preeparing for.An important point that needs to be clarified is the difference between a job interview and an oral examination.A job interview will try to align the specificities of a job to the competencies of a successful laureat, whereas an oral examination will try to see the possible fit of a candidate to tha administrative culture of the EU institutions.Preparation for the two different interview types should be focus at different issues.Please note that oral examination type of interview is more common to open competitions, whereas the job interview type of interview is more common to the Contractual Agents competitions (aka CAST).Happy to discuss your views. ...
Interviews
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Linguistic editions
2007-10-03 22:02:28
Following a question from the founder of the yahoo group UE-laureates Francisco Javier Moleon concerning the differences between the two current linguistic versions of my book, I would like to inform you that the reason that the French edition (March 2007, 120 pages) of my book is double the size of the English edition (October 2006, 60 pages) is trifold:1) It includes more material, including new learning resources2) It has a must better layout, which makes reading must easier3) The French language usually uses 30% more words in order to express the same messageThe above improuvements were based on feedback received from readers of my book such as yourself. Further comments/remarks/wishes are welcomed. ...
Editions
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I help Greece
2007-09-07 17:25:53
As a Greek, it is with great pain that I follow the latest news from the blazes that burned out of control for a week, killing more than 70 people. The Envisat image taken on 30 August 2007 captures the devastation to Greece's landscape. We should not remain simply spectators of the disaster. The victims need hands-on solidarity from everyone. “I help Greece” is an initiative aiming at mobilizing the public both in Greece and abroad to collect money that will be given to the afflicted citizens in the fire-stricken regions. Any contribution made is valuable, regardless of the nature and amount of the financial aid offered.Further reporting is available at the European Space Agency and EUTube. ...
Greece
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