1. finance
2. accounting and auditing

EPSO/AST-SC/03/2015 - Secretaries/ Clerks
Application process
Instructions for candidates
1. Start your application at support-staff.eu-careers.eu
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Carefully read the information on the first page, available in English, French and German.
If you fulfil all the criteria and are eligible to apply, click on 'Start your application'.
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Read about the process overview
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This page offers you an overview of the application process in English, French and German.
Carefully read the information, in particular the Competition notice and the General rules governing
open competitions. These documents are available in the 24 official EU languages.
Create your EPSO account if you don't have one, but make sure you have logged out before starting
the application process.
You will have to reply to the 'EU Career, My Career?' questionnaire and to pass through the
mandatory self-assessment tests (reasoning and professional skills) before you can access the
application form. The total combined time for the 'EU Career, My Career?' questionnaire and all
self-assessment tests is 2 hours. Please allow sufficient time to complete these important steps.
You need to sit the tests in one session, taking into consideration the possible time outs of the
system.
Click on 'Next' to proceed with the application process.
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Read the instructions available on EPSO website
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Read the information on the different tests and on the technical minimum requirements for sitting
the online tests. This page is available in English, French and German.
Note that the 'EU Career, My Career' questionnaire and the reasoning tests (verbal, numerical,
abstract) will be in the 24 official EU languages, while the professional skills tests will be in English,
French and German.
Select the language for the 'EU Career, My Career?' questionnaire. You will be able to continue with
the reasoning tests in the same language or in a different one. As in the real tests, you should take
the reasoning tests in your main language. You will select the language for the professional skills
tests at a later stage.
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2. Reply to the 'EU Career, My Career?' questionnaire
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This questionnaire will help you understand if you have the right perception of what it is like to
work in the EU Institutions. Every year EPSO organises a range of competitions spanning different
grades and fields. For a majority of these competitions, there are a large number of applicants
many of whom will be unsuccessful at the various stages of the selection process. Before applying,
it is therefore useful to consider carefully what it is like to work in an EU Institution and how closely
this resembles the applicants' perception of this working environment.
You will have 40 minutes to respond to 21 questions (available in all 24 official EU languages).
Carefully read the information available, and then click on 'Begin test'.
You should be as honest as possible in your choice of answers.
There is only one correct answer to each question.
Please click on 'Show answer' before moving on to the next question to see the correct response
and an explanation.
Click "Next" to get to the next question.
This questionnaire is not eliminatory. However, it will give you a valuable insight into the working
environment in the EU Institutions. On completion you will receive feedback which will help you
decide if working in the EU Institutions is for you.
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3. Start the self –assessment tests
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The self-assessment tests will help you to determine your suitability for a career as an EU official at
AST-SC level and familiarise yourself with the tests which you will be expected to do in the first
stage of assessment for the AST-SC cycle of competitions in 2015: reasoning skills and professional
skills.
The first tests evaluate your reasoning skills. It includes three sections:
o Verbal reasoning test,
o Numerical reasoning test
o Abstract reasoning test
Please note: all candidates to the 'AST-SC' selection procedure in 2015 wishing to enrol have to take
the self-assessment tests. However, they are not eliminatory and the results are not saved by
EPSO.
The test content (i.e. the questions) of the compulsory self-assessment is available in 24 languages
for verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests.
The number of questions in the self-assessment is reduced by half compared to the number of
questions that will be delivered in the actual tests.
To replicate the real testing environment you should only have a pen and paper, plus a calculator
with basic functions (an online calculator will also be available).
You will need to work both quickly and accurately.
You must use the information in the passage and not any prior knowledge you may have.
Carefully read the information available on part one of the self-assessment tests, then click on
'Begin test'.
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Sit verbal reasoning test
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You will have to answer 10 questions testing your verbal reasoning in 19 minutes.
This test consists of passages of text, after which you will find a number of statements. Your task is
to evaluate which of the four statements given is most true in terms of the passage itself.
Please note that there is one, and only one, correct answer to each question, and that this correct
answer is the statement which is most true in terms of the information given in the passage.
Click on « Summary » for an overview of your responses in this section. Click on 'Next' to get to the
next question in the same section.
At the end of each section, you get an overview of the questions you have completed and the
remaining time. Click on «Continue to the next section».
Sit numerical reasoning test
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This is to announce you that you will start a new section. Click on «Continue» and answer all
questions in the next sections (numerical, then abstract).
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You will have to answer 5 questions testing your numerical reasoning in 11 minutes.
This test consists of a series of graphics (charts) followed by a passage and five possible replies.
Your task is to calculate the correct result.
Please note that there is one, and only one, correct answer to each question.
For some questions with larger graphics, you might have to scroll down first to see all possible
replies.
Sit abstract reasoning test
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You will have to answer 10 questions testing your abstract reasoning in 11 minutes.
Each question consists of a series of diagrams that follow a logical sequence or contain a set of
underlying rules. The series reads from left to right. Your task is to choose the next diagram in the
series.
After each question there are a number of different answer options. There is one, and only one,
correct answer to each question. Click on the answer that you think is correct.
End your reasoning tests
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At the end of the abstract reasoning test, click on 'End test' to submit your final answers.
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A key element of the self-assessment is the feedback loop provided by the results – also allowing
you to judge whether you wish to progress with your application.
At the end of the self-assessment, you will receive your score.
Your test scores will only give you an indication of what you can expect as far as the real tests on
computer are concerned, should you decide to apply.
Select the language for part two of the self-assessment (professional skills tests). As in the real
tests, you should take this test in your second language (English, French or German).
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4. Start your professional skills tests
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The professional skills tests include 2 sections:
o Accuracy & Precision Test
o Prioritising & Organising Test
These tests are available in English, French and German, as in the real testing environment.
Carefully read the information available on part one of the professional skills tests, then click on
'Begin test'.
Sit Accuracy & Precision test
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You will have to answer 40 questions in 8 minutes.
This test enables the objective assessment of the candidate's ability to detect errors in given
information by concentrating on details under time constraints. Each question is based on a
standardised graphic item consisting of two tables linked to five different answer options, only one
of which is correct.
You will need to click on the answer that you think is correct.
Sit Prioritising & Organising test
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You will have to answer 24 questions in 30 minutes.
This test enables the objective assessment of the candidate's ability to organise their own work by
structuring information and identifying the most critical tasks from a variety of information given.
Each question is based on a spread sheet or table linked to five different answer options, only one
of which is correct. Click on the answer that you think is correct.
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5. Go to the application form
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At the end of the tests, you will receive your score. Your test scores will only give you an indication
of what you can expect as far as the real tests on computer are concerned, should you decide to
apply.
Please make sure you logged out from your EPSO account before you click on one of the links.
You will now see the links to the application form for:
- Administrative support
- Financial support
- Secretarial support
Please make sure you chose the link to the right field. Note that you will not be able to change your
choice after you launch your application.
You will be able to change the language of your form after you log in.
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On this page, please log into your EPSO account by filling your user name and your password. This
page is available in English, French and German.
You will now automatically be guided to the chosen application form.
Fill your application form and validate before the deadline.
It is your responsibility to validate your application before the deadline. EPSO cannot accept
applications from candidates who fail to meet the deadline.
Detailed information on the application form is available in the online application manual, available
in English, French and German.
Important: Please include all the relevant information related to the profile, including your
secondary education.
You must consult your EPSO account at regular intervals — at least twice a week — to keep track of
the progress of the competition and to check the information relevant to your application.
General information on the successive stages of competitions can be consulted on the relevant
competition page on the EPSO website.
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