Working in European institutions or agencies
Our guide for EU Careers is designed to help future candidates understand every stage of the journey to working for the European Union. Whether you are discovering EU careers for the first time or preparing to enter an EPSO competition, this comprehensive guide brings together all the essential information you need to navigate the system, understand job opportunities in EU institutions and prepare effectively for selection tests.
Working in European institutions or agencies
Start your career in European Union institutions or agencies and join a truly multicultural workplace at the heart of Europe.
EPSO (European Personnel Selection Office) organises competitive exams to recruit EU citizens with proficiency in at least two official EU languages. A good level of French and English are especially valuable in Brussels, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg.
ORSEU Concours provides expert guidance on every step of the selection process, with practical tips and tailored online test preparation.
Explore diverse opportunities: internships for students, entry-level roles for graduates, and career progression for experienced professionals in the EU civil service. Prepare strategically and access official EPSO resources to boost your chances of success in the EU job market.
Discover the various EU staff categories.
Discover the opportunities in our video series "Working in European institutions".
Different competitions and selection procedures
You can work in European institutions and agencies under different statuses: civil servant, contract agent, or temporary agent.
Civil servants are recruited through competitions for each job category: Secretary (SC), Assistant (AST), or Administrator (AD). The notice of competition published on the EPSO website is the reference document containing all key information, including the eligibility conditions and the selection procedure. If you pass the competition, you will be placed on a reserve list.
Contract agents are mostly recruited through the CAST-P selection. CAST stands for Contract Agent Selection Tool. The "P" means that this selection has been open permanently since 2017. Various fields and different levels are open to contract agents. Unlike civil servants, their contract is for a fixed term.
Temporary staff are recruited as needed. You can find the list of opportunities on the EPSO website.
Read our blog article: "Everything you need to know to become a European civil servant"
Read our blog article: "Working as contract agent (CAST) in EU institutions"
Check the EPSO page on CAST selection
Open and upcoming competitions
EPSO communicates open and upcoming job offers on its EU Careers website.
In the "Work for the EU" section, you will discover all available opportunities for specific positions: internships, temporary contracts, permanent positions, or others. You will also find open and upcoming competitions and CAST selections. We have summarised open opportunities in the table below:
Preparing for the selection tests
Selection tests vary depending on the competition or selection. The reference document is the notice of competition.
Some tests are common to all selections:
- Verbal reasoning test, numerical reasoning test, and abstract reasoning test. For these tests, you must achieve the minimum required pass scores. Therefore, it is essential to understand how the tests work and to practice. For this purpose, we offer a selection of books, online courses, and online tests.
- EU knowledge test. It can be present in AD5 competitions and some internal competitions. To succeed, we offer three packs of 150 questions on the functioning of the EU, its policies, and procedures.
- The written test is now present in most EU competitions. Our online course and our book on Case Study will help you prepare for this test.
- An oral interview. The book "How to succeed in a job interview" prepares you for the various types of questions and tests you may encounter on the day of the interview.
Read our blog article "7 tips to prepare successfully for European competitions"
ORSEU Concours selection:
Online Course Pack: EU Competition Preparation
How to succeed in a job interview
3-Reasoning-Test Book Pack EN
3 reasoning tests online course pack (available for 3 weeks)
Online Course Pack: The 3 Reasoning Tests 2025 (available for 8 weeks)
Super pack 3 reasoning tests EN (online tests)
EU knowledge test - 150Q (with detailed correction-test 1 to 6)
EU Knowledge test - 150 questions (no detailed correction-test 7 to 12))
Online course: Written Test for EU Competitions
Online Course Pack: Reasoning Tests & Written Test Preparation
Useful links
The EPSO website and its Facebook and Linkedin pages.
To understand the functioning of the EU and all the latest news: Euronews, European Union
Our Facebook page: ORSEU EPSO Competitions Training
Our Instagram page: orseu.concours.epso
Our YouTube channel: Youtube ORSEU Concours