AD 5

AD 7

15

20

This competition covers two grades and several options. You may apply for only one grade and only one option. You must make your choice when you apply online and you will not be able to change it after your online application form has been confirmed and validated.

However,

the selection board may, with your consent (2), reassign your application to grade AD 5.

Any reassignment will take place only after it has been established that you meet the conditions for admission based on the information given in your online application form. This process takes place before you are invited to take the preliminary interpreting test in the case of grade AD 5 or to attend the assessment centre in the case of grade AD 7.

Also, after the assessment centre session:

OR

the selection board, may with your consent (2), place your name on the reserve list for grade AD 5.

Such reassignment will be by order of merit. It will apply after it has been established that you meet the conditions for admission based on the supporting documents provided when you come to the assessment centre and before the reserve list is drawn up.

In any event, the number of successful candidates on the AD-5 list after reassignment shall not exceed one and a half times the number of successful candidates sought for grade AD 5.

This competition is intended for candidates who have a perfect command (3), both written and spoken, of the Croatian language (mother tongue or equivalent knowledge). If you do not have such a command, we would strongly advise that you do not apply.

NB: experience as a court interpreter, liaison interpreter, company interpreter or interpreter for social or other public services will not be considered experience as a conference interpreter.

2.1

Diplomas/Qualifications

Either (a)

You must have successfully completed a full course of training as a conference interpreter equivalent to four years of studies at university level and obtained the relevant qualification.

or (b)

You must have a level of education which corresponds to full university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma AND completed training as a conference interpreter attested by a certificate or other proof of success.

or (c)

You must have a level of education which corresponds to full university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma AND one year's professional experience as a conference interpreter, evidenced by documents clearly indicating the number of days worked as a conference interpreter.

2.2

Professional experience

Grade AD 5

No professional experience is required unless you are applying under III.2.1(c), in which case the experience must have been gained since you obtained the first qualification required under that heading.

Grade AD 7

You must have at least four years' graduate-level professional experience gained since obtaining your first degree or diploma.

Such professional experience must include at least 100 days of conference interpreting since the date when the condition set out in III.2.1 (a), (b) or (c) was fulfilled.

These four years must be additional to both the training as a conference interpreter evidenced by the relevant qualification and the one year of experience working as a conference interpreter required under III.2.1 (b) or (c) above.

2.3

Knowledge of languages

The official languages of the European Union are:

BG (Bulgarian)

CS (Czech)

DA (Danish)

DE (German)

EL (Greek)

EN (English)

ES (Spanish)

ET (Estonian)

FI (Finnish)

FR (French)

GA (Irish)

HU (Hungarian)

IT (Italian)

LT (Lithuanian)

LV (Latvian)

MT (Maltese)

NL (Dutch)

PL (Polish)

PT (Portuguese)

RO (Romanian)

SK (Slovak)

SL (Slovenian)

SV (Swedish)

The language of Croatia, the acceding country:

‘Language combination’ means the languages used by conference interpreters in their work. Working languages are either ‘active’ or ‘passive’ languages, and are defined below as ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ languages.

Active languages

‘A’ or ‘A*’ language

Your main language (mother tongue or an exact equivalent), of which you have a perfect command and into which you work from all your working languages, both simultaneously and consecutively.

‘B’ language

Although not your main language, a language of which you have a full command and into which you interpret from language A, both simultaneously and consecutively.

Passive language:

‘C’ language

Language from which you interpret and which you understand fully.

NB: please note that your general competencies will be tested at the assessment centre in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE); the language chosen must be different from active language A*.

Grade AD 5

Option 1(a)

(A + CC)

Active A language: Croatian

Passive C languages:

Option 2(a)

(A + B)

Active A language: Croatian

Active B language:

Option 3(a)

(A*+CC)

Active A* language:

Passive C languages:

English is compulsory as the C2 language if the active A* language is German.

Grade AD 7

Option 1(b)

(A + CCC)

Active A language: Croatian

Passive C languages:

Option 2(b)

(A + B+C)

Active A language: Croatian

Active B language:

Passive C language:

Option 3(b)

(A*+CCC)

Active A* language:

Passive C languages:

NB: A thorough knowledge of other languages would be an advantage.

You will be invited to sit the tests if you have validated your application on time (see Section VII).

NB:

A series of tests comprising multiple-choice questions to assess your general aptitudes and competencies as regards:

Test (a)

verbal reasoning

marking: this test will be marked out of 20.

Pass mark: 10

Test (b)

numerical reasoning

marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Test (c)

abstract reasoning

marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Aggregate pass mark for tests (b) and (c): 8

Test (d)

verbal reasoning

marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Pass mark: 5

Language of the tests

tests (a), (b) and (c): English, French or German; must be different from the active A*language

test (d): an official language of the EU; must be different from the active A* language and the language chosen for tests (a), (b) and (c)

You will be invited to the assessment centre

The number of candidates invited to the assessment centre will be approximately three times the number of successful candidates indicated in the competition notice and it will be published on EPSO's website (www.eu-careers.info).

Nature, marking and duration

For grade AD 5 only, a preliminary interpreting test will be held.

This test consists in the simultaneous interpretation of a recorded speech. It may involve the use of audiovisual material at a test centre.

Choice of language for this test:

Duration: approximately 12 minutes

This test will be marked out of 20

Pass mark: 10

The marks obtained in this test will not be added to those obtained in the assessment centre session.

The role of the assessment centre is to assess the following competencies:

A.   Specific competencies

These competencies will be tested by means (6) of:

and

B.   General competencies (7):

These general competencies are tested by means (7) of:

You will be assessed in Brussels, normally during a two-day session.

Each general competency will be tested twice, as follows:

Structured interview

Group exercise

Oral presentation

Analysis and problem-solving

x

x

Communicating

x

x

Delivering quality and results

x

x

Learning and development

x

x

Prioritising and organising

x

x

Resilience

x

x

Working with others

x

x

Leadership

x

x

English, French or German; must be different from active language A*

A.   Specific competencies

Each interpretation test will be marked out of 20

Pass mark: 10

Weighting: 75 % of the overall mark

B.   General competencies

Marks: a total of 80 for all general competencies (10 per competency)

Pass mark: an aggregate of 40 for all eight general competencies

Weighting: 25 % of the overall mark

The selection board will place your name on the reserve list

The verification of supporting documents will be made in descending order until the number of candidates who can be placed on the reserve list and who actually fulfil all the conditions for admission reaches the threshold.

The files of candidates below this threshold will not be examined. If verification shows that the information (10) given by any candidate in their online application form is not borne out by appropriate supporting documents, they will be disqualified from the competition.

Reserve lists will be drawn up by grade and names will be listed in alphabetical order.

You must apply online by following the instructions on the EPSO website and particularly in the online application manual.

Deadline (including validation): 24 July 2012 at 12.00 (noon), Brussels time.

If you are one of the candidates invited to the assessment centre, you will have to bring with you (11) your full application file (signed online application form and supporting documents) when you come to the assessment centre.

Procedure: see point 6.1 of the guide to open competitions.