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Document C2009/149A/01

Notice of open competition — EPSO/AST/99/09 — Proofreaders with English (EN) as their main language

GU C 149A del 1.7.2009, p. 1–4 (EN)

1.7.2009   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 149/1

NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising admission tests and an open competition, based on tests, to constitute a reserve from which to recruit Assistants (AST 3) in the field of publications production.

EPSO/AST/99/09

Proofreaders with English (EN) as their main language

(2009/C 149 A/01)

The purpose of this competition is to draw up a reserve list from which to fill vacant posts in the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities in Luxembourg and/or in the institutions of the European Union.

Candidates must consult the general rules governing competitions, published in Official Journal of the European Union C 47 A of 26 February 2009 and on the EPSO website. The general rules apply as an integral part of the notice of competition and contain provisions on the procedure for competitions and submitting applications.

CONTENTS

I.

 GENERAL BACKGROUND

II.

 DUTIES

III.

 ELIGIBILITY

IV.

 ADMISSION TESTS

V.

 OPEN COMPETITION

VI.

 RESERVE LIST

VII.

 HOW TO APPLY

I.   GENERAL BACKGROUND

1.

 Number of successful candidates per competition

16

2.

 Grounds for disqualification linked to the application process

You will be disqualified if EPSO finds, at any stage in the procedure, that you have resorted to subterfuge when entering data in your EPSO account or have entered false data and/or that you have created more than one EPSO account, so as to:

—

apply for two or more competitions/fields/channels/options/profiles published at the same time,

—

take the admission tests more than once for the same competition or for two or more competitions/fields/channels/options/profiles published at the same time,

—

take the written tests for two or more competitions/fields/channels/options/profiles published at the same time.

II.   DUTIES

Working under supervision, proofreaders will be expected to proofread manuscripts in English. This involves:

—

preparing manuscripts in terms of style and typography,

—

proofreading printers' proofs,

—

delivering the ‘passed for press’ order,

—

participating in the design of publications,

—

helping to organise and monitor the production processes involved in publishing.

The general profile of candidates sought by the institutions is described in point 1.2 of the general rules governing open competitions.

III.   ELIGIBILITY

On the closing date for online applications , you must fulfil the following general and specific conditions:

1.   GENERAL CONDITIONS

(a)

You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.

(b)

You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen.

(c)

You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service.

(d)

You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

2.   SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

2.1.

Qualifications

Either (a):

—

post-secondary education attested by a diploma;

or (b):

—

secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to higher education, followed by at least three years' professional experience in a field of activity of relevance for the institutions at a level equivalent to that of the competition. These three years of professional experience cannot be counted towards the professional experience required under 2.2 below.

2.2.

Professional experience

 

At least three years' professional experience in the field of production or proofreading of publications in English. This experience must have been gained:

either (a):

—

since obtaining the qualification required under 2.1(a);

or (b):

—

since obtaining the qualification and professional experience required under 2.1(b).

2.3.

Knowledge of languages

(a)

Language 1:

main language — perfect command (mother tongue or equivalent command) of English;

and

 

(b)

Language 2:

second language — a thorough knowledge of French or German.

IV.   ADMISSION TESTS

A.

 Candidates invited

Candidates who, when submitting their online application , have declared that they fulfil the general and specific conditions listed in section III.

B.

 Tests

 

 

Test (a)

Test (b)

1.

Nature

A series of multiple-choice questions to assess your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions, and its policies.

A series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your verbal and numerical reasoning skills.

2.

Language

Language 2

3.

Marking

This test will be marked out of 10.

No penalty for incorrect answers.

This test will be marked out of 20.

No penalty for incorrect answers.

4.

Pass mark

5

10

5.

Time allowed

20 minutes

55 minutes

V.   OPEN COMPETITION

1.   WRITTEN TEST

A.

 Candidates invited

The candidates who obtain the 96 highest aggregate marks () in the admission tests, with at least the pass mark in each, and who, in the light of the information given in their online application, satisfy the general and specific conditions listed in section III.

B.

 Test

1.

Nature

Proofreading a text (spelling and grammar) in English (language 1) and proofreading a number of printers' proofs (spelling, grammar, and typography) in English (language 1) against manuscripts.

2.

Language

English

3.

Marking

This test will be marked out of 60.

4.

Pass mark

30

5.

Time allowed

+/- 3 hours

2.   ORAL TEST

A.

 Candidates admitted

The candidates who obtain the 32 highest marks () in the written test with at least the pass mark and who, in the light of the supporting documents included in their full application file, fulfil the general and specific conditions listed in section III.

B.

 Test

1.

Nature

Interview with the selection board to enable it to complete its assessment of:

—

your suitability to perform the duties described in section II,

—

your specialist knowledge in the field of the competition,

—

your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and its policies,

—

your motivation and your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment.

2.

Language

The interview will be conducted in English but your knowledge of your second language will also be assessed.

3.

Marking

This test will be marked out of 40.

4.

Pass mark

20

5.

Time allowed

+/- 30 minutes

6.

Place

The oral test will normally be held in Luxembourg.

VI.   RESERVE LIST

1.

Candidates included

The selection board will place on the reserve list the names of the candidates with the highest aggregate marks in the written and oral tests and a pass mark in each () (see section I, point 1).

2.

Classification

The list will be drawn up by merit group (maximum of four groups) and names will be listed in alphabetical order within each group.

VII.   HOW TO APPLY

1.

Online application

You must apply online, following the procedure explained on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office.

Deadline: 4 August 2009 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time.

2.

Submitting a full application file

If you are selected under section V.1.A, you will be invited, via your EPSO account, to print out a copy of your online application form, sign it and send it together with the relevant supporting documents to the following address:

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

Human Resources Unit — Competitions Section

Open Competition EPSO/AST/99/09

2, rue Mercier

2985 Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG

Procedures: See point 2.4 of the general rules governing open competitions.

Closing date: You will be informed of the closing date via your EPSO account, in the letter inviting you to submit a full application file.
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