| This is an authorised copy of the article originally | | | | my experience and knowledge to a European level." |
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| In the latest AD5 exams you are asked for your | | | | Be concise: the length in each part of the motivation |
| motivation to work for the EU. Giving EPSO good | | | | is limited to 4000 letters which is about 2 pages in a |
| reasons why you would like to pursue an EU career | | | | normal Word file. If you can structure your message |
| can be a daunting task. Nobody wants to put | | | | in a clear way where your main points are numbered |
| common sense stuff or "jiberish", so this can be a | | | | i) and ii) or in any other manner, this can convey your |
| real thought-exercise for anyone taking it seriously | | | | thoughts better and help the jury's job too. Poetic |
| (and we do recommend taking it seriously!). Here are | | | | and high-flying statements are rather for romantic |
| some guidelines and tips that may be worth | | | | novels than the EPSO application form: what you |
| considering: | | | | need here is a clear reasoning with some acceptable |
| | | | level of emotions (given that we're talking about |
| Be honest: unless your only motivation is the salary | | | | motivation, which is a very personal genre). Here is a |
| (which is way too bad...but who are we to tell?), be | | | | bad example: "I have always felt that mankind is |
| as honest as you can! This means that if you love | | | | headed for a catastrophe with increasing levels of |
| being in an international environment that EU jobs | | | | CO2 emissions, so Europe must spearhead the fight |
| offer, state if upfront. If you enjoy living abroad, | | | | against climate change." And a good one: "I feel |
| make this as your main "selling point". The idea is to | | | | strongly about fighting climate change and I have |
| avoid inventing issues and trying to read EPSO's mind | | | | done my share in my community by organising a |
| - there is no right or wrong answer here so just tell | | | | power saving day at my hometown school. Working |
| the truth. | | | | for the EU could offer tremendous opportunities to |
| | | | take such ideas to the next level." |
| Be resourceful: many candidates ask us why this | | | | |
| motivation letter is needed as such. While EPSO says | | | | Be empathic: not wishing to contradict ourselves |
| that it can be used in any stage of the competition, | | | | regarding honesty, thinking with the EPSO board's |
| it is most likely going to be read in the Assessment | | | | head can help you select and choose the elements |
| Centre phase by the assessors who wish to get a | | | | you may want to put in your application motivation. |
| better understanding of you and your background. | | | | This means that issues relating to your current |
| This fits nicely with the Structured Interview and | | | | personal situation ("I am very frustrated with my |
| Situational Judgment Tests, so it is not a standalone | | | | current job and want a change of air" or "I have just |
| exercise. We believe that another factor is that | | | | broken up with my boyfriend and going to |
| EPSO wishes to filter out "easy" candidates who may | | | | Luxembourg seems a great option to get over my |
| only apply "for the fun of it" but never actually mean | | | | sadness") is definitely a no-go. What EPSO is looking |
| to take the tests or eventually work for the EU | | | | for is a genuine list with a sound reasoning why and |
| institutions. In short, dedicate sufficient efforts to a | | | | how you can contribute to the EU institutions' goals, |
| decent motivation section as there is a valid reason | | | | policies, culture and objectives. |
| why this is required for the registration. | | | | |
| | | | Be ambitious: motivation letters and inputs are |
| Be unique: almost all candidates will write about their | | | | challenging as they are not the place where modesty |
| desire to deal with European affairs, tackle global | | | | should prevail; however, an overly confident attitude |
| problems, speak foreign languages, travel around or | | | | can backfire. Therefore formulating your ambitions in |
| negotiate with diplomats. However, what can truly | | | | a positive way should be done by using a |
| make you unique is the "why": even if you say that | | | | sophisticated vocabulary: "I have a few friends who |
| you wish to tackle global problems, you can explain in | | | | have pursued European careers for some time, and |
| detail your personal background, job history or other | | | | the work environment seems particularly attractive |
| factor that created this desire in the first place. An | | | | to me. I am confident to possess the right skills to |
| example: if you are a Greek recent graduate of law, | | | | coordinate EU policies as I speak four languages of |
| you can say that "I am very motivated to deal with | | | | which three are EU official languages. I do believe |
| maritime issues on a European level because of my | | | | that my studies in financial management can be well |
| strong interest in the law of the sea and the fact | | | | applied to the upcoming reform of the EU budget. At |
| that I have spent my summer holidays volunteering | | | | the same time, the job security EU institutions offer |
| for rural fishing communities. I understand their | | | | is in fact a strong motivational factor for my |
| problems on a local level, therefore I wish to bring | | | | application. |