Opening up your Euro Career in Brussels

For the ambitious newcomer

Finding your first job in Brussels?

How do I find my first job in Brussels? For most graduate students the immediate answer is an internship or a "stage" - most likely in one of the EU institutions. But industry associations and NGOs also often take on stagiaires. (See our list of current internships)

Other typical jobs for starters include jobs in consultancy companies, industry associations, NGOs or law firms: all listed under those categories in EuroBrussels.

To be considered for an internship or your first job, the papers you wrote for your degree plus any academic and work experience should be relevant for the policy area and the job function. A student job, being involved in a political or interest organisation is also a good merit. The relevant experience you have, or get from being involved in Amnesty International, party politics, working as an MEP-assistant, as a stagiaire in the European Commission, from a master's degree - that is what is going to promote you to the employer.

Until you find work, spend your time effeciently and educate yourself. See our Courses and Education page and our MBA page.

Build your network of contacts

Quickly build yourself a network within the European Affairs, preferably in Brussels. You might need that someone you met in an Irish pub or at lunch on Place Luxembourg or Place Boniface, who told you of a new possibility.

Brussels can feel like what New York is for many Americans - a free-for-all - where simply having made it to Brussels is an advantage itself. Once you are in Brussels - whether you have an internship, a job as an assistant to an MEP, or as a junior researcher or consultant - you can afford to live in Brussels at least for a few more months. You have managed to get your foot in the door.

Job hopping just to get "something on your CV" is not unusual in Brussels. Especially if you are trying to get work as a lobbyist, it seems almost logical that you will have to prove your lobbying and networking skills when trying to get a job. This situation is unique for the Brussels workplace. But still the professional career maker should always be careful not to get a messy CV.

Applying for jobs that are not advertised

Even though eurobrussels.com tries to advertise all jobs in Brussels, many jobs in Brussels are filled without never being advertised, especially in industry associations and NGOs. So even if you do not see an actual job offer advertised, in many cases just sending your CV with a short letter to industry associations or NGOs could be a good step to find a new job. Of course you have better chances if your qualifications are relevant for the organisation. So applying to a focused group in your expertise area gives you the best chance. You will not be competing against hundreds of others as when jobs are advertised. And who knows, you might be the right person when the organisation needs to take someone on.

• Find links to relevant organisations on EuroBrussels.com. Take a look at our links pages, such as Links to Industry Associations

Preparing for a EU concours?

Well, what is a EU concours? The concours is a recruitment competition and examination to select staff to all institutions of the European Union. All permanent staff for the EU institutions are recruited through open competitions (commonly referred to as concours in all languages). These attract a very considerable number of applicants from all over Europe who know that passing the competition is the only way to become a permanent official in an EU institution.

• To get an idea of the nature of the tests, see examples from the concours' already held
• These interactive tests on the EU Institutions allow you to see how you measure up
• Lots of more information on how to apply for job in the EU Institutions

How do I prepare for the EU Concours? The competitive examinations held by the EU Institutions consist of both written and oral tests. Some of the larger examinations even have preselection tests. Preparing for the tests is of course easiest if you are already familiar with the subject area. But general knowledge of the EU institutions is also required, so reading up on factual knowledge with reference books like e.g. Penguin's Companion to the European Union, and keeping yourself updated on EU political news, is important. The subjects of the written papers at the tests will often be on themes currently discussed in the press, over the last few years enlargement and monetary union have been some of the issues frequently used for the tests.

• On the internet you can find various EU bookshops selling textbooks of eg. multiple-choice tests to prepare for the concours
• There are also online EU Tests offering EPSO-style exam simulation, test simulations and learning resources
• See also this FAQ on European Institutions

Find out more about the EU concours in our next section, the recruitment process to the EU Institutions.

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