Latest news : Working for the EU

Keen to make a difference? Like travelling and working with people from different countries? Want to do something interesting?

UK Universities are showing their support for a government initiative to raise the profile of jobs in EU organisations such as the European Commission and European Parliament.

A recent conference on graduate careers in the EU and Brussels held in London attracted careers advisers from around 60 universities. Roles discussed ranged from policy officers to lawyers, economist, IT technicians and even nuclear inspectors.
 
Successful applicants end up working on anything from providing aid to developing countries or enforcing regulations to keep big tobacco and oil companies in check.

A career in the EU offers an international working environment in a cosmopolitan, cultural city. Salaries are competitive, terms and conditions are attractive and career flexibility is encouraged. To support this flexibility, the EU organisations have a developed a comprehensive learning and development programme to help you gain new skills and knowledge throughout your career.

Currently, applicants with English as a mother tongue need to take part of the selection test in either French or German, so a reasonable level of competence is required in order to pass the assessment process. However, having a language degree isn’t the only way. For instance if you’ve studied abroad for a year – perhaps on an Erasmus programme – it could help you gain sufficient language ability to stand a competitive chance in the selection process.

Take a look at Getting you into the EU pages on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  website to learn more.