Has anyone here worked for the EU (Specifically, language requirements)?

ancapailldorcha

Hi,

It was suggested to me the other day that I should consider applying for positions on the continent. I'd be quite interested until I hit the language requirements. How stringent are they? I've had my time in school learning Irish which is unlikely to be sufficient. I have some very basic Spanish but I'd an excellent French teacher at school and I retained a fair bit of it.

Otherwise, the positions are almost certainly highly competitive and applying would be a waste of time. It was just a thought but I figured I might find throw it out there. I'm not sure what I want to do but my position at the moment is heavily dependent on EU research funding which is in jeopardy.

Thanks! Mods, please feel free to move/lock this if it is in the wrong forum.

Jim2007

It entirely depends on what kind of positions your are talking about....

For instance most MNCs in Switzerland (Nestle, Roche Novartis, UBS, CS, ABB etc) all use English as their working language. So unless you needed to deal with their local Swiss business, it would not be an issue.

However once there, you should make an effort to pick up the local language so you can participate in the rest of live in the country. But you could do that in your own time.

ancapailldorcha

Jim2007 wrote: »

It entirely depends on what kind of positions your are talking about....

For instance most MNCs in Switzerland (Nestle, Roche Novartis, UBS, CS, ABB etc) all use English as their working language. So unless you needed to deal with their local Swiss business, it would not be an issue.

I was looking at the European Patent Office. I currently work in research so my background would help. Their language is English AFAIK.

Jim2007 wrote: »

However once there, you should make an effort to pick up the local language so you can participate in the rest of live in the country. But you could do that in your own time.

Absolutely! I'd have no qualms doing language classes outside work or anything. It's getting in the door and apparently the EU require fluency in one language and high proficiency in 1-2 other which is the issue.

caviardreams

OP did you mean working *for* the EU (European Commission etc.), or in the EU?

If it is the former, I believe most roles do have the fluency in one language, and high proficiency in a second requirement. There may be exceptions though.

CelticRambler

As referenced by caviardreams, it makes a big difference whether you mean in the EU or for the EU. I work in France and (theoretically) should have had to pass a language competency exam to be allowed into the local club. That never happened - but dealing with colleagues and the fee-paying public, it was/is obviously pretty important to be able communicate efficiently. The bonus is that having a good standard of fluency opens up all kinds of other opportunities (shopping, chatting, listening to local radio, social events, etc.) and you get the most out of your adopted home/culture.

On the other hand, I have one family member and one university acquaintance who work for the EU - one in Frankfurt, the other in Brussels - and they are more stereotypical ex-pats: Irish through and through, speak English most of the day, and have a half-decent understanding of the local language. Neither of them has much of a life outside their EU bubble, which suits them perfectly, but it does seem strange to me when they can tell me more about what's going on in Dublin than what's happening in either of their respective cities/countries of residence.

Like you, I had a great teacher of French in secondary school, and I was able to re-apply the techniques he taught us when I needed to seriously improve my level, and they work for any language. However, there's nothing better than full immersion. Whether or not your circumstances would allow that is something only you can figure out - but it doesn't necessarily have to be a particularly long period. If you reduce your exposure to English to the absolute minimum, and concentrate on a small, activity-relevant vocabulary, you can make great progress in as little as a few days (with a can-do, will-do attitude).

ancapailldorcha

caviardreams wrote: »

OP did you mean working *for* the EU (European Commission etc.), or in the EU?

If it is the former, I believe most roles do have the fluency in one language, and high proficiency in a second requirement. There may be exceptions though.

For the EU. I'd appreciate advice about the latter but I was interested in working for the EU. I've edited the title which will hopefully make it clearer.

CelticRambler

For the EU, then, as I understand it, there are two streams - either you are employed directly by an EU agency, and afaik, they typically would like you to have a certain level of proficiency in more than one language; or you are employed by your member state as public servant and seconded to an EU agency/post, in which case they give more weight to your professional qualification and experience.

As a GB resident, I imagine your options are limited to the first case. If so, I suppose the best thing to do is start looking at ads and see what they're looking for. Also, try finding people on LinkedIn who are working in the agency and have a similar background to you (e.g. TCD/UCD graduates, if you are one) and ask them to give you a view from the coal-face.

TimeToShine

Unless you have a very specific skillset you are competing against mainland Europeans who speak English plus two other languages fluently and the EU do specify that you would generally need your native language + English in whatever order. I think you'd be most likely to find something in Brussels and Germany, maybe France too but you wouldn't enjoy it too much unless your French picked up fast, but not a chance in Spain/Portugal/Switzerland/Italy without mastery of a second language.

otnomart

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

I was looking at the European Patent Office. I currently work in research so my background would help. Their language is English AFAIK.

As you work in research you might want to check vacancies at the JRCs ( Joint Research Centres).
Locations are: Seville; Karlsruhe; Geel (BE); Ispra (IT); Petter (NL)

Research Fellowships:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/working-with-us/jobs/vacancies/function-group-iv-researchers
Temporary contracts:https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/working-with-us/jobs/temporary-positions

otnomart

apologies, it is PetteN (NL)

Jim2007

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

I was looking at the European Patent Office. I currently work in research so my background would help. Their language is English AFAIK.

Well I'm struggling to see what you would bring to the table, versus other candidates. Most of Europe use civil law as opposed to common law and you only speak one language and that may not even be an EU language after BREXIT. They'd be very limited in what work the could allocate to you and managers are never happy with that. It would also probably not be a very secure position during cost cutting exercises.

Is there some reason why you are limiting yourself to the EU institutions?

ancapailldorcha

Jim2007 wrote: »

Well I'm struggling to see what you would bring to the table, versus other candidates. Most of Europe use civil law as opposed to common law and you only speak one language and that may not even be an EU language after BREXIT. They'd be very limited in what work the could allocate to you and managers are never happy with that. It would also probably not be a very secure position during cost cutting exercises.

Well, Patent lawyers don't study law at University. They do STEM and then become Patent lawyers. Patent examiners look to be cut from the same cloth. I know that I'm at a disadvantage. I'm just looking at a possible alternative career route if Brexit devastates the EU funding my work is heavily dependent on which seems very possible. Whether or not I can compete with other candidates for these positions is something I don't know. Possibly not but I don't want to waste time applying if my CV and covering letter are bin-bound because the only language I speak is English.

Jim2007 wrote: »

Is there some reason why you are limiting yourself to the EU institutions?

I'm not. I know a patent lawyer who suggested this to me. I'm just interested in exploring the possibility.

New_home_2018

AFAIK you need to be fluent in English and proficient in an EU language. This can include Irish. I'm not 100% if they always interview in 2nd language

ancapailldorcha

New_home_2018 wrote: »

AFAIK you need to be fluent in English and proficient in an EU language. This can include Irish. I'm not 100% if they always interview in 2nd language

Is there an exam or would having grown up in Ireland suffice?

TheSheriff

You will always be assessed on your second language if going in as an external hire.

Jim2007

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

Is there an exam or would having grown up in Ireland suffice?

Of course there is a requirement to show that you are at the expected level! The only 'exemption' is that you have received a primary degree through a given language, since degree work is usually considered to require at least level C1 in a language.

But the link you posted earlier makes it very clear that the minimum language expectations are German, French, and English. One at C1 and the other two at B2. In fact apart from citizenship, language is the only thing discussed under minimum requirements. So language has to be a big part of working in that area.

And those are minimum requirements, so you can expect that the competition will be higher than that. I know it is unusual in Ireland, but here it is not the uncommon to meet graduates who speak all three at C1 at least, my own kids included. They had German and English from birth and over 50% of their college degree work was in French.

I know of only one person who went from zero to C1 and she took two and half years full time to do it - that was four hours a day, five days a week. I can't see anyone doing this in a short period while keeping down a full time job.

I really think you need to look at other options if you want to move to mainland Europe.

CelticRambler

Jim2007 wrote: »

I know of only one person who went from zero to C1 and she took two and half years full time to do it - that was four hours a day, five days a week.

That two years time-frame appears to be pretty normal to get close to C1, regardless of what point you're starting from. When I came to France, someone who'd moved from where we lived in the UK six months beforehand (a teenager - listen to teenagers, they know stuff! :pac: ) said that it'd take two years, during which you think you're making no progress; then suddenly it sounds like everyone's speaking much more slowly.

Sure enough, that's exactly how it happened for me, starting with my rusty but functional Leaving Cert French, and cheapskate estate-agent employer who primarily wanted someone who could speak English!

These days (this week in fact), I get to meet a small selection of the same people year after year, and it's really noticeable the leap in their competence once they hit the two-year mark (if they're fully invested in learning). However, it does also depend on the person's innate ability to learn another language too.

ancapailldorcha

Jim2007 wrote: »

I really think you need to look at other options if you want to move to mainland Europe.

Starting to think that myself. Maybe find an English-speaking non-EU job over there and learn the language by classes and immersion. Thanks for your help.

CelticRambler wrote: »

That two years time-frame appears to be pretty normal to get close to C1, regardless of what point you're starting from. When I came to France, someone who'd moved from where we lived in the UK six months beforehand (a teenager - listen to teenagers, they know stuff! :pac: ) said that it'd take two years, during which you think you're making no progress; then suddenly it sounds like everyone's speaking much more slowly.

Sure enough, that's exactly how it happened for me, starting with my rusty but functional Leaving Cert French, and cheapskate estate-agent employer who primarily wanted someone who could speak English!

These days (this week in fact), I get to meet a small selection of the same people year after year, and it's really noticeable the leap in their competence once they hit the two-year mark (if they're fully invested in learning). However, it does also depend on the person's innate ability to learn another language too.

I'm confident I could learn a language but it would take a while. Immersion might help but I would still need to be fairly proficient up front for EU jobs.

petros1980

Aside from working for the EU itself there are usually lots of positions for which a research background would be useful here:

https://www.eurobrussels.com/

There are often some opporunities to work for the Irish government overseas but these don't come up that often and usually fierce competition. Another route could be to apply for UK civil service roles. They often have overseas opportunities. Especially DFID, DIT, and FCO:

https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/

Also opportunities to work overseas as a locally engaged staff (rather than as a UK civil servant):

https://fco.tal.net/vx/appcentre-ext/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/1/adv/

CelticRambler

Just remembered this site: https://ec.europa.eu/eures/eures-searchengine/page/main?lang=en#/search

Hosted by the EU, but not specifically for EU agency jobs.

completedit

Seems really hard, have a Masters in Economics and European integration and have struggled