Reserve list & employment

The candidates who master the assessment centre with the highest score complete the competition successfully and are registered on a so-called reserve list. From this moment on, EPSO is no longer involved in the recruitment of  the candidates by the Institutions. However, EPSO establishes the quota per Institution, i.e. it determines how many successful candidates from the list may be recruited by each Institution based on their expressed needs in advance of the competition, and on the number of successful candidates available. As a general rule, the quota is lifted one year after the publication of the reserve list, and Institutions can then recruit freely.

As the name indicates, the reserve lists constitutes a pool of potential recruits which is valid, in general, initially for about one year. The validity of reserve lists may be prolonged by EPSO according to the needs of the Institutions. Being on a reserve list does not guarantee recruitment by one of the Institutions.

The employment

The EU institutions may only recruit their civil servants by taking into account the reserve list. The profiles of the candidates on the reserve list are compared in order to identify those candidates who best fit the vacant position in terms of language skills, professional experience, education, etc. Those possible new employees are contacted and invited by the concerned institution. Nevertheless, it might be helpful to take a look-around and actively get in touch with possible future employers. Once an Institution identifies a candidate of interest it declares this by asking EPSO to set a flag against the candidate's name. This status is visible to all other Institutions as well as the candidate concerned.

Flagging system

As job opportunities arise, Institutions contact their flagged candidates for interview and depending on the outcome, may make a formal job offer. For practical reasons, you may also be asked at this time to undergo a medical examination, which is required before any decision can be taken on appointment. Should you not fulfil an Institution's needs, you are again made available for consideration by other Institutions, i.e. the "flag" is reset to indicate your availability once again.

Own initiative

Of crucial importance is that you upload and update your CV in your EPSO Account regularly (see the CVs tab next to "Applications" and "Personal data"). This CV will be automatically made available to all recruiting institutions.

You can check via your EPSO Account if you have been flagged by an Institution.  If so, you may not contact another Institution to solicit a job or an interview during the period that flag is set. You may also check your status on the reserve list at any time by clicking on the message entitled: "Your status on the reserve list" published in your EPSO account about one month after the end of the competition. The date of the message remains unchanged but the information inside the message is updated every time there is a change in your status.