European Union
https://epso.europa.eu/career-profiles/languages_enAbout Company
The EU institutions' interpreting service is the largest in the world – its conference interpreters ensure that the discussions held at meetings are correctly interpreted into an official language of the EU, using either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. EU interpreters work in a stimulating, multi-cultural environment, and must be able to communicate effectively, grasp varied and often complex issues, react and adapt swiftly to changing circumstances, work under pressure, independently and as part of a team.
Job Details
Interpreter
Full Time · Freelands · Bruxel · Interpreter.
The conference interpreters ensure that the discussions held at meetings are correctly interpreted into an official language of the EU, using either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. EU interpreters work in a stimulating, multi-cultural environment, and must be able to communicate effectively, grasp varied and often complex issues, react and adapt swiftly to changing circumstances, work under pressure, independently and as part of a team.
- Once you have selected the role for which you wish to apply, check the Notice of Competition to see who will manage your application. In most instances, namely for permanent roles and fixed-term contracts, the organisation responsible for managing your application will be the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). If this is the case, from submitting an online application to sitting a test in an Assessment Centre, EPSO will oversee the selection procedure and will be on hand to answer any queries that may arise along the way.
- Each selection process has its own selection board, which is responsible for selecting candidates at each stage and for drawing up the final list of successful candidates. Each selection board is made up of officials from the EU Institutions and EPSO ensures that all selection boards strictly adhere to the procedures. The recruitment process also involves the HR services of the EU institutions that are responsible for the recruitment of successful candidates, i.e. filling specific job vacancies by hiring new employees from the lists of candidates maintained by EPSO.
- The Institutions interview potential employees before offering them a position.
Skills & Requirements
You must have perfect command of one EU language and a thorough command of at least 2 others and an appropriate qualification in conference interpreting or a degree plus one year's professional experience as a conference interpreter (Grade AD 5), or several years’ relevant experience, to join us at a more senior level (Grade AD 7). The selection procedure for conference interpreters focuses on your interpreting skills, as well as the core competencies required of all EU officials. Interpreting skills are assessed on the basis of simultaneous and consecutive interpreting exercises in your chosen languages. Find out more about the selection procedure on our How to apply page. You may also find our sample tests useful. Check our job opportunities to see the which languages we are looking for this year. Freelance interpreters may also be employed to work alongside staff interpreters in meetings served by the interpreting services of the European institutions. There is no nationality requirement for freelance interpreters and all languages may be considered. To become a freelance interpreter accredited with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice, please see Interpreting for Europe. You can also see our Traineeships page for further information on traineeships for interpreters.
- If you are considering applying for a job at the EU institutions, take a look at the many different contract types that the EU offers before you start. Although permanent positions are possible to obtain, it may well be that a temporary contract is more suited to your ambitions and needs. Whatever the contract type associated to the position you are applying for, bear in mind that you will probably need to follow a competition procedure and that it may take a few months before you find out if you have been successful.
- For more detailed information on recruitment, promotions, pay and benefits, see Staff Regulations.