CoR February 2018

Hi, everyone! Any news from the Committee of the Regions? Has the pre-selection begun? Thanks!

Hi, I just got an e-mail from CoR today that I'm on reserve list.

dr652 wrote:Hi, I just got an e-mail from CoR today that I'm on reserve list.

Same here!

So does reserve list actually mean not selected? There are only 2 possibilities: pre-selected or reserve list? It's my first time applying to CoR so I don't really know how it works with them

I'm pre-selected and have an interview scheduled for Tuesday. Anyone else? I am a bit stressed, what questions are usually asked in the interview?

Hi all!
I am also pre-selected but haven't received any news yet.
Which DG have you applied for?

anyone33 wrote:I'm pre-selected and have an interview scheduled for Tuesday. Anyone else? I am a bit stressed, what questions are usually asked in the interview?

I was interviewed this past Thursday. During the first few minutes the interviewer (a member of the department for which I was pre-selected) explained the work that they do, how their trainee fits into the team, etc. He then asked me about my interests, as they try - to the extent that it's possible - allow the trainees to work in their areas of interest. I highlighted two fields (my educational background + an area in which I've done advocacy work), and tried to tie them both back to work done by the CoR recently.

I was then asked about how I see the CoR and its importance (I tried to tie them both back to the two areas of interest I had mentioned using solid examples of CoR contributions).

As I did my Masters in the UK, I was also asked what I believe the CoR's work/mission should be during the Brexit process.

The last thing was a very short French conversation - very casual, nothing work/traineeship related, as he really only wanted to check that I did indeed speak the language. That lasted barely two minutes, as it was enough.

All in all, my advice would be:
1/ Think about how you can contribute to the department for which you're interviewing. Highlight areas that you're passionate about and try to tie them back to CoR work (do your research ahead of time!)

2/ Be ready to answer some "curve ball" question concerning the CoR - how you perceive its mission, its relevance,  etc.

3/ Be ready for a short conversation in whatever language(s) you cited in your application - particularly one of the three EU working languages (EN, FR, GE).

4/ Think of a couple of questions to ask the interviewer at the end - the types of questions that show that you've done your research, that you're keen, etc.

Good luck!

So, I've just received a message that my status has changed into "pre-selected - reserve list"...

Hello,
I am selected for DG Translation, is there already a facebook group? Where can we connect with other trainees at COR?
I have millions of questions