That is how I have been feeling after participating in a competition to become EU official. I tried to prepare it seriously, and then you arrive to the test centre and you can’t avoid wondering if it really made a difference. The European Personnel Selection Office, EPSO, prepares the 3 types of tests the same way a disc jockey would: mixing. You can be lucky and get nice, smooth music; or you can encounter a dj that makes you go back home with a headache.

I will briefly explain how the system works for those who are unfamiliar with it. EU competitions are usually structured in two phases. The first consist of 4 tests: verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning and situational judgement.

Even EPSO says that “candidates are also reminded of the fact that admission tests are no longer knowledge based – but rather competency-based tests. Therefore, extensive preparation time is not necessary”. It does not mean that you don’t have to prepare the tests at all… but it does recognize that even if you live for the competition, the pass for the second phase is not at all guaranteed. In my case, I hope that extensive “divine support” will work better; my mother and aunt worked very hard to get it!

The numbers give by themselves an overview of the “lottery” touch of the competition. In the one I just took we were almost 30.000 candidates; the best 315 will make it to the second round to fight for 105 positions.

On my arrival at the test centre I could only remember the discouraging figures. The place was packed, it was too hot in the room and finding a place in the waiting room was already a first success. There was a queue to leave your things in the locker, a queue to register at the reception, a queue for the toilet. A few familiar faces, some friends, and many complete strangers. If we listen to probabilities, someone here will pass. Why not me? It is like getting a free trip for you and all your friends… and I got it twice, so why not the competition, too?

To be continued (I hope).