EPSO structured interview: some frosting on the cake allowed

You have managed to pass those dreaded numerical, abstract and verbal reasoning test and have received the invitation to the EPSO assessment centre in Brussels. Congratulations! The last step consists of showing the assessors that you are competent in the way EPSO defines their seven competencies. So to prepare for the structured interview, take your CV and the seven competencies side by side.  Look very closely at the seven EPSO competences and their definitions. Can you recognise one that you really excel in ? For that one you are good at,  you should be able to give at least 3 examples from your working history (or studies, volunteering, internships and personal challenges in case you have never worked before). 

The hard part is to find examples that prove your competencies in those that you know you are not very skilled in. My particular thorn was the one about prioritising and organising. But even if I know I am not good at this one, the key is to dig and find some examples that could prove the interviewer otherwise. You need to be able to tell your employment history as a story where the seven competencies are the constant pattern and you are a consistent kind of hero.

Let's admit it, your work experience will not always be a picture perfect story and you are probably not equally competent in all the  areas. However, what they really need is a candidate whose competencies, strengths and defaults are well-balanced, not someone who is perfect ( you will never get  a 100% anyway). So at times- and I know it is not a popular thing to say- you will need to make reality a bit nicer. A bit of frosting on the cake. If one one occasion you really lost it or just felt really down, use the example to show how you got up later.  If you want to have a good chance at the structured interview you will need to show you are a very strong candidate- very resilient, organised, motivated, determined, flexible, communicative and cooperative. The only way to do this is having your script ready. Do you need help with preparing your EPSO Structured interview? Contact us.