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thelinguist.uberflip.com APrIL/MAY The Linguist 29 OPINION & COMMENT Michelle Homden MCIL is a translator at the Directorate- General for Translation in Brussels. TL A staff translator for the EU shares her experiences of her first year in the role MICHELLE HOMDEN In July 2013, the european Personnel Selection office (ePSo) announced an open competition for translators into english. there were nine places for candidates with both French and German, and 40 for those with either French or German and any one of the other 22 official eu languages. A university degree in any discipline and eu-citizenship were also required. As a freelance translator of French and Spanish, and an enduring europhile, I saw a great opportunity. the first stage of recruitment involved five computer-based competency tests, which I sat in London. My three languages were tested, along with arithmetic and 'abstract reasoning' (identifying sequences of diagrams). the ePSo website provided samples of these tests which, I discovered, were standard recruitment tools. the internet yielded plenty more for practice. the results were out in two months. of 1,339 candidates, 176 had qualified for the next stage: translation tests. there were two newspaper articles to translate in restricted time. As with the cIoL Diploma in translation, candidates could bring their own Working for Europe reference material, but there was no internet access. Being accustomed to online dictionaries, I practised using paper versions and rediscovered a lost pleasure. Four months later, 61 candidates were invited to the ePSo centre in Brussels for interviews in either French or German. to improve my spoken French, and my confidence, I had conversation classes by Skype. I also had telephone-coaching from a British embassy representative in Brussels, who reassured me that, as long as I could communicate in French, the odd grammatical error would be overlooked. In the event, the ePSo examiners seemed to come from a variety of Member States. using French as a genuine lingua franca was actually enjoyable. the aim of the day was to test competencies such as problem-solving, communicating, team work and resilience. In the structured interview I was asked about past failures, difficult experiences, how I had coped, what I had learnt and, even, whether I had ever known rejection. the next activity involved assimilating information and giving a ten-minute presentation followed by questions. Before we began, an examiner told me that it was role-play. I was grateful. As my presentation collapsed under his rigorous criticism, I remembered that he was playing a game and that I should play too. In the detailed feedback provided by ePSo, I was gratified to learn that I had appeared calm under pressure. Finally there was a group activity with two other candidates from the uk and two from Ireland. In our brief preparation time, we agreed that we were team-mates not rivals. With the examiners silently encircling us, we exchanged views, agreed solutions, listened attentively and paid each other gracious compliments. Later, in a nearby bar, the consensus was that the day had been very demanding but also exhilarating – challenging but not unfair. August 2014 saw publication of the list of successful candidates. the list is valid for at least two years but I was invited for interview within weeks. I later learnt that several long- serving staff had recently retired, creating a need for certain language combinations. on 1 January 2015, I became an official of the european commission in the Directorate- General for translation. one month after ending my freelance status, I am still adjusting. carefully nurtured client relationships have been severed. Now I am handed documents to translate, which seems like a luxury. copious reference material is supplied – online and through the in-house library – meaning personal subscriptions do not need renewing. If a query about a translation arises, the appropriate person can be contacted: no more fielding questions through agency project managers. I am on probation for nine months. Possibly my perspective will change. taking up this post meant leaving London after 17 years. the commission resettlement package is generous. housing is not provided but there is help and advice, including lawyers to scrutinise property contracts. comfortable, affordable accommodation – now mythological in London – really exists in Brussels. A bilingual country is a stimulating environment for any linguist, and experiencing a multilingual institution such as the european union promises to be fascinating.