The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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thelinguist.uberflip.com JUNE/JULY The Linguist 23 or called by a totally different institution. To increase your chances of the interview going well, do bear in mind the following: • Research as much as you can. Try to find out about the particular institution and its role, and the recruiting department and its role within the institution. Advance preparation also increases your confidence, which comes across during interview. It is not always easy to find the information, but there are ways. EPSO has Staff Ambassadors who can provide information about their work. Information is regularly posted on YouTube, Facebook (see 'Translating for Europe'), and dedicated websites such as http:// ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/index_en.htm. The Commission's Representations in each Member State can also offer advice (Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) Field Officers in the Commission Representations in London, for example). • Try to predict some of the questions without rehearsing answers that then seem off pat. It is important to note that the interview panel is not looking for 'right' or 'wrong' answers, and they will not ask trick questions designed to catch you out. They are trying to gauge how much you know about the process of translation as an intellectual activity (as distinct from a lucky shot on the day of the test), how you would fit in with the team etc. An open competition is for an entry-level grade where no previous experience is required. From a head of unit's viewpoint it is nice to have a candidate with some professional translation experience, but it is not a requirement. • Use real-life examples to demonstrate where you have applied claimed abilities. Anyone can claim they are a good communicator, for example, but it impresses an interview panel more if you go on to describe an actual presentation you had to give, a contract won as a result, etc. • Don't be afraid to say 'I don't know' in answer to a question. Acknowledging what you don't know is far better than pretending otherwise. Meaningless waffle never goes down well, but neither do monosyllabic answers. Finding the balance is a skill that can be practised. If you find yourself sitting on a reserve list without that all-important call, be aware that it can take time (years in some cases). In the meantime, consider up-skilling by learning another language that will catch a recruiter's eye (especially true for the Commission), and then updating the eCV in your EPSO account. In the case of language departments where translation out of English is the staple diet, expertise in a particular subject area, such as finance, law, medicine or engineering, is of particular interest. If you have or gain any specialist qualifications, ensure that EPSO and the various institutions' human resources departments are aware of them via your eCV. Contract and temporary staff The institutions sometimes need contract (aka 'CAST' staff) and temporary staff. CAST selections for translators are infrequent. They are also organised through the EPSO site, so you should check it regularly for details. Selection procedures for temporary staff are organised directly by the recruiting institution, sometimes in cooperation with EPSO, to cover a temporary capacity shortfall. The recruiting institution organises a slimmed-down version of the normal selection procedure, ending in the production of a reserve list. The procedure usually involves a call for applications, an assessment of qualifications to establish a candidate's eligibility, two translation tests and a competitive interview. The institution can specify the particular language combinations it wants, so these temporary staff selections can often be more restrictive than open competitions. The employment terms and conditions of CAST and temporary staff differ somewhat but both contracts are strictly limited in time. The recruiting institution usually advertises temporary selection procedures through social media, notices in professional publications, professional organisations, university careers offices, and dedicated web pages such as the DGT website's 'Work with us' section (http:// ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/workwithus). Two calls for applications for temporary translation posts will be published in June: one for Chinese to English and one for a range of languages. For details, check the EPSO website (http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm). You may be tempted to offer a language such as Hungarian on the basis of a rapid self- learning course. Don't A TESTING PROCESS Recruitment competition exams organised by the European Communities Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)