Foreign,Commonwealth and Development Office
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Foreign Office launches EU Careers Month

EU Careers Month starts on 7 February as part of the Foreign Office's campaign to encourage the UK's top calibre graduates to apply for jobs in the EU Civil Service.

The Campaign will include a raft of online information to raise awareness about what working in the EU involves and how to get through the selection process. Potential applicants will have ready access to blogs, videos and case studies of British staff working in Brussels. They’ll also learn why some graduates have decided to leave their jobs in the UK to embark on a career in the EU Civil Service. The campaign aims to highlight the excellent job opportunities available for Britain’s brightest graduates with French or German language skills.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I’m backing this campaign for UK graduates to look at the EU’s Civil Service as a career destination. It could give you the chance to help the countries of Europe shape the European Union’s future direction. If you’re concerned about big policy issues, want to learn about international negotiations or fascinated by European cultures and languages, you may find the job you’re looking for with the EU.”

Minister for Europe David Lidington said:

“This campaign aims to increase the number of UK graduates applying for the next round of the EU Civil Service’s recruitment competition. The UK only makes up 6% of the EU’s workforce despite representing 12% of the EU’s population.  In last year’s recruitment competition – the assessment taken by graduates to secure a job in one of the EU institutions - the UK produced the lowest number of applicants of all EU member states. I’d encourage anyone who is interested in an EU career to visit the online campaign"

A recent Foreign and Commonwealth Office survey of 2,200 university students showed that undergraduates at UK universities don’t know enough about the employment opportunities within the EU civil service.  It showed that although just over half of the respondents wanted to work for an international organisation, 81% of them had never heard of the EU recruitment competition or official assessment process.

Having British people in the EU civil service helps facilitate understanding of UK culture when the legislative proposals are drafted.

Further information

More information on EU Careers Month

Britain and the EU


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