Thursday 21 February 2013

A short guide on lobbying

Lobbying: to do, or not to do? That is the question.

Everywhere the traineeships are being discussed, the lobbying issue raises. In my opinion, don't hesitate, do it! I have done it during the selection process for the European Commission traineeship, everyone else commenting in the internet forae that I have consulted during that time was doing it, everyone I know who did this traineeship in the past did it... so, don't think too much about and just accept that you have to do it too. It's inevitable!

As for the European Commission traineeship, here's a step-by-step description of what I personaly have done:

1st step: once you have sent your application, there's not much you can do until the selection phase approaches. But you can prepare the lobbying which you are supposed to do once you know you have been pre-selected.

2nd step: go to the EC website and check all the DGs that exist and, within them, all of its Units. As you you will see, there are plenty of them, so check the organizational chart for each DG that appeals to your interest.

3rd step: choose the Units that interest you and find the contacts of their Heads of Unit / Deputy Heads of Units. In the organizational chart for each DG you will normaly find these persons' names and then it's easy to find their e-mails (even though they are not displayed online). All e-mails from the EC are construed the following way: firstname.surname@ec.europa.eu. You can also google the person's name followed by @ec.europa.eu and usualy you'll find an official document from the EC which will have their complete e-mail address among the results.

4th step: prepare an e-mail adapted to each Unit, to be sent the persons mentioned above. The e-mail that I sent had the following wording:

Dear Mr. *,
I was pre-selected as a Blue Book trainee for the traineeship in the European Commission starting in March 2013 and am very interested in taking part of it in the * Unit. I am a * years old *, with interest in *, having worked in that area of practice for the last * years in *. As such, a traineeship in your unit would be of great interest for me and I believe I can contribute to it with both my academic knowledge and my previous professional experience, both of which perfectly suit the work there performed.
Please find enclosed my CV for your reference and let me know if you need any further information. I am available for a phone or Skype interview, as you may deem convenient.
My contacts are:
E-mail: *
Telephone: *
Candidate number on Blue Book: *
I really look forward to hearing from you, as it would be a privilege for me to work in your team.
Thank you and best regards,
Mariana

5th step: attach your CV. In this case, I have made a shorter version of my CV (just one page), I didn't send it in the European format.

6th step: have all those e-mails saved in the "drafts" folder and ready to be sent immediatly after you receive the confirmation from the Traineeship Office that you were pre-selected. It is quite important that you are fast to send them after being pre-selected, as many Units are very quick on choosing their trainees (and you have to imagine that hundreds of other candidates are doing the same as you).

7th step: wait :) for answers and phonecalls. In case you don't get an answer from an Unit within the first or second weeks, you can insist with an e-mail of this type (I did so):

Dear *,
I wanted to confirm that you received my e-mail below and ask you to consider my application for the selection process, in case your Unit is hosting a Blue Book trainee for the next session. Do not hesitate to contact me regarding any clarification you may need.
Thanks and best regards,
Mariana

Et voilá, that's it! With some luck in the middle everything will work out and soon enough you'll have some contacts and interviews. But, if you don't, do not despair and start thinking you're not going to be chosen: there are many Units that don't do interviews or reply to these e-mails, yet they read them and choose you without telling you anything about it. So you may even receive a great surprise in the end!

As for me, I selected several Units in which I was interested to lobby and 4 of them told me I was on their selected list (with 3 I had phone interviews and one only an e-mail reply), but that I should wait for the official confirmation from the Traineeship Office. Apart from that, I got many nice answers from other Units, either saying that their Unit was not going to host any trainees this season, or that they had already picked another trainee. I would say I got a reply from 90% of the Units I lobbyied to and everyone was quite nice, so I haven't got any single bad reaction to the lobbying.

In the end, I was selected by the first Unit which interviewed me (just one day after I got the confirmation that I had been pre-selected, so also just one day after I sent the lobbying e-mail). The rule here is "first come, first served", so whichever Unit reserves you first on the Blue Book, that's the Unit which will "take" you.

Good luck to everyone who is applying!

123 comments:

  1. Thank you very much for all usefull informations that you gave us. Now we have to wait for the verdict and then we will be lobbying:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi!
    Just a question, for example the Units from de DGs Justice are Interinstitutional and international relations, General justice policies and judicial systems and Programming, evaluation
    and communication, right?
    Like you see in this organigramme: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/about/files/organisation_chart_en.pdf

    Thank you for your attention :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Filipa,

      Indeed, those are some of the units, but then the others under directorates A, B, C and D (like A.1, A.2, etc) are units, as well :)

      Delete
  3. I've submitted my application at the end of january and I'm still waiting for the preselection. I want to ask you, for the lobbying part, is it best to wait till you know you're preselected?

    Thanks in advance :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Sophie,

    Lobbying only makes sense when you know you have been pre-selected, as that is also when the Units will have access to the Blue Book. However, you shoul prepare the lobby emails before knowing you were pre-selected, so that you are fast on sending them if you're selected, as many more candidates will be doing the same.

    The pre-selection results for your session should be out in April, so you should be preparing the lobbying now.

    Best of luck,
    Mariana

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello! Just a quick information: I've been pre-selected and I am in the blue-book for the 2013 session but unfortunately I've not been selected to start my traineeship for the spring session (March 2013) buT I am still in the blue-book..I was wondering when I should start lobbying for the other session (october 2013).

    Thanks ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      May I ask you, are you assuming you're in the Blue Book for the October session just because you were in the Blue Book for the March session and ended up not being selected? Because if that is the case, unfortunately you're not in the Blue Book for the October session, as everyone who doesn't get selected needs to reapply for the consecutive sessions if they want to try to be selected again. There is no authomatic transposition of the pre-selected but not selected candidates to the Blue Book of the next session. Basicaly, as mentioned, once you get the confirmation you have not been selected, you have to apply again and repeat all steps taken.

      In any case, people who applied for the October session will know if they were pre-selected until the end of April and when they get the confirmation they were pre-selected indeed, that's when the lobbying shall start.

      Best of luck,
      Mariana

      Delete
  6. "...just accept that you have to do it too. It's inevitable!"

    Just for the record, I didn't lobby and I had no interviews, and I was selected. And I know other people for whom it had happen the same...
    So, I wouldn't say that it's inevitable ;)...

    I wish you a very nice traineeship! I hope you are enjoying it.

    Take care,
    Zé Pedro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Zé Pedro,

      You were really "lucky", then (I put it between commas because you have your merit and that's why you were chosen, of course, but I think for most people and DGs it is necessary to do these steps in order to get noticed).

      I have heard meanwhile that in some DGs (like DG COMP, for instance) they decide very quickly and are indifferent to lobbying, so in those cases it is indifferent if you do it, i guess. However, to the DGs I applied (and from the feedback I got from other people), in most cases it seems really inevitable to do these in order to stand out from the rest of the candidates.

      I am really enjoying the traineeship indeed :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  7. Hello Mariana,

    Thank you for your blog and your advices! I think it helps really a lot! Just one more question: Did you aplied in one DG only for one unit? Or it is better, if you do lobby in one DG to 2,3, or more units?
    Thank you,

    Regards,
    Z

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Thank you for your message :) I have lobbied to more than one Unit within the same DG, yes. It is okay to do so, don't worry because the Head of Unit are not going to talk with each other about the lobbying emails they got in order to find out if they were the same... I would say: just lobby to whatever units you like and you think your profile fits, it doesn't matter if they are all within the same DG.

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  8. Hi Mariana,

    I love your blog. I applied for the March session, got preselected, lobbied, but didn't make it through. Now I'm trying again. I just wanted to ask you this: you basically just write a short lobbying letter introducing yourself (the way you show above) or is it okay to make it a little longer and a little more like a normal application? Or do you think that'd be too much and they won't read it anyway?

    Keep on writing!
    Ana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ana!

      Thanks for your message :) As for your question, I really think short is better. These Heads of Unit are really busy people who don't have much time to spend with this blue book thing and they have lots of long emails and documents to read everyday, so I assume their patience to do the same regarding an application for a traineeship is not much. I think the best is to condensate the most important points on why your profile is relevant to that Unit in a short and clear text, that will capture their attention and make them want to choose you. Even the CV I attached was only 1 page long and very short and direct to the point.

      I wish you the best of luck this time and hope you can make it :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Thanks a lot!

      Delete
  9. on the website of EuroCommission it is stated that all candidades gonna receive a feedback about the results of their application around mid May for the traineeship period startign from the 1st of October. mid May is right now but still no email...has somebody received already an email? as far as i know first hey notify selected candidates, then - others. is that true?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      They should notify all candidates at the same time of the pre-selection results. As for the selection results, in my session there were some candidates who only found out they had been selected 2 weeks after the rest of us, because they were from the non-EU contingent.

      As far as I know, no pre-selection results for the October 2013 session were yet published. They are probably struggling with the high number of applicants that session has had, so the deadline was not fulfilled. But wait patiently because they should come out soon!

      Best of luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  10. Hi Mariana, your blog is being really helpful! Thank you for sharing all that infotmation! :D
    I have a question- I know that traineeships are carried out in some European Union's bodies and agencies. Does the preselection letter includes their contact lists? I mean can I lobby for them and how do I know If they are seeking for applicants?
    Thanks,
    Plam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Plam,

      Thank you for your message. Yes, you can lobby for the Agencies as well. In fact, I have met many trainees already that were placed in the Agencies.

      I don't remember if the pre-selection email included their contacts, but even for the DGs it only included a general email which is not so helpful as your lobbying should be directed towards the Heads of Unit and not to some general email managed by the HR. So, in any case, you should do the search yourselv for the relevant contacts wherever you want to do your traineeship and lobby to them.

      As to knowing if they're seeking to applicants, it is not possible to know that (unless you know someone working in that Unit in the EC that can tell you that information). That's why it is good to lobby to several Units, because you never know if they are hosting a trainee for that session, or not.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much for your fast response! :D

      Delete
  11. Dear Mariana,
    I'm afraid I made a major faux pas and accidentally sent a lobbying email to the Head of the DG itself. Do you think this will be very bad thing for me? :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Page,

      Of course there's no problem! Don't worry, they get dozens of emails per day and the reasoning behind not sending the lobbying emails to the Directors, but to the Heads of Unit instead, is simply because the Heads of Units are the ones in charge of the selection of trainees. No-one gets offended because of these things and the Director may even forward your email to the competent person, if he/she sees it and are nice :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Oh thanks so much! And thanks for this blog as well :)

      Delete
  12. Dear Mariana,

    Thank you for this useful blog. I received yesterday the email of preselection. Honestly I had no idea of all this lobbying procedure and I'm a bit confused. Is there special units within the DGs for lawyers? As I'm already holding a master degree in human rights and currently completing another one in economical european law (competition law mostly) I have no idea what could be the most relevant choice for me...

    Thanks again
    Adrianne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Adrienne,

      There are no specific Units for lawyers, but there are obviously some Units whose work is more directed towards people who have a legal background. I am a lawyer as well and am in DG Justice, where I would say 90% of the people working there are lawyers. That may be a good choice for you too, as we have several units related to Human and Fundamental Rights. Also, for what you describe, DG Competition and DG Economic and Financial Affairs may be good choices too. Check in the EC website the full list of DGs and enter the pages of each of them that you may find interesting and then you'll have access to information on what they are working on and which units exist there, that will probably make you understand already that your profile fits any of them.

      And if you wrote in your application that you're doing a Master related to Competition law (specially if you mentioned the word "competition" somewhere), it may be likely that you get a call from DG COMP even with no lobbying at all. That DG is known for being super quick in choosing their trainees and for paying a lot of attention on where the blue book opens for consultation and immediately searching for trainees with a background on "competition", trying to reserve "the best" right away.

      So, good luck :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Thank you for the answer.
      I'll send an updated CV to the DG COMP (I have for the moment only an academic background in competition but I'll join a competition law firm in july). I was thinking about the DG Taxation and Custom Union, and Legal service, but what I 'm really interested in is economical development. Have you any suggestion on the most appropriate units for lawyers in DG development and cooperation (EuropeAid)?

      Regards,
      Adrianne

      Delete
    3. Hi again,

      I have two friends who are lawyers and they're trainees now in DG TAXUD, so even though it is a DG with a lot of economists, lawyers are needed as well. I also have an economic and financial law background and at the time was interviewed and included in the selected list by an Unit in DG DEVCO (A4. Budget Support, Public Finance and Macroeconomic Analysis), but that will probably mean they won't have any trainees for your session (usually it is rotative between the units, so the ones hosting trainees now will most likely not have them in the next session).

      I don't have any more suggestions, it is up to you to do a bit of research and see which Units interest you and fit your profile and apply to them (you don't loose much in doing so, if they're not looking for a lawyer they will simply not select yo, but send to as many as you like anyway).

      Mariana

      Delete
    4. Hi Mariana,

      Im interested in dg taxud. Is it true that if they're having trainees in march (your friends) they won't have any in october? This dg is quite enigmatic, with little info on the selection on forum etc. Did your friends had interviews?

      I honestly didn't think that this selection will be so stressful!

      Regards
      Kate

      Delete
    5. Hello,

      Yes, I know 3 trainees in DG TAXUD (and they have more, around 13 I suppose). What it means (and this goes for any DG, not just this one) is that the Units that currently have a trainee in our session, will probably not be allowed to host one in the next session (the October one). The scheme is rotative, so that all Units can benefit from having a Blue Book trainee. I suppose sometimes this can have exceptions, maybe in big Units with a lot of work, but in most cases it works like that.

      So, DG TAXUD will of course host some trainees, but most likely not in the Units where there are trainees now. As for interviews, one of my friends didn't have any (she lobbyied to that Unit, but never got a response to her email nor a interview and in the end got the official email with the offer for that Unit). I know the other two didn't lobby at all and were picked, but I don't know if they had interviews.

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  13. Thank you so much!

    Best,
    Adrianne

    ReplyDelete
  14. How does 17 e-mails sent sound like? It is a sufficient number?
    Best,
    Oana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Oana,

      Well, that is hard to tell :) One email is enough, if it goes to the right Unit that thinks you'll be the right trainee for them! So one never knows. As long as you send them to Units that indeed are related to your profile and that interest you, it should be fine.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  15. Hi Mariana,

    Thank you for this blog: really helpful! I do have one question concerning lobbying. I am interested in DG Justice and I have sent e-mails to the Directorate heads (Nemitz, Knudsen, Michou and Ciobanu-Dordea). However I am also interested in what falls within them, such as D2 (gender equality) and B3 (drugs): should I also e-mail them (Spinant, Bankier) OR may I assume that the heads will pass my e-mail, if it is interesting, to the specific parts (so Nemitz, C, will forward my e-mail to C1, C2 and C3). Do you understand my question?

    Thank you in advance and keep up the good work! Also, have fun in Brussels. Best,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Thanks for your message. Actually, you should send to the Heads of Unit, who are the heads of D2 (gender equality) and B3 (drugs), for example. The "Directorate heads", as you mentioned, are not involved in the selection process, such is made by each Unit, as the Units are the ones receiving the trainees. Sometimes the Directors have trainees as well, but that's more rare. So I would advise you to send the emails specifically to the Heads of the Units you're interested in, as the Directors you sent the emails to are even busier people who get tons of emails everyday in the middle of their 3472947 commitments and probably only if you're lucky in one case or another they will forward your email to the relevant Head of Unit.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  16. Hello Mariana,

    Thank you for your help! I just had one question, do you have to accept the first offer that you get? or for instance, if you have a first successful interview even though it is not your preferred choice of unit, do you kind of have an obligation to accept it? Or are you allowed to choose which one you want if you have more than one interview?

    Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I wrote about the interviews here:
      http://www.atraineeinbrussels.com/2013/02/after-lobbying-interviews.html

      One thing they will always mention to you in the interviews is that they are non-binding, which means, you can only be sure that you got your traineeship when you get the official email offer by the Traineeship Office in the end of the selection process. Usually the Heads of Unit select 3 trainees for their Unit by order of preference and indicate those names to the Traineeship Office, which will then have the final word on this. So of course it is a great sign to have interviews, but you can never be sure that will mean an offer until the confirmation is received.

      Also, this process works on a "first come, first served" basis, so the first Unit to reserve you on the Blue Book will get you as their trainee. I have heard stories of people having interviews for their favorite Units and the Heads of Unit telling them they were already reserved on the Blue Book. Then they contacted the Traineeship Office, who dealt with the question and as able to take their reservation from that other Unit and the one the trainee preferred reserved him. But this can also go wrong and in the end you don't get any of the Units at all, so I am not sure what it is best to do. In most cases you will only know for sure who picked you in the end of the selection process.

      In my case, I had 3 interviews and one email, where all Heads of Unit told me I was on their selected list that they were going to send to the Traineeship Office, but that this was non-binding, etc. So I was until the very last moment without knowing to which Unit I was going to be assigned, but confident it would be to any of these 4, which I had lobbied to, so I liked all of them. I ended up being selected by the first Unit that interviewed me (one day after I sent the lobbying email), so this confirms this really works on the "first come, first served" basis, because they must have reserved me right away in the blue book, preventing me to be chosen by other Units, even if they interviewed me and showed interest in having me as their trainee.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  17. Hi Marianna,
    I just want to write that your blog is wonderful!
    All the best,
    Ania

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi,

    I have been pre-selected and was just wondering in terms of work experience (technical vs political work), what would you suggest - going for a cabinet or DG stagiare position? Thanks :)

    Regards,

    Ann.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I am not sure I understand your question: what do you mean " going for a cabinet or DG stagiare position"? Me (and all trainees I know) are in Units within the DGs or in Executive Agencies, so the work is rather technical and not political. I know one atypical trainee who's assisting a Director of a Directorate within a DG, but I believe his work is more administrative rather than political (as the Director's work is not much political at all). So, in fact, I don't know any trainee who's doing a political work in his traineeship.

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  19. Hello Mariana,

    your blog became an emergency address for all the trainee-wannabees :) thanks for that!

    I have a question. How bad is it not to get any calls or not generic emails from the dgs I lobbied to (or others as a matter of fact)? Im getting a bit anxious, since it might mean I am not interesting to them...
    Katia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Katia,

      Thanks for your message :) don't worry! I mean, it is of course reassuring to get some replies or interviews, but I know people who didn't lobby at all and they were picked and also people who lobbied, didn't get any reply or interviews and in the end were picked by one of the Units they had lobbied to. So now you just have to wait (I know it's though and that it is still far away the selection announcement date), just do your best in showing interest to the Units that suit your profile and hope for the best :)

      Good luck!

      Best regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Katia is the same for me! :( I'm getting worried and worried because no calls at all. :( Maybe, I don't have any chance! What do you think Mariana?
      ps. The DG I had applied for is DEVCO-ECHO! Do you have any information about them? thanks a lot in advance!

      Delete
    3. Hello,

      As I said, I know people who didn't lobby at all and they were picked and also people who lobbied, didn't get any reply or interviews and in the end were picked by one of the Units they had lobbied to. So now you just have to wait :) or do the follow-up emails like I suggest in this post to the Units that didn't reply anything.

      I don't know anything about the DGs you mention. Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  20. Hi Mariana,

    I had my lobby e-mails ready when the preselection mail came, and sent them immediately last Friday. I only got 2 replies. Now I'm wondering if I should do what you did, send follow-up e-mails. Do you think it's too soon to send them tomorrow morning? (considering that even though I did send them on Friday after the preselection e-mail, they probably only started looking at themm last Tuesday.

    Thanks,
    Ana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ana,

      Yes, I think it may be too soon. I only sent the follow-up emails within 2 or 3 weeks after having sent the first ones, so I think you should wait a little bit more :)

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Thanks for your advice!

      Delete
  21. Hi Mariana,
    do you think it can be useful to go to visit personally each dg giving the CV?

    Thank you for this blog!

    Liz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Liz,

      I have never heard of someone doing so. And actually, to enter any Commission building, you must have a badge, so you wouldn't be allowed in and would have to leave your CV to the security people (which I am not sure they would accept it either) for them to deliver to the Head of Unit.

      I think it is not necessarily the best method and every year all trainees (or almost all of them, as I am not sure if anyone is doing this) get selected without being in Brussels or having any personal contact with the recruiters.

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  22. Hello Mariana,

    I am pre-selected now, and today is saturday. I washed my clothes downstairs today, and when I come back into my room, I had 10 missed calls from a private number. So, what do you mean? It is possible, that the Commission called me on saturday, from 11:58 ...to 12:38 o clock? and not only once, but 10 times in every seconds? I think, it was not the Commission....
    What do you think, at what time calls the Commission usually the trainees? Do they work on saturday too? I dont think so.. From monday...to friday...my handy was always with me...and I just cant believe...I was washing... and I missed my chance/ my call on saturday ...2 minutes before 12 o'clock..? Thanks for your answer...Andi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Most definitely it was no-one from the Commission, relax :) the EC is not open on Saturdays and even if some people have to work on that day, they will sure not do it to select BB trainees! And they would never call those many times in a row. So I'm positively sure it was not a call for an interview, you can have your weekend time back eheh.

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  23. Olá! Cá vai mais uma pergunta sobre o lobbying (já deves estar farta de responder a tanta coisa, mas o teu blog tem sido óptimo para tirar todas as dúvidas sobre este processo :) Os emails devem ser enviados para o Head of Unity somente ou para este e para o Deputy Head of Unity? Estou um pouco atrasada nisto, por diversos motivos, mas espero que não seja razão para não considerarem as minhas mensagens. Obrigada e parabéns pelo blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Olá!

      Se para a Unidade em causa encontrares o contacto do Deputy Head of Unity, inclui-o no email em Cc. O Deputy Head of Unity é uma espécie de Vice-Head of Unit, por isso normalmente também está envolvido nestas questões do recrutamento.

      Boa sorte :)

      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Por acaso encontrei os nomes dos Deputy Head of Unit em todas as unidades para as quais vou enviar os emails, daí ter ficado na dúvida. Obrigada :)

      Delete
  24. Hello, Mariana!

    Thanks so, much, you're just great! Sorry for asking you yet another question, but I'm reading all possible information about the lobbying and in one blog a candidate said that both DG Communication and DG EAC sent them:
    "It is not necessary to send your cv again to DG EAC since all the relevant information you mentioned in your application form figures in the "Virtual Blue Book" and is available to the people responsible for the trainee's selection (except all personal details)."
    Does this mean that you should NOT lobby for those two DGs? They are the ones I'm interested actually. What is more, I received the preselection e-mail 9 days ago, and I still have not send any e-mails. I'm really confused what to do..

    Thanks for your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Thanks for your message. The person who got that response has sent the emails to whom in DG COMM and DG EAC? Because he/she might have sent them to that general email address that is provided in the pre-selection email, or just to a specific Unit that doesn't appreciate lobbying. But that doesn't mean that all Units within those two DGs share of the same opinion, or that they wouldn't appreciate receiving interest actions from the candidates.

      I would suggest you try to figure out who has this person lobbied to that awarded him/her that response and then probably to not do the same for that specific Unit, but try to do it for others you're interested in. The "worse" that can happen is receiving yourself a similar email, which is pretty inconsequent, so I think it is worth the try.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Wow, you answered me so quickly!:) Amazing and thank you so much!

      It's true, when I read it more carefully, it seems that one of the candidates received from the DG(I guess he/she used the general e-mail) and the other received that answer from Directorate D in Communication, which I guess it's not that specific neither.:)

      So, thank you for the advice and I will still go for contacting the HoU-s, although it still so very very late.

      Good luck with the blog! You're helping us all a lot!

      Delete
    3. Actually i sent emails to several units in the DG EAC (to head of unity and deputy head of unity) and the reply is the same: "It is not necessary to send your cv again to DG EAC since all the relevant information you mentioned in your application form figures in the "Virtual Blue Book" and is available to the people responsible for the trainee's selection (except all personal details)" I think this doesn't mean that they're upset with lobbying, but they are considering our applications. I imagine this process takes time and there's a lot of people involved. And like Mariana said, it might be nothing, just the usual procedures of those specific unities.

      Delete
    4. Yes, exactly! From the 10 e-mails I've sent in total to DG COMM and DG EAC, I have received 5 replays, with the text you quoted.

      What is more, half an hour ago I received an e-mail that totally puzzled me :

      Thank you for your interest in career opportunities in the Directorate-General for Education and Culture.

      In our DG, the selection of a suitable candidate is carried out firstly by the unit looking to recruit new staff, as heads of unit are better placed to assess the profiles they need. Should you not have done it yet, I suggest you submit your application via the Europa website (EU CV online section) http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/cvonline/index_en.htm, this being the fastest and most effective way of bringing your CV to the attention of all the Commission’s services. This computer application can be consulted by all human resources managers and other managers in the European Commission, notably our DG heads of unit. Should your profile and status match the requirements of a current vacancy, you may be contacted. It is therefore not necessary or advisable to continue sending your CV to other persons in the DG.

      Please be aware that most posts at the European Commission are reserved for winners of EPSO competitions (for permanent officials' posts) and EPSO tests (for contract agents' posts). For these positions, should there be no suitable internal candidate, we recruit persons from the reserve lists. For your information, DG EAC has a total staff of around 625, of which about 90% are permanent officials.

      Detailed information on career opportunities at the European Commission can be found on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO): http://europa.eu/epso/.

      In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of personal data, I inform you that the information you have supplied will not be kept by our services.

      I think this is a misunderstanding, right? It's like they did not understand I am a preselected candidate, but rather just "spontaneously" applying.

      Delete
    5. Hey there!

      Yes, it is the same answer I received to the half of the e-mails I've sent(both the DG COMM and DG EAC):(

      It really looks like those two units are upset with lobbying...

      Hope, it does not backfire in the end, cause they are the ones I'm the most interested in.

      Delete
    6. Hi! I've been told that in the begining, the departments didn't appreciate lobbying, but everyone started to do it, so it's accepted as common but not official practice, and by the examples i've been reading, it seems to work.
      Apparently, every unit has its own procedures and maybe these ones in particular don't like to receive these emails.
      I've been reading a lot of speculation and i'm trying not to freak out, but the truth is that i haven't received any replies or contacts for interviews :/
      Let's hope that everything will work out in the end :)

      Delete
    7. I just got another similar reply from other unity of the same department. I think this confirms that the selection will not take lobbying into consideration.

      Delete
  25. Hi there,
    I've received the same automatic email response type from 2 directorates of DG.COMM, to whom i had sent a previous "lobbying" mail.
    I've sent several emails to others Units, and i'm still waiting for an answer.

    Let's pray...

    Boa sorte por terras de Bruxelas e obrigado pelas dicas! :)

    André

    ReplyDelete
  26. hi Mariana,

    do you know if there is any chance to get any info on the "current stage of the application" from the traineeship office? I mean stuff like if I got shortlisted or so. That would calm my nerves a bit but I dont know if they even give such info per email..

    best wishes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      No, it is not possible to obtain that kind of information. Even if you are interviewed by an Unit and they mention they have put you on their selected list, that information is non-binding. The Traineeship Office has the final word on selection and will send everyone a confirmation of selection/non-selection at the same time and that is the only official confirmation you will obtain.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  27. Hello Mariana!

    First of all thank you a lot for this absolutely wonderful blog! It is a sourse of precious information for hundreds of lost candudates! :) What a pity that I discovered it so late!

    I lobbied for ECHO B1 unit and got an email from a person asking for my CV. I sent it immediately. It was on 23 of May. Do you think is it a proper time to send follow-up email? And what should I write in it? Is it enough just to ask kindly for the update regarding the postion of trainnee?

    Best, Aleksandra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Aleksandra,

      Thanks for your comment. I think next week could be good to send a follow-up email :) you can send an email in the style of the one I post here, just requesting a confirmation that they have received your CV, re-enforcing your interest in the Unit and making yourself available for further contacts.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Thank you Mariana! Hope that rains in Brussels don't let you down :)

      Delete
  28. Hi Mariana, thanks a lot for your interesting blog. I have a question. I got a phone call last week from a DG. THe woman on the phone asked me if I was available for a trainneship in their Unit. I said yes and she replied: ok, I'll put your name into the list of our preselected trainees etc... What does it mean? Actually, what should I expect?thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Thank you for your comment. During the selection phase, every Unit will make a list of their 3 to 5 favorite candidates by order of preference and will send it to the Traineeship Office, which has the final word on the selection. This means you're on that list by that Unit, which is of course good, but one can only be sure of the results when the Traineeship Office officialy notifies them.

      Good luck :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  29. Dear Mariana,

    Question again from a Blue Book Trainee.....:)
    Did you received any answers or phone calls after sending out your follow up e-mails? Do you think it is really has a sence? I have somehow the feeling, the former 2 weeks were the most important in the selection process....Can I really increase my chance with the follow-up emails?
    Thanks in advance, and your blog is great, we love it!
    Blue Book Trainee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Thanks for your message. Indeed, I can tell you that I had an answer to almost all of my follow-up emails! Some didn't answer me to the first ones, but to the second almost all responded. Most of the times it was to say their Units were not hosting any trainees, or that they had selected theirs already... but some said they would forward my email to the responsible people. And anyway, it was good to know what I could count on at least, I prefer to now that a certain Unit was not going to host trainees rather than imagining my email could have been useful in some way.

      I had an interview around 3 weeks after I had my first interview, so some Units may be doing the selection until the very end, who knows. Don't lose your hope! And one of the answers I got the follow up emails was that I was on the selected list for that Unit, with no previous interviews no nothing, so that was good to know (maybe if I didn't send the follow-up email I would never know they had indicated me!).

      I would advice you to go on with the follow up thing, I don't see anything you can lose and maybe there's something to gain.

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  30. Hi Mariana,

    I received an email saying that a DG officially booked me as their trainee, congratulations and bla bla (dunno which unit, area etc). And that the TO will send me the contract and after signing my traineeship is certain.

    What does this euro-language mean, can I celebrate or is it almost certain yet not 100 % sure? (due to nationality quota and such things?). Or is it just that they put me on their preferred 3 candidates list. No idea. They don't even reply to my questions.

    thanks in advance for your time :)
    Katia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Katia,

      Thanks for your message. I would say "it is almost certain yet not 100 % sure". Most likely they indicated you as their #1 choice and reserved you on the blue book, so it is almost certain you will get a traineeship there, but the final word is always of the Traineeship Office and they can make adjustments (for example, for nationality quotas, as you mention). Actually, there is an internal procedure that Units are supposed to follow when making selection and it specifically mentions they should never give a definitive answer to a trainee or imply they are being given an offer or a contract... as it is the Traineeship Office's role to do so officially and in the end, at the same time for all.

      So, I think you can be pretty confident, yet only sure when that official offer comes :)

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  31. I received the same email. "you have been officially booked" " we hope to see you in October." " you should receive all the necessary documents within the next month".

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dear Mariana,

    you are great for providing us with so much helpful information and it's a pitty that I did not discover you blog earlier. I already sent a couple of emails to the DGs I am interested in and unfortunatelly only to one concrete unit within the legal service (for I have not read your blog before that). But to keep it short: Do you think, it would still make sence to lobby the units directly or is it too late (for just now I understood that I have friend working commission who can even provide me with the phone numbers of the accordant heads of units).
    Seconly and lastly, if somebody invites you for an interview (which just happend to me) does that mean that you still have not been reserved by any DG - otherwise it would not make sence for them to interview you. And actually, what is the difference between reserving a candidate and putting him on your list of preferred candidates that you send to the Traineeship office at the end.

    Best Regards
    Georgi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Georgi,

      Thank you for your message. I think it would still make sense to lobby. I did it all in the beginning and the last interview I had was probably 2 weeks before the official confirmation email, so supposedly "late" as regards the others. Some Units do the selection later on and I see no harm (and maybe some good!) in lobbying now, so why not give it a try?

      As for your other question, I have to admit I still don't know the answer :) I was invited by the first Unit that interviewed me and that said to have reserved me in the blue book, yet I had 2 other Units interviewing me afterwards and another one which just sent an email, all those 3 saying I was on their selected list. So maybe some Units don't even look at the blue book to see if the candidate is reserved and pay attention only to what is sent to them in the lobbying emails, hence including the candidates in their lists without seeing if they had been previously reserved (that is why they indicate 3-5 candidates, so that there's more choice in case one or more are already reserved).

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  33. Hi Mariana,

    Would you happen to know if DG Trade is accepting trainees for October 2013? There seem to be a lot of trade trainees for the Spring session, and I'm really worried that DG Trade won't be taking trainees for October... :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      All DGs always have trainees (between 10-15). There are many Units within each DG, so even if some are hosting trainees right now (and as the scheme is normally rotative), there will still be plenty of them to host trainees for the next session.

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  34. Dear Mariana,

    thank you very much for your fast reply - i guess I will lobby further. If you allow me, I have just one last question: I had an interview today with the EACEA (without any lobbying) and I think that it went well. They will tell me their final decision on Monday but wanted me to confirm one more time my interest in obtaining the traineeship at their legal department. I did the latter, although I understood that I would have to deal with procurement law which is not a "passion" of mine. I was just led by the thought that any place is better than no place at all:) But do you think that this was the right decision for there are so many other fields, which I find more interesting and I would literally kill myself, if the places I lobbied cannot have me because the EACEA reserved me. And do you think that it would make sence to contact the traineeship office one week prior to the final selection in order to tell them what are preferences according to the the units that indeed want to have it, so that the office can at least take this into account?
    Georgi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Georgi,

      I think that if you had had the contact from another Unit in which you were really interested saying they also wanted you, but you were already marked as reserved, then you would have basis for contacting the TO asking them for help to solve this situation. In the case you mention, you are just elaborating on having other preferences, but you are not sure if other Units tried to reserve you or were interested in your profile, yet you got contacted by one that is. In this case, I am not sure that the TO could do much. There are so many Units and areas of work in the EC, that I think it is difficult for any of us to have a preference so well defined... I believe that if you are indeed selected by this Unit, you will like your traineeship and will figure out that independently of the work that we are performing here, we will all be learning from it and having the chance to do things that we otherwise wouldn't. Maybe you'll even find out a new area of interest!

      So, good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  35. Dear Mariana

    Sorry to bother you again. I got a confirmation that I get the traineeship as long as I sign the contract and they revealed the unit- the problem is that it is absolutely not what I lobbied for or is any way linked to my profile (different area of law). I know that people would kill to get any traineeship at the EC but for me it has to match my interests. Do you think that there's a way to change it through the TO? Or will I lose both if I try ;) I dont want that the unit that chose me finds out, in the end some traineeship is better than none.

    Thanks for your help
    Katia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Katia,

      I think that if your philosophy is "in the end some traineeship is better than none" I think you should just wait and see how this will come up in the end. On the other hand, if your logic is "for me it has to match my interests", then you should just contact the Unit and tell them you're not interested in the offer as it does not match your interests. This way they can take you out of the reservation status in the Blue Book and you will be available to be reserved by other Units.

      As I mention in another post, I had 3 interviews and an email saying I was on their selected list (so, 4 Units). All of them seemed interesting to me, even though they were all dealing with different areas of law. So I just thought I would wait for the final decision to see which had picked me, I never thought about contacting the TO to ask for a specific one. In the end, a traineeship in the EC is a traineeship in the EC and I am sure you will learn and enjoy it wherever you make it (it's not a job for life, it's just an experience!).

      Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  36. Dear Mariana,
    I haven´t received any message about the preselection of my application form. How could I get information about the famous Blue Book? I thought that I would be informed about my admission or refusal to the traineeship.
    Thank you in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      You should have received an email (by middle May, I think) to let you know the outcome of the pre-selection phase: either saying you didn't get pre-selected, or to inform you that you were part of the Blue Book. If you didn't, you should just contact the Traineeship Office and ask them about your application.

      Mariana

      Delete
    2. Thank you Mariana, I have just written and here is the message I have just received:


      Dear All,

      Directorate-General for Translation has received 2348 applications in total.

      A part from the receipt of notification, you will not receive any other news.

      There is no preselection procedure in DGT.

      Only selected candidates will be personally contacted after 15th June.

      Due to the current workload, we will not be able to answer each individual email.

      Thank you for your understanding.

      DGT-Traineeships' Coordinator

      Delete
    3. Ok, so in this case you didn't explain well. I can understand from your reply that you applied for the Translation Traineeship and not for the Administrative one, right? In this case, I don't know how the procedure works, as I am doing the administrative traineeship (and that's the one the greatest amount of people apply to and have been commenting here about). Apparently, from the answer they gave you, you have to see after the 15th of June if you were selected. Good luck!

      Mariana

      Delete
  37. Dear Mariana,
    is everyone receveing a letter from the Internship Office with the result or they just will send a mail to interns selected?
    Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Everyone is notified, whether they are selected or not. Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  38. hello mariana,
    just a question, please. Do you know any 31/32 year old trainee at EC? Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Yes, I know 3 of them, actually. All from Portugal! Though there should be more from other nationalities as well, I assume.

      Mariana

      Delete
  39. Dear Mariana,

    unfortunatelly, I was not selected after all. In the email I received there was something mentioned about a "late-selection", e.g. if somebody rejects the offer made to him/her for a traineeship. Yet, I think I should not hope for a miracle:) If you have however heard about somebody who has made it through exactly within the "late-selection", please tell me - I will still try not to invest that much hope in such an outcome:)

    Anyway, I wanted to thank you one more time for the information and the advises you provided us with. You are just amazing!!!

    I wish you all the best for your future:)
    Kind regards
    Georgi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Georgi, and don't give up on trying next time! I have met a couple of people who were late-selected, yes, so it is possible :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  40. olá Mariana!
    muito boa as suas dicas, obrigada! Você saberia me dizer se eles escolhem pessoas que não são da Uniáo Europeia? Sou brasileira e estou no último ano da graduaçao (curso de 5 anos). Teria alguma chance de ser escolhida? obrigada

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Olá,

      Sim, o estágio da CE está aberto a nacionais de todos os países do mundo. No entanto, há quotas por nacionalidade e estas são maiores para os candidatos provenientes de Estados-Membros. Há depois um contingente de "países terceiros" onde cabem todas as candidaturas desses países, no qual a sua estaria inserida, por ser brasileira.

      Mas, para se candidatar a este estágio tem de já ter terminado um curso universitário (graduação), pois é necessário apresentar um comprovativo de que já se obteve uma qualificação académica.

      Boa sorte!

      Mariana

      Delete
  41. Hello Mariana, thanks a lot for your Blog, it has been really helpful!
    my question is, where to find the right email addresses of the head of units, and if all the units can be contacted regarding this, I mean if trainees can be sent to any unit, Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Thanks for your message. Tne answer to your first question is in my post:

      "3rd step: choose the Units that interest you and find the contacts of their Heads of Unit / Deputy Heads of Units. In the organizational chart for each DG you will normaly find these persons' names and then it's easy to find their e-mails (even though they are not displayed online). All e-mails from the EC are construed the following way: firstname.surname@ec.europa.eu. You can also google the person's name followed by @ec.europa.eu and usualy you'll find an official document from the EC which will have their complete e-mail address among the results."

      As for the second question, yes, all units are potentially hosting trainees every period, but of course only after contacting them directly you will be able to know if, for that period, they have been awarded a blue book trainee.

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  42. Dear Mariana,
    thank you for your nice blog and advices and all the information regarding to work/trainee in DG! It is so helpful! I applied to traineeship this year after many unsuccessful attempts at EPSO competitions (tests) for last 3 years. How do you think can this fact affect my application? I also saw the question about age here in your blog so I am a bit worry that 37 years old for a trainee can be an obstacle..?
    Thank you!
    Brigit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Brigit,

      Thanks for your message. I think that the EPSO results are meaningless when applying for a traineeship in the EC, as the people assessing your application have no information regarding your past EPSO applications.

      As for the age thing, well, the oldest trainees I met were 32, but you never know... I think you should apply anyway and you'll see :)

      Good luck!

      Best regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  43. Dear Mariana,

    I was thinking is it better to add a photo to CV or not? I mean usually when apply for a job there are preference for a photo. However I never have seen in any application (EPSO a.o.) that has to be atached a photo. So I am confused. I will appreciate your time and answer!
    Eva

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I don't know if the photo thing makes much of a difference and I guess that is a choice that means the same wether you are applying for a traineeship in the EC or for something else. In my case, I use a photo in my CV and have used one for all jobs I have applied (including the traineeship in the EC) :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  44. Dear Mariana,

    The email I received today from the EC said: Dear candidate,

    I have the pleasure to inform you that your application has been pre-identified to be included in the Blue Book for the March 2014 session.

    As stated in my previous e-mail of November the 6th, in order to be formally included in the Blue Book, you are kindly requested to provide all supporting documents, without delay, as part of the eligibility check which aims at verifying that what you have declared in your CV on-line corresponds to the proofs that you provide."

    "At the beginning of December you will receive the official confirmation of whether or not you have successfully passed the eligibility check and, therefore, been preselected for the Blue Book."

    Therefore, I understand that I should get start with the lobby only after the official confirmation, and not now, since for the moment we are not in the Blue Book (a friend of mine had a different interpretation of this email and was wondering if we should already start the lobby).

    And another question... At the moment of the application I wasn't a PhD student, but now I am and I don'd know if I should also provide a document stating that (in what way my PhD status would be a problem?)

    Thanks!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I agree with your interpretation of only sending the lobbying emails after sending all the documents needed and being confirmed you are on the blue book. As for the PhD, I believe that is irrelevant... it could count you more points to get to the blue book, but you're in the blue book already :) and for that they only take into consideration the qualifications you had at the time of applying. You can, however, mention it in your lobbying emails and maybe that will be a plus for the Units you're interested in!

      Good luck :)

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  45. Hi Mariana!
    One quick question. From your experience, do you know if DG's such as TAXUD usually call potential trainees in order to make phone interviews?
    Thanks a lot in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I have a friend who did the traineeship in DG TAXUD at the same time as I did and she was not called or emailed by her Unit (even though she had lobbied to it). That's all I know :)

      Good luck!

      Regards,
      Mariana

      Delete
  46. Do you have any info concerning the interns at the commissioner's cabinets? thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hello Mariana
    Hope you are doing great.
    Do you know anyone from South Asian Countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan who has been offered a traineeship or is it mostly the people from European countries? Just wanted to know whether there is a chance or not.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hello Mariana ! I was just wondering if you are aware of any internship/traineeship within the European Institutions that doesn't require a diploma at the time of the application.Because I am curently in my last year, soon to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in June, but I wrote to the EC , and they said unfortunately I can't apply yet , but I should do it in August for March 2014 .

    Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello!

      I am not aware of that, sorry... maybe if you try to contact a MEP of your Member State that works with issues you're interested in and explain your situation, they could have you in their cabinet? I know a French girl who was in her final year of studies and worked for 2 months with a MEP! Or possibly the atypical traineeship in the EC, though all atypical trainees I met had graduated already, but you may give it a try. It is non-paid and you just need to directly contact the Head of Unit of the Unit you would be interested in saying you are available for a certain period and would like to do an atypical traineeship there.

      Good luck :)

      Mariana

      Delete
  49. Hello Mariana!

    My name Is Alexandra, it is nice to meet you!
    First of all, I would like to congratulate you for your blog, it is more than usefull. Second, I would like to ask you, something about the short CV that one should send after the preselection phase. As I read all your tips about how one should lobby, I would very much like to know if the CV should have a picture attached and what kind of CV would you recommend if not the europass model?

    Thank you very much! Muito obrigado!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hello Mariana,
    I have one question: is the first "candidate number" you get with the online application the same ast the "blue book canidate number"? Or do you get another number after being preselected?

    Thanks,

    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hi Mariana!
    I have a problem about the pre-selection for the blue-book .When I filled the application form I wrote about three work experiences that I have really made, but I realized now that I can prove just two of them (because the first one was just a part-time job I used to make sometimes when I studied at the university and I didn't have any contract or something). Now that I have been pre-selected for the blue book, do you think it will be a problem if I ll explain them the situation? In case, do you think I could replace this work experience with another one of which I can provide the documentation required? Thank you very much!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  52. Hi Mariana,

    I got a call from DG CNECT and found out that they would like to have me on their team, so I immediately said yes even though it isn't really an area I'm interested in. I wouldn't be overly worried had the person not said that they would be "reserving me" in the Bluebook, so I'm assuming it means no one else will be contacting me (le sigh)? I didn't lobby because I am strongly opposed to such practices, but not I am starting to feel like I should have dropped my ideals and done it regardless. Anyway, sorry for all the moaning and thank you in advance for your help!

    Guillaume

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hello Marianna,

    Your blog provides the most useful information about the traineeships. Thank you!
    I hope you still respond on the question on traneeships.
    My question is the following: I have applied for Administrative internship in the area of Human Resources. Can any DG have their own HR trainee or I can be seleced only by DG HR and EMPL?

    Thank you,
    Lilit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lilit :) I think you can be selected by any DG. For instance, I did my traineeship in DG JUST and we had a Unit for HR, which could perfectly host a trainee (in my session it didn't, though).

      Delete
  54. Hello, Mariana,
    Yesterday i received an email notification that i was pre-selected. But it seems like the procedure has changed, so within the next 2 weeks I have to submit all the supporting documents in order to be pre-selected to the Blue Book. Should i still start lobbying now or wait until i pass the preeligibilty check?

    Thank you in advance.

    Galina

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hello Mariana,

    Thanks so much for all the information, it has been very, very helpful. However, I have a question about the European Parliament translation traineeships - do you know if lobbying is expected or necessary for them as well? I can't seem to find any information about particular EP units that accept trainees, so I don't know who to send an email to.

    Thank you,
    Tihana

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hello Mariana!
    Could you please tell what kind of proof of language do they mean. What kind of certificates?
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Hi!
    Thank you for all your tips :)
    Should I start lobbying after being pre-selected or I should wait until I pass eligibility check?

    ReplyDelete
  58. Hey Mariana!
    Thank you for all your precious responses.

    I would like to ask you whether is it possible/feasible to apply for the march 2018 traineeship at DG Comp while doing my LL.M. Is there any chance to combine work at the Commission and early in the morning and late in the evening classes at uni?

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Hi,
    I passed the PRESELECTION for the EU COMMISSION TRAINEESHIPS and I have just finished uploading my documents for the eligibility check-I will receive the outcome towards June/July.
    I was wondering if:
    A. During the eligibility check the examiners just "check" whether or not you have proof of what you stated in your application, so if all the statements you made are true and fully supported you will DEFINITELY enter the Blue Book (right now I think I'm only a "Blue Book Candidate"?)
    B. If I have no problems with the eligibility check, and the outcome is positive, does this mean that in June my name and CV will be on the Blue Book? After that, should I start lobbying immediately or will someone definitely contact me? (Is there the chance that no one contacts me/selects me?)
    C.And last question! What do my "Preferred DGs" have to do with the whole application process?

    Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Dear Mariana,

    I don't know if you're still checking those comments but I wanted to thank you! Really. Your article is gold for traineeship candidates!! I followed your advice step by step and send "lobbying" emails to around 12 services. Today I just got a message telling me I had been selected as a trainee to work at the Commission (within DEVCO :) )! I had been quite nervous because I never had any interview during the whole selection process, neither a call but I only had received an email telling me they had given my name to the HR. Anyway, it worked ^^ Thank you again and I wish everyone good luck in every selection process :)

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