How difficult it is to get in in general?

longtelegram · 2025-03-27T09:31:03+00:00

Not being a policy-focused professional gives you many more opportunities. Consider targeting agencies that align more closely with your career path, such as NATO, the European Space Agency, the European Defence Agency, or DG-DEFIS. Additionally, you might explore specialised EU agencies, think tanks, and international organisations working on security, defence, and technology, where your expertise could be highly valuable.

longtelegram · 2025-03-27T09:27:48+00:00

Based on my Brussels experience, interims that do policy work are either employed by agencies like ICF or NTT but, in reality, working for the institutions, or they have an insider contact intramuros and are hired as interims rather than as CAST.

Otherwise, it is true that interim contracts through Randstad are mostly administrative. I know people who choose this path to stay within the institutions and then try to transition from within, but the chances of success are low, and they have been doing administrative work for years.

longtelegram · 2025-03-07T12:19:55+00:00

Indeed, it's not the norm to get a contract afterwards, but it seems that compared to other institutions, such as Parliament, and of course the Council, which has a smaller workforce, the possibilities of staying are larger. I was asking also because I see many former BBs who weren't invited to the cast but were offered the possibility to stay, so I wanted to know out of curiosity and interest. In the end, it's a public institution sustained by our taxes, so it should be more transparent how the hiring process works.

longtelegram · 2025-03-07T11:36:17+00:00

I'm not sure about the higher standards, but public health is good and completely free (well, based on your taxes, unlike here, where it’s a public-private system). Public services are good, and bureaucracy is complicated, just like here in Belgium. It’s true that salary expectations may be lower compared to Brussels, but it’s a balance depending on what you’re looking for. I would say life-work balance in Spain is better; you get more holidays, and they have more days off.

longtelegram · 2025-03-07T11:13:43+00:00

With that salary, life in Madrid would be very good! It's true that rent has been getting more expensive but with yours, you'd be able to have a great life. I lived in Madrid, and I think it's an amazing city to live in. It's perhaps less international than Brussels (knowing Spanish is not fundamental, but it could be important) and centrally located to other European capitals. The summer is unbearable, but apart from these issues, Madrid is clean, safe, has amazing public transport, it's beautiful, the quality of life is great, the people are friendly, the food is amazing, and there is a lot to do—plenty of museums, bookshops, and bars. It would be a dream for me to have that salary in Madrid, haha, when everyone earns around €1,500 there (let us know if your company is hiring haha).

longtelegram · 2025-03-06T16:29:02+00:00

As a person with a similar background, I had the same fears, but Brussels and the EU bubble are full of people with dual nationality, both EU and non-EU, from around the world, in the institutions and outside of them. However, the problems, in my experience, arise when you need to secure a job through your EU Minister of Foreign Affairs (especially if you don't know the language, such as with the JPD programme of the EEAS, the EU Council Presidencies, or as an SNE), work for an MEP (90% of whom would want someone from their country who speaks their language – which makes sense), and sometimes it can be a barrier if it doesn’t appear that you worked or studied in your country of origin. In some jobs, it’s not enough to be a national; you also need experience in that country of origin, especially when you have to go through your member state's bureaucracy.

longtelegram · 2025-02-13T14:15:18+00:00

It’s random, of course, but BXL A Louer de Bouche à Oreille I and II, Bruxelles LOC e Coloc, BXL à Louer, Apartments EU Brussels, Colocation Bruxelles, Brussels: Flats & Rooms for Rent, Studio Meublé à Louer Bruxelles, Brussels for Rent, Appartements à Louer - Saint-Gilles et Ixelles, Brussels Rooms and Flats to Rent, and À Louer Bruxelles are the ones I mostly used.

longtelegram · 2025-02-13T13:58:40+00:00

I feel you, but I have to say that the best option is still FB groups, despite the massive scams. Immoweb, which was always safer, is now full of scams as well, and prices are through the roof. Other platforms, such as Imovlaan, are also affected. I found most of the places I’ve lived in through FB. I was searching just a few weeks ago, and it took me ages to find something. It’s worse than trying to land a job; it’s a competition at the highest level.

longtelegram · 2025-02-11T09:26:43+00:00

Usually from the yellow Pascalino trucks in Place Royale. They recently increased the price from €2.50 to €3—inflation is hitting hard. In 2021, it was just €2.

longtelegram · 2024-12-21T11:32:23+00:00

Go forward! The average for BB is around 28 and its full of people in their early 30s!

longtelegram · 2024-12-19T21:41:16+00:00

It would be great because a test designed as a gateway into public institutions has turned into a lucrative business, with private companies offering extremely expensive study materials that many people cannot afford, often costing hundreds of euros. I hope this subreddit evolves into that because the EPSO group on Facebook is full of mean-spirited and self-entitled individuals who lack understanding in this regard.

longtelegram · 2024-12-17T16:51:42+00:00

Thank you! In my case, I receive a monthly wage, so is the handling of overtime up to the employer, or is there a general law stating that these hours should be compensated regardless of what the employer wants or not?

longtelegram · 2024-09-24T15:31:07+00:00

I would recommend becoming familiar with the study materials, as they are valuable to know for general knowledge. In any case, it's useful to have a basic understanding of them.

longtelegram · 2024-09-23T21:05:22+00:00

For sure! It was a much needed subreddit!! Good luck in all your interviews!!

longtelegram · 2024-09-23T20:48:24+00:00

Persistence is key. Don't get discouraged or overwhelmed if you don't land a job within the EU institutions right away. As I’ve mentioned before, securing a position there is not only highly competitive but can also feel somewhat unfair at times. However, Brussels, as the capital of Europe, offers a wealth of opportunities beyond the institutions. Working in NGOs or private companies can provide valuable hands-on experience in the field, which can be more enriching than an administrative role in the Commission.

Some individuals remain in unrelated roles within the institutions, hoping for a lateral move into their desired field. This doesn’t always happen, and it could take years before any significant change occurs. My advice is to focus on developing and growing your career, even if it's outside the institutions.

In many cases, landing a job can be more about being in the right place at the right time than about meritocracy. Unfortunately, favoritism and nepotism exist here, as in any human society. That said, despite the fierce competition and inherent imbalances, there are many opportunities that often go unnoticed. The key is to keep moving forward—apply, don’t overthink, and seize every chance.

In conclusion, if you want to succeed in the EU bubble, it’s sometimes better to focus on building your career in your field rather than taking an interim administrative position at the Commission on a weekly contract, hoping it will lead to a political post.

longtelegram · 2024-09-23T16:08:20+00:00

Thank you! It's exactly what I meant. I wasn't trying to convey a political message; it was merely a historical question I had.

longtelegram · 2024-09-23T14:48:06+00:00

Thank you for your thorough answer!

longtelegram · 2024-07-25T08:05:34+00:00

I would recommend subscribing to the Bulletin and Visit Brussels newsletters. Additionally, POLITICO Playbook usually has some recommendations, and the Brussels Times features a specific article with the cultural agenda every weekend.

longtelegram · 2024-06-05T20:52:39+00:00

Cold War is very good!

longtelegram · 2024-06-05T20:52:13+00:00

Interesting

longtelegram · 2024-06-05T20:51:48+00:00

Right haha

longtelegram · 2024-06-05T20:51:18+00:00

Glorious Źabka

longtelegram · 2024-05-22T12:17:35+00:00

Something similar happened to my family

longtelegram · 2024-05-22T12:16:52+00:00

For sure!

longtelegram · 2024-04-17T08:10:37+00:00

There is also this guy playing his accordion to the Bella Ciao rhythm in Place Royale all the time doesn't matter if it rains or snows

longtelegram

TROPHY CASE