careers in translating and interpreting in the eu institutions - john evans.pdf · careers in...

Careers in translating and interpreting in the EU institutions

John Evans Language Officer European Commission Representation in the UK

Linguists in the EU

Council

Parliament

Court of Justice

Court of Auditors

Economic & Social Committee

Committee of the Regions

Translators: ± 4300

European Central Bank

Translation Centre

Interpreters: ± 1000

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The European Commission’s DGT, is just one, although the largest, of many similar services working in all EU institutions. You have translation departments at the European Parliament, the Council, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors, the European Social and Economic Committee and the Committee of the Regions, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and the European Investment Bank. There’s also a Translation Centre for EU agencies and bodies. All in all, translation work occupies around 6 000 internal staff and hundreds of companies providing freelance translators. The Commission’s pool of freelance translators is around 600 companies and individual translators. Number of interpreters: 860 (SCIC 550, EP 260, CoJ 50). SCIC’s pool of accredited freelance interpreters is around 2 900. Why have separate translation services? Institutions have different roles and different text-types (CoJ most extreme example). Studies have indicated that coordinating such a big group of translators would not be efficient.

Working as a linguist in the EU

Translator

Interpreter

Lawyer linguist

Interpreter profile • University degree • Training in conference

interpreting (post-graduate) • Accreditation test (freelance)

or EPSO competition (civil servant)

• Perfect command of mother

tongue • Thorough knowledge of at

least 2 other EU languages • Excellent general knowledge

Different meetings • Committees

• Political Groups

• Plenary

• Delegations

• Press Conferences

• Each type of meeting poses different challenges and needs different preparation

Lawyer Linguists

• 2 channels:European Court of Justice European Parliament/Council of the EU

• Excellent command of English

• A thorough knowledge of French and another EU language

• Hold a degree in law, or its equivalent, • awarded in the UK or Ireland or have • qualified as a barrister, advocate or • solicitor in the UK or Ireland

DG Translation – who are we? • The largest public translation service in the world • 1 650 translators – 1.76 million pages translated

in 2012

• 50% in Luxembourg

• 50% in Brussels

English Language Department – June 2013

We cover all subject areas …

... and translate from all official languages*

SL

ET NL

* except Irish

0

2500

5000

7500

10000

12500

15000

17500

20000

22500

25000

DE EL IT FR ES PL HU NL RO PT BG LT FI SK SL SV CS DA LV HR ET MT Other

Pages produced by EN LD in 2013 (by source language)

The opportunity to learn more languages

• Weekly language classes

• In-country language courses

• Visiting Translator Scheme

July 2014 – Translator recruitment

• German • Greek • Spanish • Swedish

Recruitment procedure - requirements

• You must be an EU citizen

• You must have a university degree – in any field

• No professional experience is required

Linguistic knowledge

English translators must meet the following three requirements:

• Perfect command of English (target language)

• Very sound knowledge of either French or German as first

source language

• Thorough knowledge of a second EU official source language

Any knowledge of an additional EU language will be an asset

Selection Process

Apply online

Computer Based

Admission Tests*

Translation Tests*

Assessment Centre in Brussels

Reserve List

Presenter

Presentation Notes

1. Create an EPSO account and apply online 2. Computer based Admission tests (in the Test Cetres) 3. Translation Test (in the Test Centres) 4. Assessment centre in Brussels or Luxembourg 5. Reserve List

Verbal reasoning

Numerical reasoning Abstract

reasoning

Language test

English

Language test

Language 1

Language 2

Computer-based admission tests (CBT)

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Examples of the tests can be found here: http://europa.eu/epso/apply/sample_test/index_en.htm

Translation tests On computer in a test centre of your choice

• Two translation tests with the aid of a dictionary on a PC

(45 lines) • A) Language 1 into English • B) Language 2 into English

• If the result of test A doesn't reach the passmark, test B is not marked. • Tests are double marked, if necessary three times.

Assessment Centre

1 day in your 2nd language

Oral presentation

Structured interview

Group

exercise

Presenter

Presentation Notes

EPSO uses a standard « assessment centre » model, based on competencies. This model has been chosen by the institutions to be able to identify the most suitable and competent candidates for the profile required. After the admission tests, candidates are invited to an assessment centre session, which is normally held in Brussels. In the assessment centre, candidates will be tested by appropriate instruments. A detailed explanation of these items will be given in the « Assessment Centre » brochure that candidates will receive when invited to take part in this stage of the procedure. The competition notice lists the items used for a particular competition. Other profiles: Practical language tests (Linguists) Exercises related to professional skills (Assistants)

Assessment Centre- competencies Analysis &

Problem solving Communicating

Delivering Quality &

Results

Learning & Development

Prioritising & Organising

Resilience

Working with others +

Potential to lead (leadership)

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Who are we looking for? Basic eligibility criteria are: EU citizenship 2 EU languages (2nd = EN, FR or DE) Linguist (graduate) profiles: 3 EU languages Graduate profiles (Administrator): bachelor (at least) Non-graduate profiles (Assistant): secondary education + 6 yrs of prof. exp. �post-secondary education + 3 yrs of prof. exp. Competencies – are mentioned What kind of people are we looking for: Are highly skilled, resilient and motivated to succeed, learn and develop Have a desire to make a difference; who want to help shape Europe and the world Enjoy working in multi cultural teams Deliver results Sont hautement qualifiée, souple et motivé pour réussir, apprendre et se développer�Avoir un désir de faire une différence; qui veulent aider à façonner l'Europe et le monde�Apprécier travailler dans des équipes multi culturelles�Produire des résultats You will mainly be based in Brussels or Luxembourg Training:- languages, - skills Travel for work Job mobility Work-life balance Social benefits:- health care, - child care, - European Schools A career with the EU Institutions gives you: Interesting and challenging work that makes a real difference for Europe An environment where you are encouraged to learn new skills and languages The opportunity to work and travel abroad, and work with people from all over Europe A lifetime of different jobs

www.eu-careers.eu

What can the EU institutions offer you?

• €4500/month starting salary • Good leave entitlement • Varied and challenging work with scope to shape

your own career • Excellent language learning opportunities • Job security • Multicultural environment • Flexible working-time arrangements

DGT Traineeships Duration: 5 months

Two rounds per year (starting in March and October)

For university graduates only

Trainees must be able to translate from two EU languages into their mother tongue

Monthly grant

Any nationality

More information

• Translating for Europe • European Commission interpreters EU Careers • @evansjohn75 • @translatores • @europeintheuk • @EU_Careers

Translating for Europe

careers in translating and interpreting in the eu institutions - john evans.pdf · careers in...

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