How do I apply for a post at EDA?
EDA vacancies are posted on this website under Vacancies so check regularly to see new posts. If you consider that you meet the qualifications for a specific vacancy please apply by clicking on the ‘apply for this vacancy’ link on the left-hand side of the screen next to the vacancy so that your application will automatically have the correct vacancy reference number. Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EDA website. Applications by any other means (hard-copy or ordinary e-mail) will not be accepted.
Since submitting my registration, my e-mail address or personal data has changed. How can I notify EDA about it?
Please note that the e-mail address you provide with each application must be valid for the duration of the competition as it cannot be changed.
I am registered for a post and have already an EDA profile. If I want to register for another competition do I have to create a new EDA profile?
The first time that you make an EDA on-line application, you will have to create your EDA profile using a valid e-mail address and password. This basic account information will be retained for subsequent applications you wish to submit. However, you will have to create a new EDA profile if your e-mail address changes.
How often are new jobs posted on your website?
New vacancies are posted regularly, so check frequently.
Can I send an open or unsolicited application?
We do not consider unsolicited applications, as all vacancies are published on-line when they become available. If we receive an unsolicited application, we will refer you to our website where such vacancies are published.
How do I fill in the on-line application form?
Please consult the Vacancies - User Guide.
Do I have to fill in all fields?
All mandatory fields are marked with a red asterisk. If these fields are not filled in with appropriate information, you will not be able to submit your application.
Can I receive automatic notification of new vacancy notices?
Unfortunately, this service is not available, so we recommend that you check our site regularly for new vacancies.
How long do vacancies remain posted on the site?
Vacancy notices remain on the site until the closing date, clearly indicated on the Vacancy Notice.
I am a candidate for an EDA vacancy. Will you confirm receipt of my application? How will I be informed about the successive stages in the competition?
Once you submit your online application, you will be sent an automated email acknowledging that we have received your application. You will subsequently be contacted if you are selected for an interview. Once the selection procedure is completed, you will receive an official reply. Therefore it is not necessary to request details on the progress of your application or to contact the Human Resources Unit, since every candidate will receive a final reply. Please note that you will be contacted solely via your EDA profile, and therefore it is imperative that you consult your messages folder regularly to have an overview of the status of your application(s).
May I send my application also by post?
Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EDA website. Applications by any other means (hard-copy or ordinary e-mail) will not be accepted.
Should I send any documents with, or in parallel with, my online application form?
Do not send any supporting or supplementary documentation with your application until you have been asked to do so by the Agency if you are recruited. Additionally do not submit the original texts of references or testimonials unless they have been requested for the sole use of the Agency.
The only document required in parallel with any EDA application is for SNE posts, where the ‘sponsorship letter’ for the candidates should be provided by their national authorities by the closing date for the competition.
What happens to my online application?
Applications are stored in a database; after the closing date they are evaluated by a Selection Committee and a shortlist of suitable candidates is compiled. Applicants selected for the shortlist will then be invited to attend an interview. Applications are archived after the selection process for one year.
Can I apply for more than one vacancy at a time?
You are welcome to apply for any vacancy for which you are qualified.
I missed the deadline for an EDA competition. Can I still register?
You can create an EDA profile, but once the deadline for the competition has passed, you will not be able to submit your application for that vacancy. Please note that applications can be submitted until midnight on the date of the deadline, Brussels time (GMT+1). When you consult your EDA profile you will see the Brussels time in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
I have forgotten my password. What should I do?
If you have forgotten your password, click on the link provided and follow the instructions on-screen. You will be asked for your user name which is your current valid e-mail address. You will receive a temporary password by e-mail which you can then change to your new password.
What are the working languages of the Agency?
Applicants are required to have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the EU, and an adequate knowledge of another of these languages to the extent necessary to discharge their duties. In practice, taking into account the tasks to be undertaken, an appropriate knowledge of English is necessary. Accordingly, please note that if called for interview, your interview will be conducted primarily in English.
I’m not a national of one of the Member States. Can I still apply?
The Agency can only consider applications from nationals of its participating Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Do I need to register or log on to view a vacancy?
No, you can consult all vacancy notices published on the Vacancies page of the EDA website without having to register or log on. However, if you then wish to apply for any vacancy, you will be invited to create a profile in order to proceed with your application, if you do not already have an EDA profile.
What does it mean to be a member of the Agency’s temporary staff?
The temporary staff of the Agency means staff engaged to fill temporarily a post included in the list of posts appended to the budget of the Agency. Temporary staff are initially recruited for a three-year period (unless a shorter period is mutually agreed within the parties). Extension is possible, in line with the EDA Staff Regulations, up to a maximum of six years.
What is an SNE?
Seconded National Experts are seconded to the Agency while remaining in the service of their national employer and continuing to be paid their national salary by that employer. They receive from the Agency a daily subsistence allowance per calendar day for the duration of their secondment. Therefore candidates for an SNE post must be sponsored by their national authorities. The Agency must receive a sponsorship letter from their national authorities by the closing date for the application to be eligible.
What does it mean for a candidate for an SNE post to be ‘sponsored’?
Candidates for an SNE post must be sponsored by their national authorities. Since Seconded National Experts remain in the service of their national employer and continue to be paid their national salary by that employer, they must have the support of their national authorities who undertake to continue to pay their salary during the secondment. Confirmation of this is required in the form of a letter of sponsorship.
What kind of working conditions and benefits can I expect as a temporary agent?
The Agency offers the same remuneration and benefits as the other European institutions. Please consult Salary and allowances on the Vacancies page for more detailed information of current rates for temporary and contractual agents.
What is a ‘security clearance’? Is it the same as a certificate of good conduct or a ‘certificat de bonne vie et moeurs’?
A security clearance is issued by the applicant’s national security authority, and is not the same as a certificate of good conduct. A personal security clearance is an administrative decision following completion of a security screening conducted by the individual’s competent national security authority in accordance with applicable national security laws and regulations, and certifying that an individual may be allowed to access classified information up to a specified level. Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a security clearance can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate. If you are recruited, and if a security clearance is not required at the time of taking up your duties, the Agency will undertake these enquiries on your behalf.
What is your policy on gender equality?
The EDA is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political, philosophical or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.
I am a university student. Can I carry out a placement at EDA as part of my course of studies?
No. In accordance with the EDA internship rules, the EDA internship programme is extremely limited and solely aimed at staff currently serving as public sector officials, notably in the Ministries of Defence of the participating Member States of the Agency.
I need to speak to someone in EDA's Human Resources Unit about jobs and/or training opportunities. The questions I have are not answered in this FAQ. What should I do?
Email your questions to recruitment@eda.europa.eu.