Contract staff, commonly referred to as CAST (Contract Agent Selection Tool), are individuals employed by the EU institutions or agencies for a predetermined period and a maximum of 6 years. Most of them are based in Brussels or Luxembourg.
This article introduces the selection process and employment opportunities for contract agents within European institutions.
Since 2017, CAST procedure has been ongoing. It is also known as CAST Permanent due to its open-ended registration.
CAST Permanent
All the open CAST Permanent profiles are listed on EU Careers website in the tab “Selection procedure > Open for application”
Please note the general conditions to take part in CAST selection include being a citizen of a Member State of the EU and having proficiency in at least two EU languages: Language 1 (L1) being one of the 24 official EU languages at minimum C1 level and Language 2 (L2) defined as English, French or German, distinct from L1, at a minimum B2 level.
For all the information related to CAST Permanent including the profiles, the eligibility criteria and the selection procedure, you should refer to the Call for Expression of Interest.
Selection procedures for CAST Permanent are available across different profiles and various grades.
The grades define the minimum education level needed and the professional experience required. Typically, grades I and II could be considered as Assistant level while grades III and IV equivalent to Administrator level.
Selection process
- Application
To register for CAST Permanent, you should create an EPSO account and fill in your personal, professional, and educational details into a CAST application database. Please be aware that you can apply for one or more profiles and/or function groups, provided that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Every six months, you will have to confirm your interest in this selection. Failure to do so will result in your details no longer being visible to the recruiting services.
- Shortlisting
When a need arises, the recruiting services pre-selects from the CAST database profiles that would be suitable and invite them for the selection tests.
- Reasoning tests
Once invited to the tests, you will need to book a testing window. Since September 2023, all testing is remotely proctored.
To be successful, you will need to obtain the minimum required scores for verbal reasoning and combined numerical and abstract reasoning. Hence, it is crucial to prepare for these tests (view our video on “Working for the EU institutions: Preparation is the key”).
If you reach the minimum required, your results will remain valid for 10 years for the same and for lower function group(s) across all profiles.
If you fail, the recruiting services will not be able to invite you again for reasoning tests for the same or higher function group for six months. However, during this period, the candidate may still be invited to take the reasoning tests for a lower function group.
- Additional testing and/or interview
Candidates who pass the reasoning tests will be invited to an interview and/or further tests organised by the recruiting services.
Upon successful selection following your interview and/or additional tests, you can start working as a contract agent for the European institutions or agencies.
For more information on CAST, you can also view our youtube video part of the series on “Working for the European Institutions”.