Long preparation to prepare for the general competition for a number of contractual agents for a max. 3 year contracts, renewable once under certain conditions. Now this period has been extended to 5 years. Passed the competition and ended up on a reserve list. Rang up several offices within the Directorate General I was interested in working for (Internal Market and Services) to ask for vacancies ... most of these materialise during maternity leaves. Got a call to see one hiring manager and after a 1/2 hours interview I was hired. When passing a general competition for permanent staff, after the multiple choice phase, you'll go to an Assessment Center for approx. 1 of testing involving several exercises, then if you do well, you'll go to another phase, that of a panel interview.