The luck had to run out sometime.

So, just over two years ago, Caroline and I set off for a journey to Brussels that brought us here to China. We both sat the CAST 27 exam for fixed term contracts with the EU. As you've probably heard me complaining by now we did different exams. For some reason, at the time it seemed sensible for me to take the exam for jobs based in Brussels (politics-focused) and Caroline to take the exam for jobs based around the world in the delegations (Development-focused). It did make sense from the point of view of our specialisms...

We agreed that whoever got offered the job first, we would take and then review after one contract of 3 years. We both passed the exam and were added to the database from which you can be recruited. As is obvious to everyone, Caroline got the job in Beijing and here we are.

Since then I've had a video interview for a job back in Brussels and have been offered that one and one other. Obviously I'm not going to go back and live in Europe while Caroline is out here in Beijing - we're having too much fun and there's plenty of time for Europe when we want to settle down. So it's a bit of a shame, but it's good to be offered the jobs and I don't expect any pity, life's not exactly tough and the job I got here in order to get a visa has developed into something more interesting and challenging.

The recruitment database that we are both on is for fixed-term contracts. There are routes from this situation into a permanent contract, but it's not great - there's no chance for promotion for one thing!

So in terms of long term career plans, we're both quite keen to become permanent officials working for the European Commission. To do that we have to sit another exam. A couple of months ago, just such an exam was announced and it's big news as there hasn't been a general competition to recruit officials for some years now. Basically recruitment has been trying to catch up with the geographical enlargement in 2004/5 and Contract Agents have also been the main focus. As soon as the registration was opened, Caroline and I and a few friends all signed up. And by a surprising and convenient stroke of luck, the initial computer-based tests are even being held here in Beijing.

The testing process has been updated. When Caroline and I successfully passed there was a lot of focus on knowing facts, figures, dates and names related to the EU and its development. Since we've both studied this in some depth we probably were at something of an advantage. Now however they've decided that knowing who the second President of the European Central Bank isn't so useful on a day-to-day basis.

So now, for the computer-based tests there are three elements; verbal reasoning, abstract reasoning and numerical reasoning. Beyond being familiar with these kinds of tests and practising them in the second language there's not so much practice you can do.

I scheduled my test for the first available opportunity, this morning at 08:30.

Take a look at the map below for a visual representation of what happened. You might need to scroll around a bit until you can see the annotations I've added to the map. Have a read of them, it's probably worth it. The order goes like this:
Taxi
Red Line
Red Phone
Coffee Cup
Dark blue Line
Orange Line
Black Line
Red Exclamation
(Video - below)
Turquoise Line
Subway


View A fruitless journey on Suzhoujie in a larger map



I'll let you know how I get on with scheduling another test.

Latest update: my email requesting a rescheduled test has been passed on to the person in charge. Here's hoping.