Brussels Region launched employment platform for the public sector

The new platform will try to value experience and practical skills as much as relevant education

On 1 February, talent.Brussels launched MyTalent, a platform aimed at recruiting civil service employees for the Brussels-Capital Region. The platform carries a unique approach, as according to authorities, the focus would not be primarily placed on having the right diplomas.

Instead, evaluators will put more emphasis on practical skills and experience, with the aim of casting a wider net in society. There are 535 vacancies in the public sector and they need to be filled by the end of the year.

Emphasising skills

talent.Brussels is a public HR service for the region, working as an intermediary between public sector employers and potential employees. They offer all kinds of positions, suitable for, workers and gardeners, as well as economists and layers.

According to a report by the VRT, a Flemish news platform, their policy has shifted to accommodate the variable changes occurring in real-time in 2022. This includes, namely, accounting for skill and motivation, rather than relevant education.

This will be done via special tests, developed for the positions. Furthermore, the test will be available remotely, so candidates will not have to travel to a talent.Brussels office. Instead, they will be able to apply through any device, computer, smartphone or tablet.

Mirroring the hiring process in EU institutions

Many of Brussels’ residents are employed in the various EU institutions headquartered in the city and it is safe to say that local authorities are taking a page out of their handbook by putting a stronger emphasis on skills.

The hiring process in Europe’s various institutions is famously stringent, with multiple stages focusing on different aspects of the applicants’ biography. This is, reportedly, to ensure that only Europe’s best and brightest get to work in the civil service, thus, creating a veritable meritocracy.

The process includes CV sifting, reasoning tests, competency tests that can be handwritten or oral, as well as practical tests in the field.