Recruitment Guidelines
At the EFTA Secretariat, we are committed to attracting talented and motivated professionals who contribute to our mission of supporting cooperation and common objectives among the EFTA Member States. We offer a range of career opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds, skills and levels of experience.
Guidelines for applicants
All applications must be submitted through the EFTA Secretariat’s online recruitment system. Vacancies are published under Jobs.
The EFTA Secretariat does not accept or consider unsolicited applications.
To apply for a vacancy, please open the relevant job announcement and select “Apply for this job”. You will be asked to complete the online application form and answer a number of pre-screening questions designed to support the assessment of your suitability for the role. Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the selection criteria. This is best done by providing specific and concrete examples from your previous work experience, using relevant, well-supported and concise information.
Once your application is submitted, your application will be acknowledged through an automated email confirmation.
Supporting documents, such as certificates, qualifications, references or testimonials, should not be attached to your initial application unless specifically requested. Documentary evidence will normally be requested at a later stage of the recruitment process, typically at the final stage.
If you experience a technical issue with the recruitment system, please contact the HR team at hr.support@efta.int and include a screenshot of the issue so that we can assist you.
All applications are carefully reviewed and given full consideration. Due to the high volume of applications received, the EFTA Secretariat is unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback to candidates who are not invited to the online Teams interview stage.
FAQ
-
Composition of workforce
Our workforce is composed of two main categories of staff:
· Professional staff (A-grade), who contribute their expertise in policy, legal, administrative and technical areas and;
· General staff (B-grade), who provide essential operational and administrative support.
-
Types of employment contracts
Employment opportunities at the EFTA Secretariat are primarily offered through standard fixed-term contracts, normally for a period of three years. Depending on the needs of the organisation, contracts may be renewed once, generally not exceeding an additional three-year period.
In addition, the EFTA Secretariat may offer temporary contracts of up to one year in exceptional circumstances, for example to cover staff absences or support specific, time-limited projects. These temporary contracts may be renewed once for an additional period of up to one year.
We also provide opportunities for young graduates via our Junior Professional Programme and engagements with short-term experts, offering valuable experiences for those looking to contribute to our work in different capacities. -
Nationality requirements
The EFTA Secretariat welcomes applications from candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for each staff category.
· For professional staff positions (A-grade), applicants must be nationals of one of the EFTA Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
· For general staff positions (B-grade), applications are open to nationals of both EFTA Member States and EU Member States.
-
Equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion
Diversity is essential to the EFTA Secretariat. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and equitable access for every candidate, regardless of race, colour, ethnic or social origin, language, religion or belief, political opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other personal characteristic.
All our recruitment processes are designed to be fair, transparent, and inclusive. Selection is based solely on merit, ensuring that every candidate has an equal opportunity to demonstrate their competencies, skills, and potential.
The EFTA Secretariat has a Gender Equality Policy, which aims to promote equal conditions and opportunities for all employees, free from gender bias, and to strengthen awareness of gender equality across all areas of the Secretariat's work. -
Wellbeing in the workplace
At the EFTA Secretariat, safety, security and the wellbeing of staff is fundamental. The working environment is based on EFTA values: professionalism, cooperation, trust, responsibility and respect. People are treated fairly and respectfully, free from offensive behaviour.