One of the main reasons why we spend years studying is our belief that good education would make our future career goals come true. However, every job is different in a way and not all kind of education could bring you closer to your dream. Thus, the best way to check if you are on the right way is to talk with someone who has already pass through the steps you have to and already work what you aim for. Moreover that`s also how you could have a real picture of what kind of knowledge and skills you may need, what kind of tasks you will face and, put in a nutslef, that`s how you could be 100% sure if this job suits you or you may need to think for something else. Remember- not every job is made for everyone. Once you choose the right one for you, you have passed half of the way.
The following interview is for everyone interested in a career within an EU institution, and especially for those of you who want to know more about what is to be a political advisor to a MEP (Member of the European Parliament).
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Do you know who’s considered as one of the most important persons sitting next to a MEP? The one who needs to coordinate dozens of task at the same time and doesn’t have right of making mistakes. Nor time to do so.
If you have already been to the parliament, you may have already met this person- a MEP`s Political advisor. Interested in what you need to become one and what the job looks like, I reached Ms Gabriela Dimitrova, a political advisor to a Bulgarian MEP. Before becoming a PA, she has been working as a consultant in European affairs and even before that she had made an internship within the Confederation of British Industries.
Having a Bachelor degree in Modern languages and European Studies from Bath university, England, and then a Master in Contemporary European Politics in a joint program between a French and an English university, besides Bulgarian, she speaks fluently English and French, as well as a bit of Russian and Spanish.
You are working as a PA since December 2007. How your typical day looks like?
It depends from the week. We have committee’s weeks and groups’ weeks which are really stressful, going from one meeting to another, with quite a tight schedule. You need to have looked through those meetings agendas and to know which are the important topics for us, as Bulgarians for instance, and then research them, see at what stage there are, etc. If there are crucial, you may propose some amendments. Then we have also the so called green weeks, which are much more silent and we even have time to read our emails. And we receive hundreds of emails per day.
In a word…?
Well, usually everyday is different and we should be really flexible in order to cope with all of our tasks. Sometimes you could have three reports at the same time, sometimes none. What I mean is that our work is not fixed, but encompasses many and different tasks, which are not constant.
Do you work from 9-5?
Never till 5. It`s too early. We neither work from 9- 5, nor just from the office. Your schedule depends from your boss most of the time.
If you should point out your main task as a PA which will that be?
Constantly reading reports.
Which is the biggest challenge you face in your work?
Writing reports and compromise amendments. But this is also the best part of it.
What kind of skills a PA should have?
You need to manage your time wisely and to know which are your priorities. You need good organization and communication skills, as well as good research skills. And the latter is really important. You also need to handle stress.
Is there someone you could turn for help if you need any?
Yes. Each committee has a main secretariat and I could talk to different political advisors depending on the topic I need some support with.
What do you consider a success at the end of the day?
If it should be related to work, then it would be when an amendment has passed. If it should be related to me personally, to have finished all my work and be able to go home on time.
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