CAST stands for Contract Agent Selection Tool. It is the open-ended EPSO procedure used to recruit Contract Agents (fixed-term EU staff classified in Function Groups I to IV) for every institution and agency. Unlike an open competition, CAST has no calendar: candidates register a profile that institutions can search at any time.
A CAST application has two stages. First, you create a candidate profile on the EPSO portal and select the profile families that match your background, for example finance, project management, communication, secretarial support, drafting, or IT. Second, when an institution has a vacancy, EPSO invites a shortlist of profiles to sit computer-based tests covering reasoning skills and, for some profiles, a competency module. Passing the test does not guarantee a job: your name is added to the pool of "passed candidates" and institutions then contact you directly when a role opens. Contracts are typically 6 months to 3 years and can be renewed up to a total of 6 years; for some agencies and EU delegations, indefinite contracts are possible after several renewals. Salaries follow the Function Group grids set out in the Staff Regulations and include the same expatriation, household and child allowances as officials. CAST is the most common entry route into EU work for early-career professionals because it runs continuously, with no deadline. The only nationality condition is the standard EU-nationality requirement.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to get a CAST contract after applying?
- There is no fixed timeline. Some candidates are contacted within weeks; others wait months or never get invited if their profile does not match active vacancies. Updating your profile and keeping language certifications fresh measurably improves invite rates.
- Can a CAST contract become permanent?
- Not directly. CAST contracts are capped at 6 years in most institutions. To move to a permanent EU job you must pass an EPSO open competition for officials and be appointed from the resulting reserve list.
- What is the salary for a Function Group IV CAST contract?
- FG IV basic monthly salary in 2026 ranges from around EUR 3,800 at grade 13 step 1 to over EUR 7,500 at grade 18 step 7, before the expatriation allowance and country correction coefficient. FG IV covers administrative, advisory, linguistic and technical tasks equivalent to AD work.