h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

For the past couple of years, I've been trying to go up the ladder at work. That's done through a competitive exam.

The exam consists in 3 written tests : statistics, summary, and synthesising a bunch of documents.

Then, if you do well on the written bit, you go on to the oral part : a discussion with a jury starting with the analysis of a text (usually economics-related, but not always), and then talking about your current job and what you know about the Institute.

And the best after that get to spend 6 months in Libourne for training and a better pay.

I've never managed to get to the orals so far.



This year, I signed up for a training programme where they give us methods and techniques to help us do well.
We had 5 sessions of three to five days each, in Paris, where teachers told us all there is to know about how to summarise a text, and how to synthesise a pile of articles and about how to calculate average this and yearly that.

It was intense, it was hard work, but it was interesting.
We'll see if it was also effective next month, when the exam takes place. (Although the results won't be made public until March or April).



The group was nice too, there were 12 of us at the beginning, but one gave up and another one was promoted halfway through (so she didn't need to pass the exam any more, lucky her!).
So ten of us were left for the end of the training, and a pleasant group it was. We had a couple of nights out together (most of us were staying in hotels, not being from Paris in the first place).



I don't know if I'll pass this time or next year, or the year after, but I do know I've learnt things, so I'm quite happy I did it.

Deb

Speaking of the career ladder, you need to be nice to your fellow workers on the way up if you want them to be nice to you on your way down.

[Amy P]

I'm glad to see your positive outlook SF - good luck for the future exam. I'm sure that you have a good chance for success and you seem focused and dedicated.

We'll have a party when you get that promotion

Don't put the in the fridge just yet, though.