This document summarizes responses from representatives of the civil services of Belgium and Albania during an OECD SIGMA workshop on e-recruitment. Regarding positions suited for e-recruitment, the representatives said they had not noticed significant differences in online versus offline interviews, but must choose assessment methods wisely. On costs, Belgium used existing IT applications while Albania leveraged an existing integrated platform. For security, representatives said proctoring remains challenging and they use restricted timing and open interview questions. Candidates must show ID and testing environments. Data is protected through encryption and recording of interviews complies with GDPR. Technical problems are addressed by rescheduling, and discrimination is minimized through support guidelines

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General questions to speakers
(SIGMA virtual workshop on e-recruitment in the civil service, 21 July 2020)
General:
1) Did e-recruitment work particularly well, or not so well, for some specific positions/categories of
positions?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium (Ministry of Finance): For now, we don’t see a big
difference between on- or offline interviews, you just must choose wisely what and how you are going to
test the competencies.
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: In conducting the recruitment
process online all the principles, procedures and deadlines for employment in the civil service remain the
same as those defined in the legislation on civil servants, thus so far we don't notice a particular difference
in the way the process works for different categories. We continue paying attention to the same crucial
points.
2) Could you comment on the cost of introducing e-recruitment (IT solutions, training, etc.)?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium: We used internal applications so no IT cost since
office 365 is already used in our organisation. We have provided internal and external training but that
wasn’t too expensive.
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: The e-testing process was made
possible through an extension of an integrated platform that we already had in place (administrata.al), so
we didn't have additional costs. Also as regards the training of the HR units of state institutions in swiftly
adapting to the new e-recruitment process, the staff of the Department of Public Administration provided
such support with no extra cost. However, for further improvement and development of the system in the
future to make it more sustainable and sophisticated, extra cost may apply.
Security:
3) Proctoring – how do you supervise candidates that do the examination from their home?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium: Proctoring and remote computer testing is a long
term and costly solution. We are working on analysing the different possibilities. For now, we have
redesigned the technical tests: if it is a test before the interview it can be an open book test and candiates
can consult any source they need (focus not on pure technical knowledge but more on practical
understanding of the technical competencies). Or we simply ask open questions during the online interview.
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: As a matter of fact, we still consider
proctoring as a challenge to be addressed, in order to ensure maximal fairness and integrity in the
examination procedures. Thus far we have used a more restricted timing as a controlling mechanism and
also we make sure to ask open questions during the interview to make sure that the competencies and
knowledge of the candidates are properly tested.
Simona Abraitienė, Advisor of Selection Division, Civil Service Department under the Ministry of Interior,
Lithuania: It is set in the law that the members of a commission have the right to ask a candidate to show
around the premises he/she is while participating in an online (remote) interview.

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4) How do you confirm identity of participant?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium: We ask them to show their ID to confirm their
identity.
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: At the beginning of the interview,
the candidates are asked to show on camera the Identification Document.
As regards the e-testing session, the only way candidates can access the testing link is through their personal
account.
Simona Abraitienė, Advisor of Selection Division, Civil Service Department under the Ministry of Interior,
Lithuania: It is set in the law that the members of a commission have the right to ask a candidate to show
around the premises he/she is while participating in an online (remote) interview.
5) What measures do you undertake to ensure data protection and security of data/test questions?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium: We have started to conduct a Privacy impact study
and follow the guidelines on privacy and GDPR.
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: The whole communication is
conducted through encrypted communications and all the questions used are shuffled in real time.
Simona Abraitienė, Advisor of Selection Division, Civil Service Department under the Ministry of Interior,
Lithuania: It is set in the law that an online interview is recorded and also according to GDPR.
IT problems:
6) If there are some technical problems and candidate cannot take part in examination, what is the
solution?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium: We reschedule the interview as stated in our
guides.
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: In cases when the candidates can`t
access the examination due to technical problems, following the verification of such problems, we give them
the chance to conduct the examination again.
7) How do you address potential discrimination between candidates regarding their technical
support (computer issues, internet issues, the level of their familiarity with tech-communication)?
Joke Bauwens, Federal Public Service Finance, Belgium: Computer issues: technical issues are addressed in
our guides. We have a helpline for the candidates to familiarize them with the tool, the guides explain step
by step the tool etc. Our decentralised job partners (their mission is among other things to help more
vulnerable target groups to find a job) offer training to prepare candidates for an online interview. (as they
already did for offline interviews as well).
Albana Koçiu, Director of Department of Public Administration, Albania: As regards the technical or internet
issues, the requirements to access the examination procedure are quite minimal as our online recruitment
procedures do not require specific technological arrangements. The only requirement for the candidates is
to have a 'browser' and internet access and a camera and a microphone for the interview session, which are
not difficult to ensure.
As regards the familiarity of the candidates with the online procedures and systems we use, we have
produced two dedicated user friendly guidelines for e-testing and for interview, to ensure a smooth process.
Furthermore, at the beginning of the e-testing there is a demo session to make sure that candidates
understand the process and get familiar with it. As regards the online interview, to ensure that members of
the Selection Committees understand the process in all its steps, a rehearsal is done a day prior to the actual
interview.