YOUR NEXT ROLE IS ONLY A FEW STEPS AWAY
From finding and applying for jobs to tracking the status of your application, here's everything you need to know about our hiring process and what you can expect from us every step of the way so you are set up for success:
Step 1
Search for Roles
SEARCH ROLES
We have a large number of roles across all areas of our organisation, so the options are endless
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we advertise on a variety of job boards including LinkedIn, Charity Jobs website and many more. They all lead you back to our careers page though, don’t worry
Yes, you can sign up for job alerts which notify you when a suitable job opening becomes available. There’s a link at bottom of every careers page and you can click here too.
Yes, depending on the nature of the role, vacancies are advertised as full or part time. However we are open to discussions around condensed hours or job share.
We are mainly a remote-first organisation which means you will be mainly working from home, but you may be expected to come to your contracted office to spend time collaborating and building relationships with your colleagues. This will be agreed in advance with your manager and could be up to 2 - 4 days per month. (Please note: travel costs to your contracted office are not covered by our charity).
Our offices across the UK (Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester) are open if you wish to work from the office as many of our employees do
Please note: There are some roles which require you to be onsite (e.g. Shop Manager) but this will be clearly stated on our job adverts.
Step 2
Your CV
Your CV is key to securing an interview, so it’s important to tailor your CV to the role you are applying for by highlighting your relevant achievements and experience so we can see how you meet the essential requirements of the role. Remember, this is our first time “meeting” you and first impressions are key
Frequently Asked Questions
Everyone who applies is given the same time and consideration but there are a few things you can do to make sure your CV stands out. This includes:
- Aligning your knowledge, skills and experience with the job description and in particular the essential requirements for the role
- Be specific about projects you’ve worked on or managed (e.g. What was the outcome? How did you measure success?)
- Where possible, include figures and numbers when highlighting your achievements
No, they aren’t required and will not be considered as part of your application even if you do include one.
Step 3
Application
Our online application is the first step in the hiring process. If you have applied for a role with us before, great news – your uploaded personal information will still be on the system. Remember to “double check” your application before you press submit
Please note: Our website has an Accessibility Tool which allows you to display the web page content in a way that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there is a “save as draft” button. You can return to your application at any time to complete and edit information you previously provided.
Most advertised roles will not have end dates, so it is best to apply as early as possible to avoid missing out. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
We are a diverse organisations made up of employees from all over the world, however English is the common language used for communication in our organisation. Therefore, we ask that you apply in English.
Save the Children UK will occasionally offer visa sponsorship for certain roles. Our ability to offer sponsorship will be indicated when you complete the online application form.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email from us. If you do not receive one, please check your junk/spam folder.
Absolutely. You will be given the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments when you submit your application. We’re always happy to help and will do what we can to support you.
Yes, we will let you know by email.
Step 4
Interview
The interview is an opportunity for us to learn a bit more about you and talk through your skills and achievements. It is also a chance to get to know us better and you can decide if we are the right organisation for you.
Where possible we will aim to have representative selection panel as we believe that diversity of thought and background is important to ensure candidates are confident that they are being assessed fairly and on merit alone.
Please note: In most cases our hiring process has moved to a fully virtual and online experience with interviews and skill assessment tests conducted via video calls unless otherwise advised to ensure the safety of our candidates and employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
The number of interviews depends on the role you are applying for. There are usually no more than two interviews / assessments.
We know how important feedback is for ongoing career development, so we will always do our best to provide it when and where we can. There may be some instances where giving detailed feedback isn’t possible and we will let you know if this is the case.
Step 5
Skills Assessment Test
There are some skill sets that cannot be assessed in a conversational interview alone. For example, if the role you’re interviewing for requires a specific technical ability, we may ask you to demonstrate these skills to ensure you will be able to perform the role comfortably and proficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
This will depend on the type of role you are applying for but could include answering a short question, taking a technical test or producing a presentation. You will be informed of all assessment information with ample time to prepare with full detailed instructions.
Yes, we do offer reasonable adjustments should you need them at assessments stage.
Step 6
Offer
If you get offered the job, congrats
This stage is where we send you a written offer letter which confirms the salary and terms of your new role (e.g. contract length and work location). This offer is conditional and subject to successfully passing our pre-employment checks. After signing your offer letter you will be contacted by one of our HR Officers to help guide you through the onboarding process.
Please note: If you are not offered the role after interview we understand that you may be disappointed, but please do not be disheartened. We receive significant numbers of applications for our roles and to be invited to interview means you are among the strongest candidates. We’ll always offer feedback after interview so that you can understand any areas for improvement and be best prepared for your next interview. There are always other roles that might be suitable.
Pre-Employment Checks
Our commitment to the safeguarding of children and adults is at the forefront of everything we do. This means a formal employment contract will not be sent and candidates cannot start with us until they have successfully passed a pre-employment check. The checks will begin once the job offer has been accepted and we advise that they can take a minimum of 4 weeks to complete.
There are 7 types of pre-employment checks that may be required depending on the job you have been offered.
Once you’ve successfully passed your pre-employment checks, we will send you a formal employment contract. This is where your journey with Save the Children UK formally begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are committed to ensuring fair pay for all employees by offering salaries based on your performance at interview and assessment. To help support this, analysing pay data plays an important part of our work and forms a key part of our drive to close pay imbalances. This pay data work is documented publicly in our annual pay policy.
We understand the sensitivity of this so we will not contact your references without letting you know first and asking for your consent.
On average this process takes up to 4 weeks but can be as quick as 1 to 2 weeks. In some rare instances, it can take as long as 6 weeks (e.g. if you have recently lived overseas). We advise that you start your pre-employment checks as soon as you get the request through as we cannot confirm a start date until this is complete.
Our advice is to resign only when your pre-employment checks are successfully completed and have received your employment contract and not when you have only received your offer letter.
Step 7
Onboarding
Our goal is to make you feel valued and empowered to deliver the work that will change the lives of children for the better. This means that we will do everything we can to give you a great start including creating a personalised induction programme suited to your role and provide networking opportunities with colleagues across the organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. As a Disability confident Employer we are committed to any adjustments that are considered reasonable and we will ask if you need any adjustments prior to your first day with us.
We will also provide you a Reasonable Adjustments Passport (RAP) – a live, online document which will allow you and your line manager to record the agreed adjustments required to do your role. This will form the basis for regular conversations about your adjustments throughout your employment with our organisation.
You can look forward to meeting your team, reading up on all things Save the Children UK, inductions and training sessions too. Initially, it’s all about helping you to feel familiar and comfortable with the way we work so you feel supported every step of the way. You’ll hear from your manager before you start, to discuss your first days and weeks with Save the Children.
