Interviewing and hiring process

The person specification within the job description lists key skills and experience that are essential to the post. 

You should demonstrate how your experience meets each of these requirements, giving specific examples for each person specification criteria, as outlined in the job description.

These examples can include experience gained either from work, study and home, or in a voluntary capacity. Your evidence should be clear and relate as closely as possible to the person specification.

You should give thought to previous work experience or other responsibilities that may help you to uncover skills that you may have taken for granted. Do not forget the skills and experience that you may have gained outside full-time work.

If you have been out of paid employment for a long time, or have never been employed, your job history may be less important than some of the responsibilities and experience that you have had more recently.

When applying for any of our roles, you will automatically be redirected to our recruitment portal to complete an online application.

Can I apply via a mobile device?

Our system is compatible with mobile phone devices, laptops and PCs. However, it is recommended to use a laptop or PC when completing the application form.

Can I save my part-completed application and return to it later?

Application forms automatically save a few seconds after each change is made. Every page of our application forms has the following text:

"We advise reviewing the entire form before attempting to complete. Every change you make is automatically saved.”

Can I access my application once it’s been submitted?

Candidates cannot re-enter and edit their application form once submitted. You can download your submitted application form from the applicant gateway: https://ndcs.applicantgateway.com/

I've applied for a role with you before, do I need to complete my application in full again?

If you are applying for a different role you will have to complete your application in full.

I've not received an email confirming my application has been submitted

If you haven’t received an email stating that your application has been submitted, please log in to your account and make sure that you have completed all mandatory fields and have submitted the application.

Please note that confirmation emails are sent only to the applicants who have submitted their application in full.

What happens to my application if I haven’t submitted it?

If you do not submit your application (whether the application has been completed or not) you will not be considered for the role.

We ask you to upload your CV as part of the application process. 

Please note, you still need to respond to the other application questions in order for your application to be considered. 

If you send us your CV but do not complete the mandatory questions of an application, it will not be reviewed or taken into consideration.

Please email us at recruitment@ndcs.org.uk and we'll be happy to assist you.

All applications must be made online. However, if in exceptional circumstances you are unable to apply online, please contact us at least seven working days before the closing date by emailing recruitment@ndcs.org.uk to request a paper application pack.

The paper application pack will contain exactly the same information as on our recruitment portal and you should allow at least four working days for the information to arrive. 

Applications must be received by the closing date stated on the job advertisement.

If you require reasonable adjustments and would like to apply for one of our roles in video or audio formats, please email recruitment@ndcs.org.uk at least seven working dates before the job application closing date. We will contact you to guide you through the process. 

All applications are shortlisted after the closing date by the relevant recruiting manager and shortlisting panel member/s, according to the person specifications of the job description.

Most of our interviews involve selection tests and/or a presentation which you will be asked to prepare prior to the interview. 

In some cases we hold second round interviews. If you are successful at the interview/s, you will be offered the post subject to receipt of satisfactory pre-employment checks.

If you’re successful at interview, it’ll take between two to eight weeks to complete the necessary pre-employment checks, depending on the role requirements. 

Any offer of employment will always be conditional upon the satisfactory completion of the required pre-employment checks.

If successful, you’ll need to provide details of two referees. They should be from your present and most recent former employer (or your two most recent former employers if you are not currently working). 

If you’re unable to provide the above references please discuss this at your interview.

You’ll also be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

We’ll also ask you to complete a pre-employment health questionnaire so that we can consider any reasonable adjustments that may be needed.

If a particular qualification is required for the role, you’ll need to provide your qualification certificate.

You’ll not be able to start employment until two satisfactory references have been received and your right to work in the UK and qualification (if applicable) has been verified.

If you’re applying for a role that requires a criminal record check, you’ll need to complete a self-disclosure form as part of your online application. If you’re offered the role you’ll then need to apply for a disclosure check. 

Typically, an enhanced disclosure check takes between six to eight weeks, while a basic one takes up to two weeks.

If you’re an applicant from overseas, the same checks will be made but where the post requires a criminal record check, a certificate of good conduct from your local police or embassy will replace the DBS/Disclosure Scotland/Access NI disclosure check.

You’ll not be able to start work until employment checks have been received and checked by HR. Any offer of employment will always be subject to satisfactory completion of the relevant checks. 

If your checks are unsatisfactory any offer of employment may be withdrawn.

We’re committed to equality of opportunity for all job applicants and select people to work with us on the basis of individual skills, abilities, experience and knowledge. 

This means we welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records.

Some offers of employment made by us are for roles that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and are subject to an enhanced or an enhanced with barred lists criminal record check. 

We look at any history of criminal convictions carefully. The nature of the conviction will be assessed on a post-by-post and applicant-by-applicant basis.

Our duty of care to protect vulnerable service users is paramount, although we also recognise the need for people with past convictions to move on positively.

In line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) (the Act), you don’t have to disclose spent convictions unless the post you’re applying for is exempt from the provisions of the Act. 

If the post is exempt, you’ll be required to declare any prosecutions or convictions you may have, even if they would otherwise be regarded as “spent” under the Act, unless they are eligible for filtering. 

Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to any position to which the order applies.

We’ll also request a disclosure check at the appropriate level for the post so that we can make informed recruitment decisions and provide the appropriate duty of care to our staff, volunteers, customers and beneficiaries.

If you've been convicted or cautioned you may still be eligible for appointment depending on the nature and circumstances of the offence. 

However, failure to disclose details will result in your application being rejected and, if appointed, may lead to dismissal.

To work with us, you must have the right to work in the UK. It is your responsibility to provide evidence of your right to work in line with current Home Office guidelines. 

Your continued employment is always subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

Yes, as different jobs will have different requirements listed under the person specification.

Please see our Recruitment support page for details.

All our roles are home-based apart from a handful of IT and facilities roles, which are based at our London office. 

For homeworking roles a generous monthly homeworker allowance is paid to help with costs.

Each new post will have been assessed before advertising. If a post is advertised as full-time or part-time then this is what we believe is required to successfully fulfil the demands of the role. 

However other options can be discussed at interview.

If you’re invited to interview you should hear from us within two weeks of the closing date. The interview dates are listed on the website. 

Unfortunately, if you’ve not heard from us by the interview date you won’t have been shortlisted.

If you’re interviewed you can expect to hear the outcome from us between 5 and 10 working days after your interview. 

We’ll give you feedback about your interview if you request it.

You'll receive an automated acknowledgement email from us when we receive your application. 

You can log into your account to see the status of your applications.

We don't pay travel expenses. However if, in exceptional circumstances, it is deemed appropriate to offer travel expenses, details will be included in the recruitment documentation.

If you’re expected to prepare anything for a test or presentation or bring anything to the interview, this will be specified in your interview invitation. 

You’re not required to bring any documentation on the day of the interview.

All your personal information will be dealt with in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

See our Privacy policy for more information.