Guidance on the application process at HEFCE
This information has been put together to help you with our recruitment and selection process. Please follow the links below to guide you through the document.
If your query isn’t covered, please feel free to email us careers@hefce.ac.uk, or if your query is urgent, call us on 0117 931 7004.
- About our job adverts
- Salary
- Applying for a job
- Equal opportunities questionnaire
- After you have applied
- At the interview
- Eligibility to work at HEFCE
- Baseline security checking
- HEFCE Pension scheme
About our job adverts
You can find full details of each vacancy in our vacancies section. If it is not possible for you to use the website, for example because of issues with access or disability, please call us on 0117 931 7092.
Under each vacancy is a brief description of the job advertised a job description and a person specification, which give you detail about the particular knowledge, skills and abilities we are looking for in the successful candidate.
All vacancies close at midnight on the date specified on the advert. Late applications will not be accepted, unless stated otherwise within the advert.
The interview date is specified on the advert, so before applying please ensure you would be free to attend, if shortlisted. This date is normally not negotiable because of the availability of the interview panel.
If you wish to ask a specific question relating to the vacancy you will find a point of contact with a telephone number on the advert.
Salary
All are linked to at least one pay band. On the advert the salary is normally advertised between the minimum and lower reference point. For more information please see our pay bands document [PDF 23K]. The job descriptions and person specifications, however, will show the whole range of salary for that pay band. It is our standard practice to recruit between the minimum and the lower reference point, which is why the advert only shows those figures. However, in exceptional circumstances and subject to additional approval, we may recruit above the lower reference point.
Applying for a job
You will be asked to register your details with a password. This gives you the choice and flexibility about when you want to complete the application form. You can edit, save and return to your application form anytime up until you submit, prior to the closing date.
- The application form is split into 4 sections, (About you, Career and education, Additional information, and Equal opportunities) which can be viewed and printed before you complete the application form
- All sections marked with an * are compulsory to complete, and you will not be able to submit your application until all these fields are complete
- Please be aware that on certain questions word limits apply
- Under ‘Work history’ on the application form please note that when you are entering your employment dates if you have had any gaps in employment, in the last 3 years, you will be asked to provide a reason (For more information see below ‘Baseline security checking’)
- Under ‘Additional information’ we require two references (one must be your present, or most recent, employer and the other must be, where possible, a previous employer)
- Once you are happy and ready to submit your application form print a copy for your own reference, after submitting you won’t be able to retrieve the information
- For your own reference print and save a copy of the job description and person specification. Once the vacancy closing date has passed you will not be able to access the information
Equal opportunities questionnaire
As part of the application form we ask candidates to complete an equal opportunities questionnaire, to ensure equality of opportunity and diversity is achieved. All the information given is treated in the strictest confidence. It will play no part in the assessment of your application. If you do not wish to complete the monitoring form, it will not influence your application in any way
After you have applied
At all stages of the recruitment and selection process, you will be notified of the outcome by email, and feedback is available upon request. A member of the shortlisting or interview panel will aim to reply to a feedback request within five working days
At the interview (expenses / overnight accommodation / assessment)
If you require overnight hotel accommodation, a member of the HR team will be happy to book a hotel room at a pre-agreed HEFCE special rate, paid for directly by the Council. This will be clarified if you are invited to interview.
We will reimburse essential travel and subsistence expenses incurred in the United Kingdom (standard class). Unfortunately we cannot pay for travel incurred outside the United Kingdom. At your interview you will be given an expenses claim form, which needs to be completed and returned with any receipts.
At the interview, any assessments you complete are valid for six months, and you cannot re-take the same assessment within six months. If you apply for a role which requires you to take an assessment you’ve already taken, your previous assessment score will be used. After six months all recruitment information is destroyed.
Eligibility to work at HEFCE
We only accept applications from candidates who are legally entitled to work in the UK. If you require a work permit unfortunately we will not accept your application. This is because HEFCE is a non-departmental public body and required to source candidates from within the European Economic Area. For further information please see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/
Baseline security checking
We are committed to the Baseline Personnel Security Standard introduced by the Cabinet Office. The Baseline Standard highlights good recruitment employment practice and requires us to be more challenging in respect of the checks on prospective employees
We undertake the following pre-appointment checks:
- Identity (passport, other photo ID, utility bills, bank statements etc)
- Full details of employment history for the past three years (name, address and dates). On the application form you will be required to explain any gaps of employment in the last three years that exceed one month
- Nationality and Immigration Status (National Insurance Number or other unique personal identifying number where appropriate)
- Confirmation of permission to work in the UK if appropriate
- Confirmation of any necessary qualifications / licenses
- Criminal record (unspent convictions only)
Additionally, you will be required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (six months or more in the past three years) of time spent abroad. Only original documents can be used for identification purposes; copies are not accepted.
HEFCE pension scheme
If you are successfully appointed you will be eligible to join a civil service contributory pension scheme. The details of the appropriate scheme will be explained to you in more detail, if you are appointed.