Application process
If you’re ready to apply for a role with the House of Commons, here’s what you need to know.
Our application process is designed to be inclusive. We’re a Disability Confident Leader, signatories of the Race at Work Charter, and members of the UK Carers Network and Carers UK. That means we’re taking significant action to make our candidate experience more accessible, inclusive and equitable for all.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know by emailing us at recruitment@parliament.uk. This won’t affect your application, and we’re ready to make the changes that help you shine.
But what does our application process involve? How can you ask for reasonable adjustments and can we offer any tips to help you shine? You’ll find the answer to all these questions and more in this section.
Application process
1. Apply
To get started, we'll ask you to submit your CV, supporting statement or online application form via the House of Commons Careers Portal.
If you require any reasonable adjustments, simply tick the box on the application form, and our Recruitment team will be in touch.
2. Review
Next, your application goes to our Recruitment team, who will review your application with our Recruiting panel. All applications are assessed against the criteria in the Job Description. For specific roles, we may ask you to complete an additional task as a part of our initial selection process (please read the relevant section below).
3. Interview
If you’re offered an interview, we’ll conduct this either virtually or in person (which will be decided by the Recruitment team). Typically, interviews last 45 minutes. During that time, we’ll ask you questions that reflect the criteria in the Job Description, and give you the opportunity to talk us through your skills and experience in more detail. We’ll also ask you to provide examples of how you meet the criteria for the role. Ahead of time, our Recruitment team will give you all the information you need, plus tips on how to prepare.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we’re committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role (please read the relevant section below).
4. Conditional offer
If your interview has been successful, we’ll then make you a conditional offer for the position, subject to checks and vetting.
5. Checks and vetting
We'll check your right to work in the UK, and ask for your references for the last three years. Your application will also be subject to security vetting at Counter Terrorism Check level or higher. To enable meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time (a minimum of three years out of the last five years).
6. Formal offer
Once we've completed our pre-employment checks, we'll make you a formal offer. When you’ve accepted this, we’ll confirm your start date.
7. Starting right
Before your start date, we’ll make sure you have the right workplace adjustments in place. During your first few days, we’ll provide you with a laptop, uniform (if necessary), or any tools that are relevant for your role. Once you’ve started your new role with us, we’ll also provide you with an induction to help you settle in.
Additional tasks
For some roles, we may ask you to complete additional tasks, such as a test or presentation. These will always be relevant to the role we’re recruiting for, and the results will help us to understand more about your skills and experience.
For example, we might ask you to complete a written test to assess your ability to analyse information. Alternatively, we may test your verbal or numerical reasoning skills, or ask you to deliver a presentation (where that’s appropriate to the role you’re applying for).
We’ll always give you notice of what we want you to do, plus advice on what we’re looking for and how to do your best.
Inclusive by design
Our application process is designed to work for everyone. So at each stage, we’ve asked: how can we make things fully accessible? As a Disability Confident Leader, we’re committed to making the adjustments that help every candidate fully participate and shine.
If you’d like us to discuss your requirements, please email us at recruitment@parliament.uk.
Anonymised CVs and application forms
We’ve also taken steps to help tackle unconscious bias. We’ll ask you to remove any personal information from your CV before you upload it. You can find out more in our Guide to writing a CV. Why do we do this? For the same reason we also remove personal data from your application form: anonymised CVs and application forms help employers tackle unconscious bias.
Disability Confident Leader Level 3
As a Disability Confident Leader, we’re committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, outlined in the Job Description. This applies if you have a long-term health condition or any visible disabilities, as well as hidden disabilities, such as mental health and neurodiversity (for example autism, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia).