The UKAEA recruitment process
We understand that it can be a daunting process if you are applying for a job and you don’t know what to expect. We have put together this guide to help you understand the hiring process when you apply for one of our jobs.
Your application
The first step is to read the job advert and submit your application. You will be asked a small number of screening questions and for your CV (you can also attach an optional covering letter). You will need to submit these online via our applicant tracking system Smart Recruiters. You should usually expect an email within a week of application to advise that your cv is being reviewed or that you are unsuccessful. If your application is not progressed, please set up a job alert here.
If you’re unsure how to apply for one of our vacancies, read our guide on how to apply.
The next steps
If shortlisted, someone from the UKAEA Talent Acquisition team will contact you either by email or phone to set up the next steps in the hiring process.
- MS teams pre-qualifying interview
The first step is typically a 10-20 min virtual interview with a member of our talent team. This will involve talking through your experience and motivations for wanting to join us and may include technical questions.
When we invite you we will ask if we can provide any support or adaptations during the recruitment process, such as a call with cameras turned off or a ground floor interview room.
- Face-to-face or virtual panel interview
If successful, the next step in the interview process will be a second stage, panel interview. This normally lasts around 60 minutes, and you will be asked more detailed interview questions, which will contain a mixture of behavioural and technical competency questions. For this stage you might be asked to prepare a short presentation. The presentation would be on a specific topic relevant to the role and would be provided at least a week before the interview. And we may ask you to complete assessments relevant to the role.
Please note that travel expenses for interviews are reimbursed only for Graduate Scheme Assessment days.
Pre-employment checks
If successful in being offered a job at UKAEA, we have a few required checks that we must undertake before finalising your employment offer.
Applicants who are British or Irish citizens, or have pre-settled/settled status have the automatic right to work for us.
You will be asked to provide clear documentation to confirm that you have the right to work in the UK. This could be a passport or for example a Global Talent Visa.
UKAEA hold a sponsor licence which means we can sponsor under the skilled worker route, subject to meeting the requirements of sponsorship in this route.
In order to obtain sponsorship, there are a number of requirements that you will be expected to meet, further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-partner-and-children.
Please also note, UKAEA do not reimburse VISA costs for dependents or family members.
You will be required to undergo security background checks before joining our team, including a criminal record check.
During the process, we will request details of your references. One of these must be your current or most recent employer or educational establishment.
We won’t contact your references until a formal offer of employment has been made and accepted.
If you have any further questions, please contact talent@ukaea.uk for more information.
Take a look at our typical roles to understand what your day to day work will involve if you’re successful!
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Take a look at our current vacancies and read more about our career development schemes.
