Guidance for job applicants

Before you start

If you’ve seen a job you’re interested in applying for, take some time to read through the job description and person specification. Make a note of the deadline, research the Museum and the work we do, and have details relating to your education and work history ready to include in your application.  

Apply online

When you want to apply for a job, click ‘Apply now’ to start an application. You’ll be asked to enter details such as your name and contact information, before sharing information from your CV such as your employment history, education, qualifications and training.

You’ll also be asked to provide a supporting statement demonstrating why you’re suitable for the role, which we suggest you link to the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. We ask you not to include any personal information – such as full name, phone number, e-mail address or LinkedIn profile – in your supporting statement, as applications are shortlisted anonymously.

The application form will also ask you to submit details for equal opportunities monitoring, which are kept confidential from the hiring managers. Information relating to convictions and referees is also kept confidential. 

Your application will be saved automatically as you go, and you will be emailed a link to continue work on your application if you need to come back to it. 

Give yourself enough time to complete and read through your application before you submit it in time for the deadline. Remember to check the spelling and grammar. Please note that we don’t accept applications after the deadline has passed.

After the advert closes, your application will be reviewed against the essential and desirable criteria for the role. We’ll contact you by email if you’ve been shortlisted for the next stage of the selection process and aim to do this within a week of the closing date. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we can’t provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.   

Interviews

Preparing for your interview

If you’ve been shortlisted, we'll invite you to attend an interview and ask you to book a time slot. The invite will include information on where the interview will take place, who will be on the interview panel, and if you will be required to give a presentation or do an exercise. 

At this stage, if you’re disabled or have a long-term condition, you’ll have the chance to let us know what reasonable adjustments we can support with to make you as comfortable as possible during your interview. These may include being provided the interview questions in advance, requiring a step-free interview space, that you are eye-contact avoidant, having the interview questions in a written format, or additional time in timed tests, interviews or other assessment activities. 

You should review the job description and person specification, and prepare responses that relate to the essential criteria based on your previous experience. Refer to specific examples that demonstrate your knowledge and skills.

Practise any presentations you’ve been asked to prepare and make sure they stick to the timings given. We suggest structuring your answers using the ‘STAR’ method:  

• The specific situation you had to deal with
• The task you were given to do
• The action you took
• The result of the action you took and what you learnt from this experience.

The day of your interview  

Interviews usually take place at our administration offices on Park Row in Greenwich, and we’ll provide a map to help you find us. If not, we will specify this in your interview invite and include a map for directions. 

Check for any travel disruptions and aim to arrive with enough time to report to our reception and go to the toilet if needed. 

It’s normal to feel nervous in interviews and the panel understands this. You can always ask them to repeat any questions that are unclear so that you can carefully consider your response. Remember that the interviews are limited to time, so try to be concise in your answers and avoid rambling. 

What to expect after the interview

We'll contact you as soon as possible to get your feedback on the interview and to let you know the outcome, usually within a week of the interview. 

If you have been unsuccessful, you can request feedback. This usually takes up to three weeks to provide. 

Offers of employment

If your interview has been successful and we’ve been in touch to offer you the job, we will require the following: 

• Proof of the right to work in the UK.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This will be a Basic Disclosure and a Self-Disclosure unless your job requires you to have direct and regular contact with children and vulnerable adults, in which case an Enhanced Disclosure will be required.  
• At least two references which cover your last 5 years of employment and/or education.