How to Apply
We know that applying for a job can be a daunting process. At Forest Research, we are committed to making the process as straightforward as possible for you.
If you are interested in any of our roles, just press the Apply Now button on the advertised vacancy you’re interested in. You will be automatically redirected to the external website through which you will need to submit your application. Please note, we are unable to consider applications submitted in any other way.
For the majority of our roles, you will be taken to the Civil Service Jobs portal. For other roles being advertised, such as studentships, you may be directed to a University website (or similar).
If the right role for you is not yet being advertised, you may wish to register with the Civil Service Jobs portal to create one or more vacancy alerts that will automatically inform you when new and relevant opportunities arise.
Your application
Below is some guidance to help with your preparations.
This website will provide you useful guidance on applying for jobs in the Civil Service, including Forest Research.
About the application process | Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
This is the recruitment framework we follow to assess your ability, technical, experience, strength, and behaviours for applications made to our job roles. Success Profiles – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We are a Disability Confident employer, if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you, please let us know.
Forest Research holds a licence to sponsor Skilled Workers under the Home Office points-based immigration system. Candidates wishing to apply should note that the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship would depend on an assessment of the vacant role against defined criteria, which include:
- whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in Forest Research, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or
- whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and
- evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously.
Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.
For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers [PDF, 87 KB].
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive confirmation of this through an email sent by the Civil Service Jobs portal.
Once the vacancy has closed, and the initial sift has been completed, you’ll receive a further notification informing you if you’ve been selected for interview.
If you have been selected for interview, the email will detail how you can book one of the available interview slots.
Unsuccessful candidates will be able to view their feedback online through the Civil Service Jobs portal.
Key dates about the application process will be given within the information on the portal for each post being advertised. It is recommended that you make a note of these dates at the time you are submitting your application.
We hold interviews in person or virtually using Microsoft Teams. For virtual interviews, we’ll send you an invitation with full instructions and all the details you’ll need. All you need to do is prepare as you would normally for an interview.
You will be notified of your conditional offer by telephone and via Civil Service Jobs portal.
All of our appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of:
- Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks;
- Verification of qualifications, certificates, and memberships required for the role; and
- Medical Questionnaire.
If you previously worked with us or the wider Civil Service, you may apply to be considered for reappointment on a permanent or fixed term basis.
To be eligible for this you must have:
- originally been recruited based on merit through fair and open competition (including conversion to permanency as an exception to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles);
- clearly met the performance and attendance requirements of your previous post; and
- left the Civil Service within the past five years and left under acceptable circumstances.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with HR.Services@ForestResearch.gov.uk