Your questions answered

How do I apply?

Please visit out current vacancies page and select the role you would like to apply for. Read the details carefully by downloading the job description and person specification. Click ‘apply’ and fill in our online application form. You will need to attach further documents like a CV and a statement outlining your motivation for wanting to work with us. Our online form may include mandatory questions marked with an asterisk, which you will need to answer in order to progress.

What should I include in the motivation statement?

In your motivation statement we are looking for you to tell us how your experience is a match for the role requirements. Refer closely to both the job description and the person specification when completing this section. Include any real-life examples that demonstrate your skills and how they would make you successful in the role.

We also want to know what inspired you to apply for the role. Tell us what it is about our organisation that attracted you to the position.

We find that stronger applications have a motivation statement, so to give yourself the best opportunity for the role, please ensure you include one. No need to write pages: one side of A4 is perfect, two would be more than enough, so try to limit yourself.

We seek to anonymise your application as much as possible so don’t include personal information on your cover letter and CV. That includes photographs, your name, date of birth, contact information and links to social media. You can mention qualifications if they are helpful to support your application, but you don’t need to say where or when you studied. We would prefer not to have personal information for the shortlisting process.

What employment checks do you make?

• We are obliged to only employ those who have the right to work in the UK, so you must be able to provide proof of that at an interview or during the offer process. Please see the UK Government website for a list of acceptable documents. Please note that we are not licensed with the Home Office to sponsor visas – we will not be able to sponsor your visa if you do not already have one. See the UK Government website to find out if you need a visa to work in the UK and for further information.
• Employment references – offers of appointment are conditional to us receiving two satisfactory references. We would want to approach your current or most recent employer for a reference but would only do that after a job offer has been made.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (or PVG in Scotland) – due to the nature of some of our roles, you may be required to complete a disclosure check. This will be set out in the role requirements if it applies.

What happens if I’ve had criminal convictions or cautions?

We recognise the contribution that ex-offenders can make as employees and volunteers and welcome your application. Evidence of a criminal record will not in itself prevent you from being appointed, and we appreciate you declaring any unspent convictions at an early stage.

If we offer and you accept a role which requires a disclosure check (under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act), we will start the checking process and contact you to discuss any outcomes.

All cases will be considered on an individual basis taking into consideration the context surrounding the offence (for example, the seriousness of the offence, the length of time since it occurred, your age at the time, circumstances surrounding the offence, etc).

Read our full Recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

When will you contact my employment references?

We will not contact your referees until you have accepted our job offer. We would like to contact your current and/or most recent employers, but if this is your first job since leaving full-time education, your headteacher or further education tutor can be given as a referee.

If you are freelance or self-employed and are unable to give a previous employer reference, please speak to us for an alternative route.

Can I send my CV in for you to keep on file?

Unfortunately, we do not accept speculative enquiries for jobs and we are unable to keep CVs on file. If there is not currently a vacancy you are interested in please sign up for our job alerts, so we can let you know when new roles have been posted.

Can I apply for more than one role at any time?

You are more than welcome to apply for more than one role at a time. It will mean that you need to fill in an application form for each role you are interested in and you are advised to ensure you tailor your application for each role to demonstrate where you meet the criteria as detailed in the person specification as they are likely to be different.

What is the latest time I can submit an application?

Applications must be received by midnight on the closing date stated on the job advert.

What happens if I miss a deadline?

I’m afraid we are unable to accept applications after the deadline has closed.

How often do you update your website?

Our careers site is updated as soon as a vacancy is available.

I have applied for a vacancy and not heard anything, will I hear about the status of my application?

We appreciate everyone who makes the effort to apply for one of our roles, and keeping you informed is important to us. We will contact all our candidates to let them know the outcome of their applications either way, but regretfully, it’s not always possible before scheduled interviews.

Can I be notified when you post a vacancy?

Check out our website and social media for the latest vacancies.

Is there any support offered during the recruitment process if I need it?

We want to ensure that people with disabilities and long-term health conditions feel supported, engaged and able to fulfil their potential in the workplace.

We will offer you support in making reasonable adjustments where required, so if that’s something you would benefit from during the application process please contact us via email at hr@mcsuk.org.

If you require adjustments at interview stage please ensure you let us know when accepting the interview invitation.

My application was unsuccessful, can I request feedback?

We can get a large number of applications which unfortunately means we are unable to give individual feedback at the application stage.

If you attend an interview, we do provide feedback at that stage.

What do you do with my data?

Please see our privacy notice.

Why have I received an email to say I was ‘unsuccessful’ before I was able to finish my application form?

For some of our roles, we have minimum criteria that you must meet in order to progress with your application. For example, the application form may use initial pre-application question pages to determine if you meet the minimum requirements of the vacancy. If you do not meet the minimum requirements of the vacancy, you will not be able to continue with your application. Any automated decisions will be highlighted to you in the application process and you will be required to agree that you are happy to proceed using this process.

What happens at an interview?

If you’re invited to an interview, you may be requested to prepare a task in advance, or take part in a group activity as part of the assessment process. We’ll let you have all the details in the invitation to interview.

There will be a competency-based interview where you will be asked to provide examples from your experience, or thought processes against the requirements of the role. The STAR model can be a useful way to prepare for competency-based questions.

Remember that the interview is an opportunity for you to find out about working with the Marine Conservation Society and ask questions about the role – you’re interviewing us, as much as we are interviewing you. Of course, there is a formal element to an interview, but we really want you to enjoy the experience and create an environment where you can relax and be at your best.

If you feel you require any reasonable adjustments which would support you in fully taking part in the interview process, do let us know.