Our Recruitment Process

The registration process is usually quick and straightforward but if you do have any questions, please email us or call 01522 876243.

Please ensure you check whether these details are correct before submitting your application.  If you need to amend any details you can do this by clicking on the field you wish to edit or via the Edit option at the side of the text box.  If you wish to add any additional information, this can be done by selecting the 'Add' option.

The application form is split into 7 Sections:

Personal Information, Employment Details, Qualifications and Memberships, Relevant Knowledge, Experience and Skills, Additional Information, Referees and Declaration, Equal Opportunities Monitoring.

The information you input into the application automatically saves each time you click the 'Next' button or the 'Summary' button located at the bottom of the application form screen.   

Please note that the form will time-out after a 30 minute period, if you stay on the same screen (without pressing the next or summary button). Therefore please do be aware that you risk losing data if the form times-out.

It is strongly advised that you type your ‘Relevant Knowledge, Experience and Skills’ information into another document i.e. Microsoft Word, and then copy and paste the text into the box on the online application. 

Each section can be completed in stages by logging in and out of the application.

You can navigate through the application using the Previous and Next buttons at the bottom of the application page.  The Summary button, also located at the bottom of the application page, takes you back to the front screen of your application and allows you to view any areas of the application yet to be completed.  From the page you can also download and print a copy of your application form.

Relevant Knowledge, Experience and Skills

The Fourth stage in the application form process is ‘Relevant Knowledge, Experience and Skills.’  This section is where you make your case for being shortlisted for the post. 

It is strongly advised that you type your ‘Relevant Knowledge, Experience and Skills’ information into another document i.e. Microsoft Word, and then once happy with the information, copy and paste the text into the box on the online application. 

It is not enough to say that you are able to do the job or that you can do the job and will provide further evidence at interview. 

As part of your application, you will need to evidence that you are able to meet the job requirements i.e.  Evidence precisely what you have done and when you did it.
Give examples, where possible, of how you used your skills and experience.  For example, if the person specification asks for experience of Customer Care, possible responses could be:

Poor Example:

I have worked with customers in my previous two positions.

Better Example:

In my previous two roles I have dealt with customers on a day to day basis, being responsible for welcoming people to the organisation and assisting with enquiries both by telephone and face to face.  This has improved both my communication skills and confidence in dealing with complaints and difficult situations.

Complete all sections of the application form.  If you think some parts do not apply, write N/A (not applicable) in the space provided.
Make sure the information you provide is appropriate to the job you are applying for.
Make sure the information you provide is clear, precise and easily understood.
It is recommended that you use the headings from the person specification to help you organise your information.
Include all relevant information on skills, knowledge or experience – including voluntary and unpaid work.
We will not make any assumptions about you or your abilities.  If you do not tell us, we cannot know.
We do not take into account any previous applications or prior knowledge of you.
Don’t worry if you have gained your qualifications overseas.  If relevant, they will be taken into account.
Don’t submit a CV – Applications will only be considered through our online application (or in respect of disabled applicants, another agreed format).

Please ensure that you submit your application before the deadline as late applications will not be considered. 

You will also receive an acknowledgment email from the system to confirm receipt of your application.

Only those candidates who have demonstrated that they meet the job requirements in accordance with the person specification will be shortlisted for interviews.

All panel members are advised to return shortlisting paper work to the HR Unit within 3 weeks of the closing date. 

Once the HR Unit has received the shortlisting paper work, they will email all applicants to inform them whether or not their application was successful.

For some posts, applicants may be asked to undertake written exercises, tests or prepare a submission for presentation as part of the interview process.  If this is the case you will be informed of this as part of your invite to interview email.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified, usually via email, once the shortlisting paper work has been returned to the HR Unit. 

It is College policy to offer feedback to all unsuccessful applicants if requested.    Requests for feedback should be submitted to the HR Unit via jobs@lincolncollege.ac.uk no later than 5 weeks of the closing date of the position.  The HR Unit will then contact the relevant manager and ask that they contact the applicant to provide feedback on their application.

The interview and additional tasks are designed to allow you to expand on the information already given as part of your application. 

The Chair of the Panel will explain the interview process at the start of your interview and panel members will take notes during the interview.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions about the job and the conditions of service.

It is usual practice that the Chair of the Panel contacts all applicants on the same day that the interview takes place to inform them of their selection decision.  However, it is important that the selection decision isn’t rushed and that all panel members are involved in the decision.  If the panel needs more time to consider their decision i.e. the interviews have ended later than expected, the selection decision may be postponed until the following day.  If for any reason there is going to be a delay, the Chair of the Panel will make you aware of this either during the interview or by contacting you after the interview.

Successful Candidates

The Chair of the Panel will make an offer of appointment, usually a verbal offer of over the telephone, to the successful candidate.   Once the successful candidate has accepted the post, the HR Unit will contact the successful candidate to initiate the new starter process.

Unsuccessful Candidates

The Chair of the Panel will contact unsuccessful candidates, usually via telephone to inform them that they have been unsuccessful and provide feedback if requested.

It is College policy to offer feedback to all unsuccessful applicants if requested. Requests for feedback, following interview, should be submitted to the HR Unit via jobs@lincolncollege.ac.uk no later than 10 working days after the interview has taken place. The HR Unit will then contact the Chair of the Panel and ask that they contact you to provide feedback.

In your application for employment, it is important that you understand it is to join a subsidiary company of Lincoln College noting that the terms and conditions are very different to those enjoyed by Lincoln College employees.

Lincoln College employees have terms and conditions protected that are  favourable and include, for example, very generous annual leave and sickness entitlements and access to the local government and teacher’s pension schemes.  These conditions will only remain in future for teaching staff who will continue to be employed directly by Lincoln College. conditions will only remain in future for teaching.

Please note that you will still receive key information about Lincoln College and its subsidiary companies contained within the applicant information pack e.g. important policy documents.