Welcome
As a result of our work with the national security community, we have a much longer recruitment process than you might be used to. It's thorough for a reason - and we really appreciate your patience while we process your application.
That's why we created this site - The Park. It's to help you get to know HMGCC a bit better and to prepare you for the next stages of the process. We really look forward to meeting you, but in the meantime have a browse through some key information, tips and handy FAQs.
Thank you again for your patience - we hope you find this useful!
How to prepare for your interview
No matter how experienced you are, interviews can be a bit daunting! But remember, we’re just trying to get to know you better, to understand your experience and suitability for the role and it’s also an opportunity for you to ask us some questions of your own.
Think about the situations you’ve experienced and any examples you could use inside and outside of work. Have a look at the job profile (you can access it if you login to your application) and familiarise yourself with the STAR structure. It’s an effective way of answering questions:
- Situation – what was the background? Set the scene.
- Task – give specifics of what was required, who was involved.
- Action – what did you do? What behaviours did you show?
- Result – what was the outcome?
We conduct interviews online and in-person. Below, we’ve put together some information and advice on how to prepare for both.
Online interviews
You’ll be sent a link in advance to a platform called WebEx where you can join the interview. If you require any reasonable adjustments or you’re concerned about WebEx not being available to you, please get in touch with our hiring team and we’ll do our best to help you.
Before the call, make sure you’re set up in a quiet, comfortable room where you won’t be disturbed (by people or pets).
Ensure that your background is plain, and that we can see you clearly – that means good lighting as well as a stable internet connection. Your screen should be stable and ideally at eye level. Have a practice before the call to make sure your camera and microphone are working, too. And make sure you’ve got plenty of charge or that your device is plugged in!
Dress as you normally would for an interview, though we’d recommend avoiding busy patterns or white clothing as these don’t tend to show up as well on video. Keep a drink nearby, as well as a notebook, pen and a copy of your CV and any additional notes you might need – things like the hiring team’s contact details, or examples you want to refer to.
At the start of the interview, we’ll carry out an identification check. Please make sure you have your in-date passport or valid UK driving licence (provisional is fine). We’ll then proceed with the interview. You’ll be asked a mix of technical and competency questions by two or three interviewers. You can find a full list of our competencies here in The Park.
In-person interviews
These take place at Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes. If you have any problems attending your interview, please call our 24-hour answerphone on 01908 510052 as soon as you can. Make sure you’ve also brought a valid form of photographic ID – a full or provisional driving licence or passport is acceptable.
Ensure you’ve got the directions and have planned for any traffic/delays. You’ll need to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled interview start time so that we can conduct our security procedures. Unfortunately, if you’re not 30 minutes early you may not be allowed on site. If you’re being driven by someone else, please be aware that there is no waiting area for drop-offs, and they will not be permitted to sit in reception. There’s also a 450m path from the reception area to where you’ll be interviewed, so please make sure you dress appropriately and let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.
Our office is a secure, restricted area. That means you won’t be able to bring any items with a record or transmit capacity into the building – including phones, laptops, memory sticks or cameras. You can leave these in your car, in a bag at reception, or we have small lockers for mobile devices. If you wear a device with a WiFi or Bluetooth capability (e.g. a Bluetooth hearing aid), please let us know well in advance. It’s not an issue – we just need be aware!
Please note that for some of our tech roles there will be a practical element as part of the interview process, and for these you may not be allowed to bring in any notes. We’ll provide clear guidance in advance of your interview if this is the case.
Our competencies
Our key competencies are the areas you’ll be assessed against in your interview. These are measured on a varying level depending on the role you’re applying for, so don’t worry if you don’t have experience in every area. These competencies are more about your behaviours than your skills.
Future
Seeing the big picture
Understand how goals support and align with other teams and organisational objectives. Recognise wider priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
Driving innovation and change
Seek out opportunities for experimentation and suggest ideas for change and improvement. Review and adapt ways of working to prepare for the future, including seeking and providing feedback.
Continuously developing
Prioritise continuous learning and development for self, others and the organisation. Recognise different contributions and embrace all learning, even when things do not go as planned.
People
Communicating and influencing
Engage and listen to the perspectives of others, respecting their needs, responses and opinions. Make sure to understand others and prepare to adapt. Communicate purposefully with clarity, integrity and empathy.
Working collaboratively
Develop effective partnerships and relationships internally and externally, seeking out a range of diverse perspectives, sharing information, resources and support generously.
Leading inclusively
Show pride in the organisation’s work and role model our values. Create, engage and empower others to deliver a shared vision. Value equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
Delivery
Making effective decisions
Use data, evidence and knowledge to support advice and transparent decision making, taking account of compliance standards. Consider alternative options and consult others. Recognise bias and the implications and risks of decisions.
Delivering outcomes
Take responsibility for delivering timely and high-quality results with agility, focus and drive. Plan, review and adapt approach to meet priorities.
Providing customer value
Form an understanding of customers and manage their requirements. Deliver with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse needs and expectations.
After the interview
Please note that it’s our policy not to give reasons for our decisions if you’re unsuccessful and will be unable to deliver feedback. Should you be successful, you’ll then need to provide a valid 10-year British passport OR full/provisional driving licence, a passport photo, and a proof of address (e.g. a bank statement or utility bill).
One more thing
If you’re successful at interview and receive a conditional offer (subject to your security clearance), you’ll be required to attend a vetting interview and complete a drugs test. It’s something all candidates complete at this stage and allows us to check for any illegal substances in your system.
So, how do we do it? We’ll take roughly 50-100 hairs from the crown of your head. If that’s not an option, we’ll take it from your underarms, chest, legs or even nail clippings.
As part of the vetting process, you’ll also need to provide details of any drugs you’ve used in the last few months. This includes prescription, non-prescription and recreational drugs. Remember, you’ll have already confirmed that you won’t take illegal drugs when you applied. If we find out this isn’t the case, it could harm your vetting application. The best thing you can do is be honest throughout the process.
Got questions?
We’re not surprised.
Working for HMGCC means always seeking to broaden your understanding and deepen your knowledge - and it’s no different when it comes to the recruitment process. Please take a look at the FAQs below.