Opportunities

Roles in Research and Information

There are many roles that make up Research and Information (R&I). Our team includes communications professionals, data and information managers, librarians, researchers, scientists, statisticians and more.

We advertise our opportunities on the House of Commons careers website. You can also find out more about the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology’s Fellowships on the POST website.

If you want to know more about R&I roles, and what it is like working with us, view our staff profiles.

What we are looking for

We are proud of our  organisational values, and we are looking for people who can bring them to life:

• Inclusive: We value everyone equally. We respect each other and all have a voice.
• Courageous: We try new things. We own our actions and decisions and learn from our mistakes.
• Trusted: We trust each other to do a good job. We are impartial and build confidence in Parliament through our integrity.
• Collaborative: We share our knowledge and experience. We work towards a shared vision and know we work better in partnership.

We also look for a variety of skills and abilities in the people who work with us. For some roles, we focus on your experience of research and analysis, or your ability to work with and understand data.

Sometimes, we will be looking for experience in people management, or your ability to work under pressure and prioritise and manage deadlines. These are just some examples and we will always set out the essential requirements needed in the job description.

Depending on the role, we rarely need to see a qualification, and we do not always ask for direct experience. For some roles, particularly at entry level, we look for potential and aptitude.

Working in the UK Parliament can also mean getting familiar with a lot of different practices and processes, so we offer a range of training and support when you join us to help with this.

Library Researcher roles

Our Library Researcher roles are a development grade. We look for people with strong research skills, a demonstrable interest in policy and/or statistical areas, and a willingness to learn and develop.

After completing a six-month probationary period, and subject to reaching satisfactory performance levels, successful candidates can apply to progress to the next grade. This involves an assessment process for which we provide the necessary training and support throughout.

We do not have set application windows for our Library Researcher roles. So as with all our opportunities, keep a look out on the House of Commons careers website or follow us on Twitter @commonslibrary for updates.

How to apply and what to expect

We welcome applications from people inclusive of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race and ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and caring responsibilities.

The House of Commons careers website has a list of opportunities, including job descriptions and information on how to apply.

Our job descriptions give you details on what the role involves, the essential requirements we are looking for, and the skills or experience you need (the criteria).

For most roles, we ask you to fill out an online application form. This typically includes competency related criteria which are essential to the job and what we are looking for in a candidate. Depending on the role, we might ask for a CV and supporting statement instead.

In your application, you will need to tell us how your skills, knowledge, and experience meet the criteria. You can save your application and come back to it any time before the deadline.

We may also ask you to complete a test before interview.

The STAR format

When giving examples in your application to show how you meet the criteria listed on the job description, we recommend you use the STAR method:

• S – situation: Describe the situation you were in.
• T – task: What was the task that you needed to do to deal with the situation?
• A – action: What did you do? How did you do it?
• R – result: What was the outcome of your action(s)?

You can use examples from your work, education or life and responsibilities outside work. We are most interested in hearing about what you did, how you did it and why (the “action” part). For example, if you say you “communicated effectively” we want to know how you went about communicating effectively and why you did it in that way.

One example may be enough if it demonstrates all aspects of the criterion. There is no right or wrong number of examples you can give for each criterion. However, between one and three is usual to make sure you give enough evidence within the word limit on the application form.

The examples in your answers are then assessed against the criteria to determine whether you progress to the next stage.

Tests and assessments

For some roles we ask candidates to complete a test or assessment. These will always be relevant to the role we are recruiting for and assess aspects of the criteria set out in the job description. The results will help us to understand more about your skills and experience.

For example, we might ask you to complete a written test to assess your ability to analyse information, or test your verbal or numerical reasoning skills, or ask you to deliver a presentation (where it is appropriate to the role you are applying for). We will always give you notice of what we want you to do, plus advice on what we are looking for and how to do your best.

Interviews

If you are invited to an interview, the House of Commons Resourcing team will give you all the information you need, plus tips on how to prepare.

Interviews usually last 45 minutes and we will ask you questions focused on the criteria the role requires. Typically, these will be example-based questions that will give you the opportunity to talk us through your skills and experience in more detail. You can use the examples you used in your application, or you can tell us about other relevant experience. The STAR format is a useful structure to follow, as described in the “The STAR format” section above.

Support

We can make reasonable adjustments if you need support with completing your application, taking a test, or interviewing. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to ensuring our selection process is equal and inclusive.

Please contact the House of Commons Resourcing team to see how we can meet your needs: Email recruitment@parliament.uk or telephone 0207 219 6011.

When you join us, we can also make workplace adjustments so that you have everything you need to do the job. Workplace adjustments can prevent, reduce or remove obstacles you might have at work. This includes mental health, and physical or non-physical requirements.

Benefits

Find out more about the benefits of working for the House of Commons including our various Workplace Equality Networks (WENs) and more.