Frequently asked questions

Many cafés, libraries and Job Centres offer free internet access and have computers that you can use.

Use the forgotten user name link on our website. You will receive an email with a reset password link, which expires after a time limit of 6 hours. If you have forgotten your user name, this can be found on the email you received when you registered or on any job alert emails you have received recently. If you cannot find this, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk

The majority of posts are advertised externally, here on our website, social media channels and sometimes on other local/national websites.

No. We use the essential and desirable criteria to shortlist. Experience of working in higher education is not always an essential requirement.

Read the recruitment pack carefully as it contains a job description and person specification. You must demonstrate in your application how you meet the essential criteria. If you meet any of the desirable criteria, please tell us about this too.

We are one of a large number of employers who are members of the Disability Confident Scheme.

A disabled candidate must meet the essential criteria to be guaranteed an interview. However, they are not guaranteed a job offer and must be considered on their merits along with other candidates. The Disability Confident Employer scheme does not breach employment legislation and the UK Disability Discrimination Act permits this kind of positive action.

Where a job involves working with vulnerable groups such as children, or where government contracts are involved, as part of our safeguarding and vetting procedures applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (known as a Disclosure) before the appointment is confirmed. This check is undertaken by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us – this will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background to your offence. Any information provided is kept confidential and seen only by those directly involved in the recruitment process. See the DBS website for more information.

We do not accept speculative CVs as we do not cross match CVs with advertised posts. You can take advantage of our email job alert service which allows you to receive the latest vacancies as soon as they arise, or follow us on our social media channels.

All applications must be submitted via our website unless otherwise stated. If you have a disability which makes it difficult for you to apply online please email us.

This will depend on the post, as some jobs may require more information than others. However, you will be able to save your details as you go along and return to your application at a later date if you wish.

You will receive an automated notification confirming that your application has been submitted.

For academic and research posts, or those that require specialist skills, we may be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for a suitably qualified applicant who is not currently eligible to work in the UK. For all other posts, it is extremely unlikely a Certificate of Sponsorship would be granted. Please see the UK Border Agency website for more information. Each of our posts will state in the job pack if it may be possible to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship for that role.

Yes. However, there are University rules governing the number of hours you can work. Students studying on a visa should check the conditions under which their visa has been granted.

Once the post has closed and shortlisting has taken place, you will be advised by email as to whether or not your application has been successful and if you have been invited to interview. 

You can register for a free email address with a number of providers such as Gmail.

All posts close at midnight on the day specified.

First check any of the mandatory fields are complete in the section that has been highlighted to you as being incomplete, and check fields such as ‘house name’ do not contain a number.

Secondly, try changing to a different browser (such as Firefox). If you are still having difficulties, email us confirming any error messages you have been getting and providing a screen shot if possible.

In the majority of cases, for European residents we will pay the travel expenses to attend the interview in person. However, for applicants living further afield we will try to arrange an interview via a video/telephone conference.

You should tell us in your application any dates/times when you are unavailable and we will try to accommodate these restrictions. If we are unable to reschedule, and we are unable to make an appointment from the candidates that are interviewed, we may reschedule your interview at that point, although it is not guaranteed. We will always keep you informed of developments with your application and the post you have applied for.

The details regarding your interview will be logging into our website (if you selected your own interview timeslot) or in the email sent from the Resourcing Team. If you have any queries, please email us. 

For most posts references will only be taken up for the successful candidate. However, for academic / research jobs (and some senior posts) it is our standard practice to contact referees before interview. If you do not want us to do this without your permission please tell us in your application.

In certain situations, the University will reimburse travel expenses. Please read the candidate information document for further details.

If you have applied under the Disability Confident scheme we will provide feedback to you following your application, upon request. We will also arrange feedback upon request if you are a current or former student of the University, and a current member of staff. Otherwise, feedback will normally only be provided following interview due to the exceptionally high volume, and high standard of applications that we receive for all of our vacancies. Whilst we would like to be able to give all of our applicants' meaningful feedback, it is not feasible for us to do so following the shortlisting stage of the process. 

Congratulations! Once the Resourcing Team have received details of your appointment from your new department we will issue an offer letter and request references for you (if this has not already been done). Once we have received your acceptance of our offer, satisfactory references, proof of your right to work in the UK status and any other role specific documentation we need, we will issue your contract of employment. Your new department will be in touch to make arrangements for your first day.