Careers and Training

Careers

The jobs we have on offer will be published on the vacancies section of this website. We offer rewarding careers in a number of disciplines including, Receipt & Distribution (often referred to as Stores), Materials Management and Unpacking, Buyers (of various grades) and Systems Development (the IT that supports the work we do).

All staff are supported to undertake training which can maximise their potential and we believe it really can be a place where career ambitions can thrive.

There is a specific section on the website covering Information for applicants (which includes; a basic outline of the process, payscales, tips on completing the application form, pre-employment checks, interview tips, assessment centre information and FAQs). You can find all this information at our dedicated Information for Apprentice and Trainee Applicants pages.

We have included below what we believe are the key things that could help you get a job with us.

Planning your application

Think, Plan, Act.
Read everything you can first. Use opportunities to save your application as you go, even if this means starting it on one day and finishing it another. It is often simple mistakes that can trip you up? (i.e. cutting and pasting the wrong information from another unrelated post, missing words, poor spelling).
Please make what you write fits the profile of the role. Make it clear why we should pick you? Use the ‘other information’ section to stand out from the crowd or emphasise your key aptitudes or role specific knowledge and skills.
If the application advert says, ‘for an informal chat please ring’ or offers you the opportunity of an informal visit this can often be a great way to get noticed and get that all important interview slot.

Preparing for your interview

Do you know where it is and how you will get there?
Have you thought about why you applied for the job and do you feel you know enough about the company where you might be going to work?
Can you articulate how you might have prepared for the interview, what you think your strengths might be, or how you might demonstrate you mirror the values of the organisation?
Will you be working in a team or in your own? Will there be problems to solve and timescales to achieve?
Plan on asking some insightful questions which show you have understood the requirements of the role and the organisation you could be working for.
Google is very useful tool.

Performing well in the interview

The panel will all have been in the same position you are now. They will have wanted to do the best that they can do but will have been nervous about performing well, just as you might be?

Here are some tips we think will help you:

Be prepared. This may seem a strange thing to say, but those who prepare best often succeed the most often.
Pardon, please can you repeat that? If you have not heard the questions it is perfectly acceptable to ask the interviewer to repeat the question. Sometimes questions can be short or long. The longer the question the more difficult it can be to remember everything that was asked and this is often the case if you’re nervous. If however you’ve not understood what we have asked then please be bold and ask if we could rephrase it in another way? (We really do want candidates to do well).
Props are OK. No lucky charms please or a folder of everything you might know about anything. A simple postcard with a few pre-prepared questions is a great illustration that you have prepared.
Be confident. You know much more about you than we do (at the start anyway). Speak clearly and confidently (and without too much jargon). We, in turn, will listen to what you say and try to do the same (i.e. speak clearly and without jargon). (The NHS and procurement is full of acronyms).

Training

Training is an important part of how we improve what we do, how we develop new skills or gather new knowledge. Within Procurement we do that in a number of ways, through accessing eLearning, through sharing knowledge and expertise with others (networking) and by undertaking formal training.

For more information on our the training opportunities available to you please visit our dedicated Training and Development pages.