The recruitment process
If you are looking for an exciting opportunity in an organisation with a diverse portfolio, offering first-class training and development, along with the chance to work on some complex, high-profile programmes, then the MOD is the place to work.
When you apply for a role with us, you’ll go through a standardised recruitment process, which will vary depending on what position you’re applying to.
The first step is to find a role you’ll be perfect for by searching our Careers page and Civil Service Jobs and apply.
But what happens next? Read below for information on each step of the recruitment process, including some helpful things to consider.
The process
Find your dream job
Submit an application
Make the shortlist
The
interview
Provisional offer
Checks & vetting
Formal
offer
Start your DE&S career
Any other questions? You can email us at peopleservices@dbs.mod.uk
Related pages
Frequently Asked Questions
- You need to set up a profile on the CS Jobs website to apply for a position at DE&S.
- Once logged in to the CS Jobs system, you will be presented with the job search screen. Simply select the criteria for the roles you’re looking for, ensuring you select ‘Ministry of Defence’ in the ‘Organisation’ field and ‘Job Grade’ as ‘Other’.
- Once you have identified a role that you would like to apply for, click on the ‘Apply now’ button. You will be guided through the application process and part of this will involve uploading your CV. Please note that the CS Jobs system will timeout after 45 minutes of inactivity in any open window, the application submission deadline is 23:59 on the closing date and you must frequently save your application form because it will not save automatically.
- We also carry job specifications for featured jobs on this website. The ‘Apply now’ link on these job postings will take you to the corresponding job specification on CS Jobs.
When you arrive for interview, you will be asked for the following documentation:
- Form of ID (passport or driving license)
- Three forms of proof of address (which also shows your name)
- If you’re not a UK national, your Visa
- Forms provided by CSJobs when you were invited to interview (Address History form, Character Enquiry Pensions Questionnaire, Pre-employment Checks Authorisation form, Reference Request form).
All documents need to be originals and we will photocopy them when you arrive for interview
You will then be escorted to the interview room, where the interview will last approximately 45 minutes. You’ll be invited to discuss your CV and career history and to establish whether you demonstrate the DE&S Way Behaviours. To ensure that DE&S can meet its objectives, support our people and deliver to the armed forces, we need a common set of behaviours in our organisation.
If you are successful at interview there are three stages to the offer and on-boarding process:
- Provisional Offer – You will receive a telephone call from the Recruitment Team who will agree a provisional offer with you and explain pre-employment checks (i.e. the on-boarding process). It is crucial that you do not resign from your current employment at this stage.
- On-boarding – The DBS on-boarding team commence three pre-employment checks using the forms you provided when you arrived at interview:
- Formal offer – If the pre-employment checks have completed satisfactorily, you will receive contact from the Defence Business Services (DBS) on-boarder to agree a start date. Following this, you will receive a formal offer by email and post. If you accept the formal offer, this is when you would resign from your current employment.
Who we are
Part of the Ministry of Defence, we’re a mix of 12,000 talented civil servants and military personnel located across the UK and abroad.
What we do
With a £17B annual budget, we ensure the UK’s armed forces have all the equipment and support they need for their operations.
