About the job

Job summary

Are you currently studying an Undergraduate Business, IT or Management degree?

Are you interested in developing your skills and building a career path?

At DWP Digital we are the Digital arm of the Department for Work and Pensions and we’re on an exciting transformation journey that needs talented, enthusiastic people to keep us moving forward.

We have amazing opportunities for you to gain valuable and practical work experience to enable you to start an exciting and rewarding career.

We are here to support you with your learning and self-development throughout your placement and beyond.

You will grow your skills and experience through working with more experienced Business Analysts and through the support of other people in the same profession.

Following your placement

If you perform well in the role and wish to continue with DWP Digital there may also be the option to become permanent. This means that you could complete your 12-month placement and return for your final year at university with a guaranteed job on completion!

There are other options available such as extending your contract or working part-time whilst finishing your degree. Certain criteria must be met to be able to do the above and this will be discussed on an individual basis.

Job description

Are you the sort of person who likes getting stuck into interesting problems?

Are you eager to learn new things and ask questions when you do not understand something?

If so, you might be interested in a career in Business Analysis.

You might not have heard what a Business Analyst does before but in simple terms Business Analysts work with colleagues and other people to;

• Focus efforts into building things that people need.
• Bring about changes and improvements to organisations.
• Help improve how citizens interact with government.
• Break down complex information into easier to understand chunks.
• Support and contribute to core activities.

Sounds interesting doesn’t it?

The role will start in September 2024 so please ensure you’re available to complete a 12 month placement by this timeframe.

Person specification

The essential criteria for this role are:

• Currently studying an Undergraduate Degree in IT, Computer Science, Business or Management.
• Able to demonstrate and articulate why you have an interest in Business Analysis as a career pathway.
• How will an industrial placement with DWP Digital help you with this chosen career.
• Able to demonstrate the transferable skills you have that make you a good fit for this placement opportunity.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact jonathan.ford1@dwp.gov.uk.

Benefits

• An employer pension contribution of up to 27% For further information please click here.
• Annual leave rising up to 30 days, (based on your working pattern).
• Family friendly flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working, job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Learning and development tailored to your role this could include industry recognised qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks including: Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Salary Information

Salary for this role is £29,500.

Location

Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.   

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed 

Hybrid Working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.  This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

1. A Personal Details application form.

2. Your employment history detailing your responsibilities, skills, accomplishments, plus your qualifications and relevant training. Please copy this information into the box field provided. 

3. Personal statement up to 750 words. 

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Currently studying an Undergraduate Degree in IT, Computer Science, Business or Management.
• Able to demonstrate and articulate why you have an interest in Business Analysis as a career pathway.
• How will an industrial placement with DWP Digital help you with this chosen career.

The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and personal statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential criteria above. You will receive one combined score for both.

Important Information

You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.

Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.

If your employment history/personal statement contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn.

Stage 2: Interview

If you’re successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the following Experience and Technical Skills:

• Able to demonstrate the transferable skills you have that make you a good fit for this placement opportunity.
• Business Process Improvement
• Relationship Management

You will be asked to do an Scenario based exercise, which will be sent to you as part of your interview. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview. 

Interviews will take place from Early February onwards.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How We Recruit page

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.