About the job

Job summary

Based in Kew’s Main Library, the Library Graduate Traineeship provides the library management and cataloguing experience needed by graduates embarking on a professional librarianship qualification.  Over the course of the two years, the trainee will catalogue new acquisitions, staff the Enquiry Desk, compile library usage statistics, undertake project work with the library and art collections, assist in the maintenance of the collections and promote the library via social media.

Job description

This position is designed to enable the successful candidate to go on to a future postgraduate course in librarianship or information science, therefore the candidate should be planning to start this course after, or possibly by long-distance study during, the graduate traineeship.

Person specification

Candidates must have a good relevant degree, 2:1 and above or equivalent.

Candidates should not be already professionally qualified. 

Candidate should not have already undertaken a Graduate Traineeship, an equivalent trainee year, or have more than one year’s full-time library experience.

Candidates should have some experience of working or volunteering in a library. 

Whilst a biological science background is desirable, it is not essential and other subjects are acceptable, e.g. history, English literature, art history, etc.

For the complete list of essential and desirable skills please see the job description.

Interviews to be held in early May. 

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via the Kew Gardens website. 

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

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.