Recruitment FAQs
Before you apply
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Where can I find out what it's like to work at the Ramblers?
You are welcome to explore our careers site, where you can find out more about our teams, our culture and values, benefits and the work we do to open the way for everyone to enjoy walking.
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I don't meet every point in the role profile. Should I still apply?
Take a look at the criteria in the role profile and think about how your skills and experience relate to what we're looking for.
Your experience doesn't have to have come from an identical role or organisation. Think about the skills you've gained through your work and other experiences and how they could transfer to the role.
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I can't see the right role for me. Can I register my interest?
Yes. You can use the Connect buttons on our careers website and we'll let you know when new opportunities come up that could be a good fit.
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Can I talk to someone about the role before I apply?
If you have a question about a particular role or our recruitment process, you can get in touch with us through the chat box or by emailing recruitment@ramblers.org.uk.
Accessibility and adjustments
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What support and adjustments are available during the recruitment process?
We want our recruitment process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible.
If you need any adjustment to apply for a role or take part in an interview, please let us know. We can discuss support with you at any stage of the recruitment process, and you don't need to wait until you've been invited to interview to get in touch.
Adjustments will depend on your individual needs and could include changes to the format or timing of an interview or assessment, receiving information in advance, or other arrangements that help remove barriers and allow you to participate fully. We encourage you to talk to us about what would be helpful rather than worrying about whether a specific adjustment is available.
To help candidates prepare, we share interview questions or key themes at least 24 hours before the interview. We believe this creates a fairer process and helps us have a better conversation about what you can bring to the role.
Your application
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Will the Ramblers sponsor a visa or work permit for me?
Unfortunately, we are not currently able to provide sponsorship for visas or work permits, and as such cannot consider applicants who don’t already have the right to work in the UK.
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What should I include in my supporting statement?
Focus on the role you're applying for and show us how your skills and experience meet the criteria in the role profile.
We recognise that relevant skills and experience can come from different parts of your life so you are welcome to use examples from outside paid employment.
What matters is helping us understand what you can bring to the role - tell us what you did, the difference you made and what you learned rather than simply listing responsibilities.
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What is your policy on the use of AI in applications?
We recognise that candidates may use AI tools to support their application, including to improve accessibility, organise their thoughts or help remove barriers.
If you use AI, make sure the final application genuinely reflects your skills, experience and voice and that everything you tell us is accurate.
We may use AI to help summarise application information, but every application is reviewed and shortlisted by a person. Recruitment decisions are always made by people.
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How will I know you've received my application?
You will receive confirmation through our recruitment system after successfully submitting your application.
If you're unsure whether it has reached us, check your junk or spam folder first and then contact us through the chat box or by emailing recruitment@ramblers.org.uk.
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I'm having problems completing my application. What should I do?
Please contact us through the chat box or by emailing recruitment@ramblers.org.uk.
We don't want a technical issue or accessibility barrier to stop you applying.
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How do you shortlist applications?
All applicant information is anonymised during initial shortlisting. We'll assess your application against the criteria set out in the role profile.
That's why it's important to use your application to show clearly how your skills and experience relate to what we're looking for.
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When will I hear from you?
The timescale will vary between roles, but we'll aim to keep the recruitment process moving and communicate with you about what happens next.
Check the vacancy information and emails from our recruitment system for information about the particular role you've applied for.
Interviews
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What happens if I'm invited to interview?
We'll email you with a link to choose from the available interview dates and times.
Once you've booked, we'll send you confirmation together with information about what to expect and how to prepare.
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Will my interview be online or in person?
It could be either.
We'll tell you when you're invited to interview and give you the information you need to prepare.
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Who will interview me?
You'll be told who you'll be meeting as part of your interview arrangements.
Your interview is also an opportunity for you to meet people from the Ramblers and decide whether the role and organisation feel right for you.
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Will there be a task or presentation?
Some roles may include a practical task, presentation, online video interview or a second-stage interview.
If your recruitment process includes any of these, we'll tell you what to expect and provide information to help you prepare.
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How can I best prepare for my interview?
We'll share the interview questions or key themes at least 24 hours before your interview. We believe giving people the opportunity to prepare creates a fairer process and helps us have a better conversation about what you can bring to the role.
You're also welcome to make notes to help you prepare and refer to them during your interview. We're interested in your skills, experience and thinking - we're not testing your memory.
If you don't understand a question during the interview, you can ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify it. We'd rather make sure you've understood what we're asking than have you try to guess.
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When will I hear the outcome?
We'll aim to let you know the outcome as soon as we can. Where a process has more than one stage, we'll make that clear and tell you what happens next.
If you're successful, the recruiting manager will usually contact you directly to talk through the offer.
This will include the starting salary, benefits, proposed start date and any expectations around office-based working. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions before making your decision.
Once everything has been agreed, we'll send you your formal offer and contract.
Once you accept our offer, we'll send you a secure link to provide the information we need to prepare for your first day and complete any required pre-employment checks.
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Will I get feedback if I'm unsuccessful?
If you've been interviewed, yes.
We'll provide feedback on your interview, particularly if you're unsuccessful. We know candidates invest considerable time in preparing for interview and want the experience to be useful to you.
Working at the Ramblers
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How are salaries determined at the Ramblers?
We believe in being open and transparent about pay, which is why we publish the salary range for every role. We'll also discuss the proposed starting salary with you if you're offered the role.
In most cases, new starters will be appointed between the base of the salary range and up to 10% above the base, depending on their skills and experience. This helps us recognise relevant experience while maintaining fair and consistent pay across the Ramblers.
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What does hybrid working mean at the Ramblers?
Our roles have different working arrangements depending on what the job and team need.
The vacancy will tell you where the role is based and we'll make any expectations around office-based working clear before you accept an offer.
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What benefits do you offer?
You can find more information what we offer on our benefits page.
These include generous annual leave, flexible and hybrid working, pension arrangements, healthcare support and enhanced family-friendly benefits.
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What can I expect when I start working at the Ramblers?
Your first day will usually be in person, even if your role is home-based.
It's an opportunity to meet people, get set up with your IT and begin your induction and training.
As part of your welcome, you'll also be invited to a session with our CEO to learn more about the Ramblers, what we do and how your role contributes.
