For details of vacancies at the National Library of Scotland, visit our external recruitment site.
If you have difficulty applying for a Library vacancy on the Engage recruitment site, please email jobs@nls.uk or phone Human Resources on 0131 623 3700. We will be happy to provide the application form in a different format.
Applying for jobs at the Library
All our vacancies attract a lot of interest and the competition for jobs at the Library can be fierce. Following the guidance below can help you present yourself more effectively and help us select the best candidate for the job.
Please note that you must already be eligible to work in the UK to be employed at the National Library of Scotland. All successful candidates must also provide a clear Basic Disclosure Certificate before the job can be awarded.
Job description and person specification
The job description and person specification sums up the job and describes our ideal candidate - please read it carefully. Use it to show us how you match what we are looking for.
Pay close attention to the 'Essential' components in the person specification – if you do not provide evidence for each of these you are unlikely to be selected for interview.
Written statement
The written statement is the most important piece of evidence you will provide. We use the statement to reach a decision on whether you are likely to be able to do the job. Usually this is based on the evidence you provide of what you have done in the past.
Make sure the examples you provide are clear, specific and relevant to the job you are applying for. How you complete the written statement is also evidence of your ability to communicate clearly and concisely - as well as your ability to give attention to detail. Always check it carefully before you submit!
Interview
If you are selected for interview at the Library, please come prepared to talk about your past experience and how it relates to the job you are applying for. Our questions will usually relate directly to the job description and we’ll ask you to tell us about a time when you displayed some of the characteristics we are looking for.
Good evidence will usually include an example of what you did in a particular situation and how your action had a positive impact on service users, your team and / or the organisation you were working for.
Privacy
For information about how the Library holds and uses personal data for the purposes of employment, volunteering and applications to work with the Library, see our privacy page, in particular our employment privacy notice.