Junior Software Developer

In your application form we’d like you to: 

1. Tell us about your employment history, key responsibilities, projects worked on and achievements specifically relevant to the role responsibilities and experience required as detailed above. We’re keen to know the depth of your skills and experience so please include any details to demonstrate these. We’d specifically like to know what projects you worked on, for how long, what was your role, what technologies you used and project outcomes. 
2. Provide details of Technical skill: STEM degree with a programming element, where you will have up to 250 words to provide details.  You will be asked to provide evidence of qualifications and any predicted grades before assessment centre.
3. Please describe some software that you have written, how you approached the task, what techniques you used, what the outcome was and whether this was developed individually or as part of a team.  You will have up to 250 words to provide details.  
4. Write a personal statement of 750 words where you demonstrate how you meet the required experience including examples to demonstrate your level of skill, to cover these role requirements: 

• Working knowledge of programming tools, frameworks, and techniques in at least one of the following ecosystems: Java/Spring or Typescript/Node. 
• Experience of developing software throughout the delivery lifecycle. 
• Knowledge of RESTful APIs.  
• A degree in computing or similar would be an advantage, or equivalent industry experience. 

What will the process look like?

Sift

• Once the advert has closed we will sift applications – this involves reading through them all, please bear with us as this can take some time. 
• We may raise the score required if we receive a high number of applications.
• At sift we may choose to take through the highest performing candidates to the next stage. If, after the final stage is completed and roles are unfilled, we will proceed to invite lower scoring candidates to interview. 
• Candidates will be asked to provide evidence of qualifications and any predicted grades before interview. 
• At sift candidates will be assessed against your answers to the following criteria:

1. Working knowledge of programming tools, frameworks, and techniques in at least one of the following ecosystems: Java/Spring or Typescript/Node. 
2. Experience of developing software throughout the delivery lifecycle. 
3. Knowledge of RESTful APIs.  
4. A degree in computing or similar would be an advantage, or equivalent industry experience. 
5. Candidates will be asked to provide evidence of qualifications and any predicted grades before assessment centre. 

Assessment centre (please note the portal refers to this stage as ‘interview 1’)

• This will be in-person in our Cardiff office, and will be half a day.  Please note accommodation and transport will not be paid.  
• This will your assess your ability to interact with others in a group setting and allow us to gain a better understanding of your communication style. This will be assessing Behaviours: Communicating and influencing & Working together. 
• There will also be a written exercise, which will be a short logic test. You will not be required to write any code.  This will be assessing Experience: Problem solving and logical thinking.  

Presentation stage (please note the portal refers to this stage as ‘interview 2’)

• Successful candidates from the assessment centre will be invited to deliver a 10 minute presentation (with 5 minute follow-up discussion), which will conducted using Microsoft Teams. 
• The presentation topic will be released in the confirmation email once you have booked a presentation timeslot.  
• The presentation stage will be assessing Behaviour: Communicating and influencing.  We’re keen to see you can research something relatively unfamiliar and present it in a short presentation.

Interview (please note the portal refers to this stage as ‘interview 3’)

• Successful candidates from the presentation stage will be invited to attend a virtual interview, which will conducted using Microsoft Teams.
• We use a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you.
• We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will use Success Profiles assessing the Behaviours and Technical Skills listed in the advert.
• As part of the interview, you will be asked to complete a written coding exercise.  Details will be emailed to you 1 hour before your interview start time.  You’ll have 1 hour to work through the activity and then you’ll join the Teams call at your interview start time.  You’ll be asked to screen share, discussing the exercise with the panel and answering some live questions to demonstrate your level of skill.   This will be assessing Technical Skill: Coding.  
• You’ll then move on to the Behaviours questions.  
• The lead criteria to distinguish between tied candidates will be the Technical Skills listed above.  
• A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Key dates (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change)

• Closing date: 28 August 2025 (at 23:55)
• Sifting: 29 August – 2 September 2025
• Assessment centre: 11 September 2025 (in Cardiff office)
• Presentations: 19, 22 & 23 September 2025 (via Teams)
• Interviews: 1, 2 & 3 October 2025 (via Teams)

We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as your names and age) from your employment history and personal statement.

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Sponsorship

Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Companies House holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship, your application may be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment withdrawn.  

Nationality statement  

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. If you’re applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK. 

As part of our recruitment process, it is essential for all candidates to independently verify their eligibility to work in the UK before applying.  This includes a thorough check of your right to work to ensure compliance with UK employment laws, being mindful of the recent changes to going rates detailed on GOV.UK.  

Please ensure you have the necessary documentation and permissions in place. Our team is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. However, it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they meet the UK’s legal requirements to work.