Our selection process: candidates’ stories.
Public Digital are committed to an unbiased recruitment process as well as openness about how you will be assessed.
The process follows three main stages: applying, shortlisting and interviewing.
Applying to PD
Candidates are anonymously reviewed based on the answers they provide to our sifting questions. These are blind reviewed with no identifiable features - that means we have no idea of names, previous workplace, or any characteristics that might cause bias towards answers. This is a time to shine with thoughtful, detailed answers.
Assessing your application
We try to have a variety of people score the answers depending on the role - not just the hiring manager, but potential peers too. We find these detailed, anonymised answers gives us a lot of depth in understanding people.
Candidates with the highest scores progress to an initial telephone conversation with Lewis, our Talent Lead. This call is relatively informal and will give the talent team a chance to discuss motivations for applying to the role as well as career history and experience.
Interviewing
Successful candidates do a panel interview. These have multiple interviewers, often centred around a case study. This is a great opportunity for candidates to demonstrate how they think, present and facilitate. Previous roles and experience naturally follows in conversation, and the best candidates ask as many questions to us.
Some candidates may go through peer review, and informal chat with someone else you haven't yet met as part of the recruitment process so far. This gives everyone a chance to keep evaluating cultural fit.
Lina Jovaisaite, Principal Consultant
I remember submitting my written application for the role of Principal Consultant at Public Digital and thinking ‘Wow, that was the most human application I’ve ever done. They didn’t ask for a generic cover letter, or answers to countless competency questions. They asked what I actually think about things’.
This sentiment rang true for the rest of the recruitment process - an intelligent and empathetic panel asked a host of interesting questions during my interview, the presentation task was well-pitched and gave me an opportunity to show how I synthesise information and present it, and the peer-to-peer review made me feel like I was talking to a colleague I’d know for a long while. By the end of the process, I felt ready and excited to start my new role at Public Digital.
Selina Thakrar, Business Development Lead
When we discussed, I felt everyone was being honest. I was told about successes and challenges in equal measure and I didn't feel like they were "selling me the job" - instead they allowed me to have a very clear view of the role.
Following my first interview I was then invited to a panel interview. The panel was friendly, engaging and professional, I felt welcome and sensed that all the questions were aimed at really gaining an understanding of who I was and what I wanted to achieve, not just for the business but for myself. My interview lasted longer than the allocated hour, mainly because the discussion flowed from the genuine curiosity on both sides.
When I went to the office for a final chat, the feeling of community and inclusivity really came through in the space. During my negotiation, I felt that all of my personal circumstances were really taken into account and were met with genuine understanding and empathy.
Once I accepted the onboarding began, possibly one of the best I have ever had, I even joined the Christmas End of Year Gathering before joining which was fantastic.
The work is inspiring and meaningful, the culture is one that truly upholds its values and the people and leadership have the highest EQ of anywhere I have ever work. I feel seen, heard and valued, and I am treated as the professional I am who has been hired to do a job with flexibility to balance my personal circumstances.
Amanda Smith, Director
I was delighted with how the recruitment experience went in applying for my role at Public Digital. Firstly because of the organisation's commitment to use tools and approaches that anonymise applications. That felt reassuring to me in terms of Public Digital's approach to reducing bias and achieving fairness, equity and equality.
I found the process seamless and everything was handled in a timely manner. I felt well prepared for my interview, both in terms of the approach and the exercise (I was asked to prepare a short case study presentation) and the panel.
The interview itself was handled in a professional, engaging, warm, and supportive manner. It felt very natural, with open and authentic questions that gave me the space to shine and share where I bring expertise.
Also, I was given plenty of time to ask any questions to the panel. The outcome of the interview was delivered in a timely manner.
The onboarding experience was exceptional. I'm proud to say I've been working at PD since March 2022 and it's the most wonderful place to work.