Your application. Step by step
We want every candidate to understand what to expect throughout our recruitment process. From applying for a role to joining the FCA, here's what you can expect throughout our recruitment and pre-employment screening process.
What happens next
Apply
Tell us about your experience by submitting your CV and completing any role-specific questions. To help you perform your best during the recruitment process, you can let us know about any adjustments when you apply.
Interview
If you're shortlisted, we'll invite you to interview. Most roles include a 2-stage interview process, with a competency-based interview and a technical assessment. The process may vary depending on the role you're applying for.
Offer
If you're successful, our recruiter will talk you through your offer, next steps and a proposed start date.
Pre-employment screening
If you accept your offer, we'll ask you to complete our pre-employment screening process before you join the FCA.
Workplace adjustments
Helping you perform at your best
We're part of the Disability Confident scheme and want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best.
If you have a disability, health condition or accessibility requirement, let us know as early as possible. We'll work with you to make appropriate adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Adjustments might include additional time for assessments, assistive technology or alternative assessment arrangements.
Preparing for your interview
Helping you prepare
We use structured interviews to understand your experience, how you approach challenges and what you'll bring to the role. We'll ask about your career history and motivation, our values and core skills, as well as technical questions relevant to the role you've applied for.
To help you prepare, we recommend that you:
- Learn about the FCA, our strategy 2025 to 2030 and the role you've applied for.
- Review your CV and think about examples that demonstrate your skills and experience.
- Structure your answers using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result).
- Prepare questions you'd like to ask at the end of the interview.
Most importantly, be yourself. We want to understand your experience, your thinking and what motivates you.
Pre-employment screening
Before you join
Once you've accepted your offer, you'll complete our pre-employment screening process.
You'll receive access to our online screening platform, where you'll be asked to provide details including:
- employment history
- education
- professional qualifications
- address history
- DBS check
We'll use this information to complete the checks needed before you join the FCA. Throughout the process, support is available from our screening partner if you need it.
As part of these checks, we'll also ask for your consent to complete a credit check and ask you to declare any relevant adverse credit history.
Conflicts of interest
Maintaining trust
As an independent regulator, it's important that our decisions are objective and trusted.
Before you join, we'll ask you to declare any interests that could create, or be perceived to create, a conflict with your role. Declaring a potential conflict doesn't necessarily prevent you from joining the FCA. It helps us understand whether any steps are needed to manage it appropriately.
