What you can expect from our recruitment process
We believe recruitment is a two-way street. While we learn about your skills, experience, and aspirations, we want you to get to know us and what makes our team unique.
Our process is designed to be transparent, inclusive, and efficient. We aim to create a positive and supportive candidate experience.
Whether it’s your first meeting with us or your final interview, our goal is to ensure that you feel valued and informed throughout your journey with us.
How we recruit
We believe our recruitment process has been designed to be fair, transparent, and engaging, ensuring that every candidate has the opportunity to showcase their unique skills and experiences.
We look beyond just qualifications—our focus is on discovering individuals who bring creativity, collaboration, and a drive for excellence to everything they do. We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone feels empowered to thrive.
Here’s what you can expect when you apply:
- Clear Communication: We’ll keep you informed every step of the way, from application to decision.
- Respect for Your Time: We aim to make the process as efficient as possible while giving you the opportunity to shine.
- Two-Way Conversation: Recruitment is a partnership—we want to learn about you just as much as you learn about us.
We prefer to recruit directly via our job boards, via Creative Access and any other relevant job boards.
We take time to carefully consider each candidate who has chosen to apply to us. We endevour to respond to every application we receive.
Our interview process
We understand that interviews can sometimes feel daunting, and we’re committed to making your experience with us as supportive and transparent as possible.
While your skills and experience are important to us, we’re equally eager to learn about you—your values, your aspirations, and why you want to be part of our team.
For most roles, our interview process includes:
- A two-stage process designed to help us get to know each other.
- A first meeting that is typically virtual for your convenience.
- At least one in-person meeting at our office to give you a feel for our environment and culture.
- Opportunities to connect with various members of our team, each bringing their unique perspectives and energy to the conversation.
If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We are here to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
We are deeply committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. By welcoming candidates from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, we aim to strengthen our company and create a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Here is what the team have to say...
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The Bookseller is an incredibly supportive team and some of the best people I've ever worked with. Working here has provided incredible opportunities and the chance to meet equally incredible writers. Talking about books all day is definitely a bonus!
Katie Fraser
Staff Writer - The Bookseller
faqs to assist you with your interview(s)
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We want you to feel comfortable and confident during your interview, so there’s no strict dress code. That said, a good approach is to choose something that feels professional yet reflects your personal style.
If you’re unsure, aim for smart-casual—think clean, polished, and appropriate for a workplace setting. If you’re meeting us in person, you can also consider the role you’re applying for and the context of our work environment to guide your choice.
Ultimately, we’re more interested in getting to know you than what you’re wearing, so don’t stress about it too much!
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The length of your interview will depend on the role and stage of the process, but we aim to respect your time while giving us both the opportunity to get to know each other.
- Initial Interviews: Typically last around 30–45 minutes and are often conducted virtually.
- Second Stage Interviews: These may take 1–1.5 hours, especially if they involve more in-depth discussions or meeting multiple team members.
We’ll provide you with details about the expected duration when scheduling your interview so you can plan accordingly. If you have any time constraints, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
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We try to balance taking time to consider each candidate and we understand how important it is to know where you stand in the recruitment process. Our goal is to keep you updated as soon as possible
If there are any delays, we’ll keep you informed—clear communication is important to us. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to our recruitment team.
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For some roles, we may include a skills assessment or task as part of the interview process. This is designed to help us understand how you approach real-world challenges relevant to the role.
If a test is required, we’ll let you know in advance and provide all the details you need to prepare. Our goal is to make this step as fair and transparent as possible while giving you the opportunity to showcase your strengths.
If you have any concerns or require reasonable adjustments, please don’t hesitate to let us know—we’re here to support you.
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We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments or support, please let us know as soon as possible.
You can share your needs with our recruitment team by:
- Including details in your application
- Contacting us directly
Examples of adjustments might include accessible interview formats, additional time for assessments, or specific accommodations during in-person meetings.
We’ll work with you to make the necessary arrangements so you can focus on showing us your best self.
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Preparing for your interview is all about showcasing your skills and learning about us. Here are some tips to help you feel confident and ready:
- Research our company: Take time to understand our mission, values, and the role you’re applying for. Familiarity with our work shows your enthusiasm.
- Review the Job Description: Reflect on how your skills and experiences align with the role, and think of examples to share during your interview.
- Prepare questions: Interviews are a two-way conversation, so feel free to ask about our team, projects, or company culture.
- Test Your tech (For virtual interviews): Ensure your internet connection, camera, and microphone are working, and find a quiet, distraction-free space.
- Be yourself: We want to get to know the real you—your values, passions, and goals.
We’ll let you know ahead of time if any specific preparation is required. If you have questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out.