Candidate journey

Interviews

You have secured an interview - Congratulations!

A good interview involves more than just how you answer the interview questions. First impressions count and it is vital that you are at your very best, so:

Be prepared

You may be asked a question about your knowledge of The Donkey Sanctuary, so make sure you’ve done your homework. Browsing our website for more information is a good place to start.

There are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up at interview. Prepare answers about your personal experience, strengths, qualities and skills, and be prepared to explain why you would be the best person for the job. Take time to review the job description and your application.

Be in control

If your interview is face-to-face at one of our sites, plan your route, and allow extra time for any unexpected delays. Ensure you have everything you need to take with you ready the night before, including evidence of your right to work in the UK.

Be positive

It’s understandable to be nervous, but remember you have been invited to the interview for a reason – that we believe from your application you might have the qualities required for the job! Let your personality shine through and demonstrate you are genuinely interested in the role by being attentive and listening to the interviewers. Whether your interview is face-to-face or being held via Microsoft Teams, remember maintain positive body language and good eye contact.

Be clear

Answer all questions clearly and concisely, evidencing your most relevant qualifications, skills, experiences and achievements. It is perfectly acceptable to pause before answering a question to give yourself thinking time, or to seek clarification if you are unsure what the question means. When answering, don’t speak too quickly.

Be focused

At the end of your interview, you will be invited to ask any questions you may have. You should prepare some questions for your interviewers that will demonstrate your interest in the position and your understanding of the role.

The selection process

Applicants are selected for interview on the basis of evidence supplied in the Supporting Information section of the application form – see “Applications” tab.

The way in interviews are conducted may vary depending upon the nature or level of the role, and where applicants might be based. Interviews may be either conducted face-to-face on site, or remotely, via Microsoft Teams.

Assessment methods

The interviewing panel will be looking to measure each candidate against the criteria set out in the Job Description specific to the role.

In addition to the interview, as part of the recruitment process, applicants might be required to undertake a practical exercise or deliver a presentation. Information/instructions regarding any form of assessments, which are designed to give applicants an additional opportunity to demonstrate skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the position, will always be given in advance, and will usually be detailed within the formal invitation to interview.

References

All offers of employment are subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.

When completing your application, you will be asked to identify two referees, of which one should be your current or most recent line manager/employer. For each reference, a contact name, telephone and email are mandatory. You should also indicate whether your referees can be contacted following acceptance of our offer – we never approach referees until an offer of employment has been accepted.

Our commitment to equality and diversity

The Donkey Sanctuary commitment to equality and diversity applies to everything we do.

We view Diversity as a description of the visible and invisible differences that exist between people, such as, gender, race, ethnic origin, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, age, economic class, language, religion, political belief, nationality, education, and family/marital status. We recognise that these visible and non-visible differences between people can also lead to differences in experiences, values, attitudes, ways of thinking, behaving, communicating and working.

In order to implement and monitor our commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity, we ask applicants to fill in our Equal Opportunities Form. Please note that some questions are mandatory, and others voluntary. All (except date of birth) contain the option 'I do not wish to disclose'.

If you have any further questions, please email applications@thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

Benefits

We value our employees, and firmly believe that our people should work in an environment where their hard work and dedication is recognised and rewarded. As an employee of The Donkey Sanctuary in the UK, you will enjoy as a minimum:

• 31 days holiday per year, inclusive of the eight statutory public holidays. This increases by one day each year until a maximum of 34 days per year (pro rata for part-time employees) is reached.
• A pension scheme which exceeds the Government’s recommended rate.
• A Healthshield plan, helping you look after your health and wellbeing. Including:
  • Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership, including, dentistry, optical appointments, glasses, contact lenses, and physiotherapy.
  • Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, dining travel and entertainment from participating retail outlets.
  • Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.
• Life Assurance Scheme — All employees are covered for a death-in-service benefit equal to twice their annual salary at the date of their death, unless they have a higher entitlement as part of their conditions of employment.
• Free staff parking.
• Full uniform, PPE and footwear provided for equine facing, facilities and maintenance, restaurant and other selected roles.
• Staff discount in The Kitchen Restaurant and Gift Shop, at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth.

Our values

Passionate, inclusive, proactive, flexible, caring, authentic, empowered, resourceful, collaborative, impactful, engaged – we are one team, holding a common vision – a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and a shared mission – to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We are achieving this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

• We put donkeys first
  • Every decision we make, we make for donkeys - this difference is our strength. The breadth of our work, diverse perspectives and collaborative working with global partners means that no one knows more about changing the world for donkeys.
• We are inquisitive
  • Like donkeys, we are endlessly curious and natural problem solvers. Our expertise is built on the belief that no obstacle is too great, no insight is too small. We harness this curiosity to continuously learn and put our knowledge into action. We experiment, innovate and challenge the status quo to improve and share our evidence-based expertise with the world.
• We are compassionate
  • We understand and respect the perspectives of others – making ethical decisions for our donkeys, and decisions that our people, partners and supporters trust us to make. Empathy and emotional intelligence make donkeys such trusted companions. We are guided by these qualities ourselves to make the world a better place - for donkeys and humans.
• We do the right thing
  • We understand that the welfare of donkeys, people and planet are inextricably linked. We lead by example and take accountability for delivering our commitments. We make the most of our resources, we are transparent in our priorities and we hold ourselves to a high standard of performance and ethics.
• We work together as one
  • Just as donkeys instinctively know how to work together, wherever we are in the world and whatever we do, we are one sanctuary. It is important to us to create an environment where we celebrate diversity of ideas. Our people and partners are enabled to use their unique talents to thrive and feel the joy of belonging.

These are our values. If you think they could be yours, we’d love to meet you!

FAQs