THE COLLEGE OF PSYCHIC STUDIES: RECRUITMENT
Max Eames, President of the College of Psychic Studies, answers your most frequently asked questions in relation to recruitment. Please make sure to also read all other relevant recruitment pages linked below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Max Eames, President |
- How is the College of Psychic Studies structured as an organisation?
The College’s termly programme of events is delivered by a team of self-employed freelance consultants who offer lectures, courses, workshops and private consultations on behalf of the College’s charitable trustees. The salaried support staff (with the assistance of our voluntary team) support the consultants in the provision of these ‘core services’ in accordance with the vision and objectives of the trustees.
(You can view a chart of how our organisation is structured!)
- What is the role of the College’s charitable trustees?
The charitable trustees, who collectively form the College’s ‘Council’, shape, define, communicate and monitor conformance to the vision and objectives of the College. A voluntary team themselves, they are headed by officers (including a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a Company Secretary).
- How can I submit proposals and applications if I don’t have a private email address?
We have a strong preference for electronic communication (using our templates where practicable), but also accept typed hardcopies of our templates and/or typed proposals, CVs and cover letters with the understanding that this sometimes impairs our ability to effectively evaluate and respond to your submission.
Having said that, you may consider it unprofessional to use your workplace email (and you may therefore not wish to receive automated acknowledgements from us on submission). If electronic communication is not practical for you, and you wish to receive a printed job application template, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to College of Psychic Studies, FAO: RECRUITMENT. You can then post it back to us, completed, as a hardcopy.
We certainly understand that not every submission can or should be made electronically (especially when it comes to proposals relating to our programme of events); as such we kindly request that you consider enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope with any posted hardcopy submission. Doing so allows us to verify receipt of your submission proactively and immediately.
- Why do you prefer to receive submissions electronically?
Much of what we do happens off-site and/or by committee review. Being able to confer from various locations quickens our review process, whether you are sending a proposal relating to our programme of events, a job application or simply an expression of interest. Moreover, we find that we are able to respond to you more effectively, announcing such things as interview dates, the dates of our committee meetings and/or matters arising from those meetings by email.
Again, if you (for example) consider it unprofessional to receive emailed responses and automated acknowledgments to your workplace email, we will understand such circumstances and look forward to your submission by post.
Keep in mind that, should you make your submissions by post – and then try to follow up or verify receipt by telephone – the reception staff tend to be able to offer little assistance, through no fault of their own. This is simply because much of your communication is routed off-site, often to the trustees or other committee members; as such you might find it comparatively frustrating and time-intensive to attempt to ‘chase’ receipt of a posted submission. Acknowledgement of receipt is typically done by email (or by a self-addressed, stamped envelope you supply).
- How do I copy and save the Job Application & Expressions of Interest templates and the Job Packs from the website?
Clicking the links to the Job Application & Expression of Interest forms or the Job Packs opens a new window that lists our template as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file (if your web-browser supports the in-line viewing of Word or PDF files). To download the file to your own hard disk, right-click (or control-click on a Mac with a one-button mouse) the link and select the appropriate download option from the contextual menu (this is browser-dependent: look for "Save File As...", "Download Linked File" or similar). In the File Dialogue window, locate your chosen directory (e.g. Desktop or My Documents, etc) and click the SAVE button. On a Mac, you can also alt-click the link to save the file directly to your default download location.
To view, edit and save Microsoft Word files you obviously need Microsoft Word (part of the Microsoft Office package) or a compatible application. To read Adobe PDF files, you need any basic PDF viewer like Adobe Reader (usually pre-installed on your computer), available for free from Adobe's website.
- Would I need a relevant qualification to work for the College of Psychic Studies’ support-staff team?
Unless stated otherwise within an advertised post, it is not considered necessary to have a formal qualification for most positions in the company, though any familiarity with the unique work we do will be advantageous, and an interest in our work is certainly desirable.
- Would I need a relevant qualification to deliver services as a freelance consultant at the College of Psychic Studies?
Some of the work we do requires prior training, membership and/or accreditation within awarding bodies or other frameworks, and these bodies generally have their own criteria in relation to minimum training levels, insurance compliance, supervision, codes of conduct and continuing professional development (CPD). Where appropriate the College requires that you submit ongoing proof of, and maintain uninterrupted adherence to, any such criteria set out by applicable bodies.
- What experience would I need?
Experience is relevant to the position applied for; some posts will require applicants to have relevant experience and/or to demonstrate core competencies. Some posts do not require prior experience of work in similar establishments, though a degree of relevant experience is useful, together with an enthusiasm for the College and its work.
- What provision is there for training and skills-development needs?
Provision for support-staff training will vary according to the position; till system and PABX telephone system training is given to all new reception desk support staff, computer training for support staff is available where it will be useful or required in the course of daily work (Microsoft Excel, Word, Access, Outlook and a proprietary customer-relationship management (CRM) system are used by most of our team on a daily basis, and an appropriate degree of computer literacy is generally assumed). Other operational training for support staff depends on the position.
Freelance consultants tend to address their training and skills-development needs outside the College through awarding bodies or other means. Having said that, there is a strong sense of peer support within the organisation for freelance consultants, support staff and volunteers alike.
- Does the College offer temporary employment?
There are often periods during our termly programme when temporary staff are required. Expressions of interest in temporary employment are always kept on file and referred to when our circumstances require it.
- Does the College consider enlisting work-placement students?
Students are considered for unpaid and stipendiary work placements in some of our departments depending on the College’s operational needs. Expressions of interest in temporary and longer-term work placements are always kept on file.
- What benefits are there?
There are numerous non-contractual benefits to working with the College, including discounted and complimentary admission to some events, together with the opportunity to work in an organisation that is at the heart of such history in relation to the study of a consciousness beyond matter.
- Are there promotion prospects?
Appropriate job vacancies are considered internally, and all support staff are free to apply for any such vacancy. Wherever possible the College endeavours to be mindful of the need to consider appropriate promotion opportunities in relation to those who contribute within the organisation, either as freelance consultants, support staff or volunteers.
- Is the College of Psychic Studies committed to equal opportunities?
The College is committed to equal opportunities for all. The College’s policy is that nobody should receive less favourable treatment on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins or creed, disability or any other condition or requirement that cannot be shown to be justifiable.