Application resources

• Apply directly on our careers website to ensure your information is accurately collected.
• Keep your contact information prominent and clear at the top of your resume.
• Save your resume as a PDF before uploading to our applicant tracking system (ATS) to maintain formatting.
• Include a URL to your LinkedIn profile or other relevant digital assets.
• Tailor each resume submission to the specific role you're applying for, highlighting the required skills and experiences of the job description.
• Ensure your information is clear and accurate, enabling recruiters to easily understand your experience, even if they aren't specialists in your field. 

Dos

• Choose a simple resume format.
• Utilize headings, subheadings, and bold fonts for clarity.
• Maintain a consistent professional font size of 12 or greater.
• Write clearly and concisely.
• Support experience and achievements with data.
• List your email, phone number, and relevant URLs (portfolio or LinkedIn).
• Spell out acronyms on first reference. 
• Keep your resume as short as possible (1-2 pages as general rule of thumb)
• Have someone proofread and give feedback.

Don’ts

• Select a complicated resume format.
• Alternate fonts or use sizes smaller than 12.
• Add an objective statement.
• Include spelling and grammar errors.
• Use clichés or jargon.
• Use acronyms without initial definition.
• Provide your full address.
• Extend the resume with irrelevant details.
• Avoid feedback.

Research: Visit our newsroom, read our careers blog, learn about our products and services, gain insight on our mission, values, and culture so you can best speak to how your talent connects to BAE Systems. 

Review: Make sure you’re familiar with the responsibilities of the role you’re interviewing for so you can highlight your applicable strengths and address potential weaknesses.

Prepare: You will receive directions in your email to either complete a virtual interview or attend an in-person interview. Make sure you have solid internet connection and understand how to access the virtual interview. For in person interviews, take a few moments to map the route you will take to get to our site to avoid traffic. Ask your recruiter for assistance. They are there to help!

Practice: Ask your friends or family to ask you a few questions about your skills, experience, and achievements to help you get more comfortable interviewing.

Dress the part: First impressions aren’t everything, but they matter. Dress in professional, business-appropriate clothing to convey your interest in the opportunity. Neat and polished attire suggests that you value the interviewer's time and the occasion.

Use the S.T.A.R method: We will ask questions to understand how you’ve handled various situations in the past. We suggest using STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses clearly. Provide situational context, explain the task that was needed to address the situation, describe the action(s) you took to accomplish the desired task, and promote the positive outcomes or results that came from your actions. This approach will help you convey your experiences and skills effectively during the interview.

Ask insightful questions: You will have the opportunity to ask questions yourself. This is your time to interview us as well. After you research our company and understand the responsibilities of your desired role, spend some time formulating questions that will help you determine if BAE Systems is the best fit for you.
 
Focus on positivity: Be authentic but avoid speaking negatively about former or potentially former employers and focus on the opportunity in front of you.

Be yourself: Our talent acquisition team selected you for an interview for a reason, you have talent. Be proud of your skills and accomplishments yet humble to convey your interest in joining BAE Systems.

Reflect: Take some time to reflect on the questions asked and your responses. Think about areas where you excelled and areas where you could improve. This reflection will be valuable for future interviews and for a potential follow-up should we ask for another round.

Be patient: Our talent acquisition teams and hiring managers are committed to running an efficient hiring process and work diligently to move as quickly as possible. It’s natural to want to know the hiring timeline and we encourage you to ask the people you’re interviewing with for a broad timeline when you should expect to hear back from them. However, please be patient as we work to complete all interviews and come to a decision we feel is best for both the candidate and our business.

Follow up appropriately: Wait for the period they mentioned for a response, typically one to two weeks, before following up. If you haven't heard back within the expected timeframe, send a polite inquiry to check on the status of your application process. This demonstrates your continued interest in the role while respecting their timeline.