Job application guidance
Why is it important to complete the application form
correctly?
The information on the application form is used to decide
whether we should invite you for an interview.
How can I make sure that I fill it in correctly?
First of all, read through all the information supplied to you
with the application form. You should pay particular attention to
the Job Description, which outlines the duties of the post, and the
Person Specification, which states the skills, experience and
qualifications that are required to be able to do the job.
The Job Description does not include all tasks which may be
undertaken by the post holder, but gives an outline of the main
duties which are currently undertaken.
The Person Specification details the skills qualifications and
experience necessary for the job either as “essential” or
“desirable”. If you do not have all the essential qualities stated,
it is unlikely that you will be selected for interview.
Please do not send in a C.V instead of your application. This is
because the application form is designed so that information can be
compared on a like for like basis. In addition, C.V’s are unlikely
to address the demands of a particular post.
What are the different sections for?
Post applied for - please give the post
title and reference number.
Personal Details - This is the information that
we will need in order to contact you.
References - Your first referee should be your
present employer, or if you are not employed at present, your last
employer. Your second referee may be a previous employer or someone
who has knowledge of your skills and can comment on your ability to
do the job for which you are applying. Remember to complete the
section which indicates whether or not we can take up references
before interview. If you do not fill this in, we will assume that
we can approach your referees at this stage.
Education and Training - Give details of all
education, training and qualifications undertaken from secondary
school onwards.
Membership of Professional Bodies - Give
details of any professional bodies of which you are a member,
including the membership grade and renewal date.
Interests / Leisure Activities - Your hobbies
and interests are a reflection of your personality and will show
what actually motivates you. Being the captain of a local football
team may be relevant in proving leadership qualities, while
voluntary work for local charities or national associations could
indicate good people skills.
Rehabilitation of Offenders - You are expected
to complete this section if you have been convicted of a criminal
offence other than those which are “spent” under the Rehabilitation
of Offenders Act 1974. For some posts we will also require a
satisfactory police check once an offer of employment has been
made. All Information will be treated in the strictest
confidence.
Relationships - Give details of any Councillor
or Officer of this Council that you are related to. This means
parent, godparent, partner, child, stepchild, adopted child,
grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece. You
should also tell us if you are related to the partner of a
Councillor or Council
Officer. Approaching Councillors or Senior Officers
to look favourably on your application will lead to
disqualification.
Present Employment - Give details about your
present or most recent job. If you are a school leaver, or still in
education, please ignore this section.
Previous Employment - Give details of your
other jobs in date order from the most recent and listing all work
since leaving school/college. You should explain any gaps in your
employment history and continue on a separate sheet if
necessary.
Reasons for Applying - Why are you applying for
this particular job? And, crucially, how will employing you benefit
the authority?
Relevant Experience / Skills - In this
section you will need to explain why you think you can do the job.
You should demonstrate how you meet the Person Specification by
describing any work, experience or training you have had. This
could be paid work, voluntary work or work done at home. Please
note that if you do not demonstrate that you can meet all the
essential criteria, you are unlikely to be interviewed, so make
sure you do this on the form.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring - The council is
committed to working towards equal opportunities for all and has
employment policies in support of this. In order to make sure that
these policies are effective and discrimination does not occur, we
need to collect the information asked for on the Diversity Form.
This information will be separated from your application form and
not passed to the selection panel.
Applicants with Disability - Applicants with
disability who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria
for a job will be guaranteed an interview.
What happens next?
Your completed application form will be used to decide if you
should be selected for interview. You will be notified in writing
whether or not you have been successful in obtaining an interview
and this is normally within a week after the closing date.
Please return your completed application form by post; ensuring
adequate postage is used otherwise it will not be delivered to
us.
Personnel (Support Services)
Carlisle City Council
Civic Centre
Carlisle
CA3 8QG
Please ensure the correct postage is used; we will not accept
applications with insufficient postage.