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Our recruitment and selection process is based on merit,
and our selection criteria aims to be bias-free. The requirements
of the job you are applying for are set out in the Person
Specification and Job Description, which you will receive as part
of the recruitment pack. Your ability to meet these requirements
will be what we base our decisions upon. Read these documents
carefully.
We need you to complete our Equalities Monitoring Form to help
us understand whether our Equality & Diversity Policy is
working effectively. This information is confidential, is removed
prior to the selection process and is not seen by recruiting
managers. Similarly, the information given on the Disability
Statement is used only to ensure that we are aware of any
particular requirements you may have for the interview process, and
that we meet our 'Two Ticks - Positive About Disabled People'
commitment. This guarantees that all disabled applicants who meet
the minimum requirements for the job, will be given an interview.
This information is not seen by the recruiting manager, although
they will be made aware of any requirements you have for the
interview process.
Without both these pieces of information we cannot be sure that
our recruitment and selection process is fair and consistent.
The importance of the Application Form
Your application form is the most important document in helping
us to decide whether to invite you for interview. The information
you put on the form is vital in helping us decide your initial
suitability for the post. The following advice should help you to
complete your application form as effectively as possible, and
assist our recruiting managers in selecting the most suitable
candidates to call for interview.
Some points to bear in mind before you start
Look carefully at the Job Description and Person Specification
before you complete your application form, so that you know what
we're looking for. Ask yourself why you are interested in the job
and how you think you can meet the requirements of the job.
Remember, we can only assess your ability to do the job by what you
tell us. We will be looking for evidence or examples which
demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the Person Specification.
If we are asking for experience in managing staff, you will need to
tell us how you did this, not just say you managed staff - for
example, tell us how you managed performance and how you motivated
staff.
You will need to tell us how your skills, knowledge and
experience match what we're looking for. It doesn't just have to be
work-based. Voluntary work and activities outside work often
provide valuable experience and skills that can be applied to a
job. Make sure you give us this information as well.
Do not copy the same application form for a series of jobs -
recruiting managers are looking to see if you can do this
particular job.
Completing the Application Form
Fill in all sections of the form. If there are some sections
that do not apply to you then please write 'not applicable' in that
section - do not leave it blank. If there are gaps in any of the
information you provide, please say why - do not leave the
recruiting manager to guess why there may be a lack of information,
eg if you took a break from work, for whatever reason, explain the
circumstances.
If you are completing your application form by hand, please
write clearly. If you would prefer, you may complete the
application form on line. If you require the application form in an
alternative format, or if English is not your first language,
please contact our recruitment line on 0845 247904 or email
recruitment.line@kent.gov.uk.
Make sure that we receive your application form by the closing
date - we cannot accept it after this date. If you have any special
requirements that will need an extension to the closing date -
please contact us.
If you want to send us your CV you may do so, but we still need
you to fill in all the sections in the application form. This tells
us what skills, knowledge and experience you have for a particular
job. It is not necessary to send your CV.
Key sections of the Application Form
The following headings and information correspond to some of the
sections of the application form.
- Job Applied for/Department
The full title
for the job should be completed as well as the relevant
section/department. This is to ensure that your application is
considered for the correct job. You will find the full title in the
advertisement.
- Current Employment
Give details of your
current or most recent job. Outline the main duties and
responsibilities of the post - use an additional sheet if you need
to. If you are a school/college or university leaver, tell us about
any part-time jobs you may have had as a student.
- Previous Employment
Starting with your
last employer, list all the employers you have worked for,
providing the name and address of employer, the job held and the
period of time you worked for them. This information will be used
to assess whether you have had appropriate experience for the job.
Give the day, month and year of employment, ie 10/10/01 - 10/10/02.
If there are gaps in your employment history, please give us
information about this.
- Qualifications Achieved
List here your formal qualifications, including General
Certificates of Education (GCSEs), A Levels, or their equivalents,
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), work-based courses, and
any further/higher education qualifications. If you have
qualifications gained overseas, please confirm how they relate to
the stated qualification requirements of the job. Also list any
qualifications you may have achieved whilst undertaking voluntary
work. This information will be used to assess whether you meet any
qualification requirements for the job. If you do not have formal
qualifications, please ensure that you tell us about any relevant
experience that might off-set the need for a qualification. You
will be required to produce evidence of qualifications obtained,
and all appointments are subject to satisfactory references.
- Other Skills and Interests
Include details of any public duties, community or voluntary work,
vocational qualifications. Include languages written and spoken,
and let us know if English is a second language for you. Include
anything that might have prepared you for the job vacancy.
- Reason for Application
This section is the most important part of your application, as it
is where you need to say why you think you should be selected for
interview.
Think about how you are going to set out your case and make sure
you write in a concise, well-organised and positive way. When you
think about your experience, remember all your relevant previous
work.
Also consider other relevant experience outside work, such as any
community/voluntary/leisure activity or life experiences which
might apply. This is particularly important if this is your first
full-time job or you have been away from work for a period of time.
Remember that unpaid work or work at home can be just as valuable
and valid as being in a paid job.
Ensure that you look again at the Job Description and Person
Specification and match your skills, knowledge and experience to
the job, in order to support your application. We want to know 'if
you could do the job' and 'if you want to do the job'. Take each
one of the Person Specification criteria and give us details of
your knowledge and experiences. Give specific examples of things
you have done which demonstrate your ability. For example, if the
person specification says 'able to organise self and others to
complete projects within deadlines' - you must do more than say 'I
am a very organised person and can work to deadlines'. You must
give an example, by describing something that you have done which
proves that you can do it, eg 'I organised a fund-raising event for
the local playgroup within six months and with a group of five
helpers', or give details of a work-related experience.
- Referees
Any offer of appointment will
be subject to the county council receiving satisfactory references
and health check. Health checks are carried out for successful
candidates after the interview process has been completed.
You will also be asked to supply evidence of any qualifications
that are required. Where an employee will have substantial access
to children or vulnerable adults, a Police Check will be carried
out.
- Interviews
You may be asked to take an ability test, do a presentation or
other work-related exercise, as part of the interview process. You
will be told beforehand if any tests are going to be necessary. If
you have any special requirements for the interview process or for
the test procedures, eg large print version of paper-work, large
computer screen, support worker, etc, please let us know.
Finally
Check your Application Form to ensure that you have completed
every section and that you are happy with it, then sign and date.
Send the form back to the address given at the bottom of the
covering letter that came with the pack.
If you need any support or further information in order to complete
the form, please telephone 0845 247 904 or e-mail
recruitment.line@kent.gov.uk.
Good luck! |