Guidance on Completing the Application Form
Before you make your application you should carefully read the Job Description and Person Specification and assure yourself that you can provide sufficient evidence of the core skills and job specific criteria for the post. Anyone who is deemed unable to provide sufficient evidence by the panel will not pass the sift stage and progress to interview. Only candidates deemed competent against each of the areas being tested (which for the purposes of the Guaranteed Interview Scheme is the essential criteria for the post) may progress to the next stage. If you are applying for more than one post you will need to complete a separate application form for each post, tailored to reflect the core skills and job specific criteria required for each one.
It is your responsibility to provide examples that best demonstrate the relevant core skills and job specific criteria required and it is important to bear in mind it is your application and should therefore be all your own work. If you get an interview you will be tested in depth on what you have written. You must not seek advice from anyone who will be involved in the recruitment process, particularly members of the recruitment panel. Assistance may however be provided for a disability-related reason, including the help of an advocate to complete the form in appropriate circumstances.
You are welcome to complete the application form in English or Welsh. If you submit your application in Welsh it will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Guidance is given below using the major headings on the application form.
Nationality Eligibility
The purpose of this question is to determine if you are eligible to apply for the vacancy, in accordance with Civil Service nationality requirements. You will be asked to confirm your nationality and that you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria then your application will not be taken further. If it becomes apparent at a later stage that you are not eligible then your application will be withdrawn and/or any offer of employment retracted.
Disability Declaration
The Positive about Disabled People scheme means that we welcome applications from people with disabilities. The scheme guarantees an interview to disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the post. To apply under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme tick the box in the Disability Declaration section.
If you require any assistance or special equipment at interview, or have any information you would like to make us aware of with regard to your requirements, then please let us know in this section.
1. Personal Details
Complete the personal details section. It is essential that you provide correct and up to date information as it is needed to progress your application.
2. Birth and Nationality
See previous paragraph about nationality eligibility.
3. Education and Qualifications
Please provide details of your education history. It is essential that you provide correct and up to date information as this may be taken into consideration at the sift stage. If a particular qualification has been specified as essential or desirable you should make sure you include the details of that qualification if you hold it.
4. Relevant Learning and Development
Please provide details of any wider learning and development you have undertaken that is relevant to the post. This could also include any personal development you have undertaken which has not led to a qualification.
5. Present or Most Recent Employment
Complete the section giving your present or most recent employment. It is essential you provide correct and up to date information as it is needed to progress your application.
6. Previous Employments
You will need to provide details of your previous employers, the positions you held and reasons for leaving for at least the last three years unless you have not been in employment for this long. Please provide as many details as you can. If any of your previous employments were terminated by your employer then you will need to tell us at the bottom of this section and give the reasons.
7. Language Skills
Please provide your level of Welsh language ability for the various skill areas listed as well as your preferred language for assessment. Your level of ability will only be taken into account if Welsh has been identified as being essential for the job. If Welsh is essential for the role we will assess your Welsh language skills at the sift and interview stages.
8. Core Skills and Job Specific Criteria
These are the criteria identified as crucial to the job. They could include particular skills, experience or knowledge in a relevant field or a specific qualification.
You should provide evidence as to how you meet each of the criteria listed in the Person Specification by drawing on your past experience, knowledge and achievements to provide relevant examples. This is an important part of your application and if you do not provide sufficient evidence it is unlikely that your application will pass the sift.
You should provide evidence for the essential criteria and skills first, in the order listed in the Personal Specification. Follow this with evidence for the desirable criteria and skills if you have them.
As a general guide we would expect you to use no more than 200 to 300 words to describe each core skill or job specific criteria listed on the application form.
If you are interviewed you could be asked further questions about the answers you have given on your application form. The interview will be the opportunity for the panel to confirm, probe or further explore the evidence you have given.
9. References
You will need to provide the names of two referees (one of which must be your current or most recent employer) that cover at least the previous three years of employment. If you have just left school or college and have no previous work experience then please make sure that at least one of your referees is one of your teachers, lecturers or your head teacher or personal tutor.
Any job offer will be conditional on the receipt of satisfactory references. Please do not send testimonials.
You should not use a person who is a relative or anyone who has not agreed to act as your referee.
References are normally requested when a conditional job offer has been made and verbally accepted.
10. Declaration
Please ensure that you read the declaration and sign and date your application form. If you are submitting your application via email then select the tick box to confirm that you agree to the declaration.
Mae’r ddogfen hon hefyd ar gael yn y Gymraeg – This document is also available in Welsh.
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