Completing the application form
Completing an application form is the first step in the recruitment process which may lead to an interview. It is therefore most important that you complete ALL sections of the application form as clearly and fully as possible.
Enclosed with the application form is the Person Specification and Job Description for the post. Please read them carefully before completing the application form.The Person Specification tells you the skills, abilities, knowledge and experience we require in the successful candidate and it is extremely important that you address each of these requirements fully giving examples to illustrate the points you are making whenever possible
All candidates for posts within Stevenage Borough Council must complete an Application Form. Additional information in the style of CV’s etc. will not be accepted and will be retained in human Resources until after shortlisting.
Please either type or use black ink when completing your application form.
Each of the headings below relates to a section of the application form. Please read the information below to assist you in making your application
Vacancy Details
This section may have already been completed, but please check that the details are correct. If they are not, use the job details to fill in the section.
Please enter your personal details fully and clearly so we may contact you about your application.
Education/Qualifications
We are interested in any form of education you have followed, including any courses which did not lead to an examination or qualification. We will take full note of any education or qualifications gained overseas or as part of a Government Training Scheme.
Membership
This refers to membership of institutes connected with work.
We are interested in any present or past employment you consider relevant to your application., If you have already left school or college or a training programme and have not yet had a full-time or permanent job, please give details of any other employment you have had such as work experience gained on Government Training Schemes, part-time or holiday work. Your most recent appointments should be listed first.
We will require two satisfactory written references before a job offer is made. Please give the names and addresses of two referees. If you are employed or have been employed in the past, the first referee should be your present or most recent employer. School or college leavers should give a Head teacher or College Principal as their first referee.
If you have changed your name, e.g. by marriage or deed poll, or are known by a nickname, please indicate the name by which your referee(s) knows you. Your references may be taken up if you are short listed for an interview, unless you state that a referee should not be approached until you have been contacted.
Offers of appointment are subject to receipt of a satisfactory medical questionnaire. Medical questionnaires are dealt with confidentially by Human Resources. When any further clarification or information is needed you may be contacted directly by one of our Occupational Health Advisors.
If you are related to a Councillor or employee, we ask you to tell us so that we can make sure that all applications are treated fairly. Canvassing any Councillor or employee of this Council (i.e. seeking to gain an unfair advantage through personal contacts) will disqualify your application.
Please make sure you have signed and dated your application to confirm that your details are correct. Send it to the Personnel Section by the closing date.
Stevenage Borough Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunities in employment. To ensure that our Equal Opportunities Policy is effective we ask you to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Supplement. The form is confidential and kept separately from the application form. It is not seen by those responsible for short listing and interviewing applicants but it will be made available after short listing to Corporate Support.
The Council as part of its Equal Opportunity policy has adopted the Disability Symbol in order to demonstrate the Council’s commitment to the employment of people with disabilities. A part of that commitment is that all applicants with a disability will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential requirements of the person specification. If you are applying on this basis please tick the box on the monitoring supplement.
The information will not be used for selection but will be used for statistical monitoring purposes only.
To ensure current recruitment methods are effective, we monitor the response obtained from each source. Please ensure you indicate where you learnt about the vacancy you are applying for by completing the question on the front of the application form.
Unfortunately we are not able to personally acknowledge all applications due to the time and cost. However if you wish the receipt of your application form to be acknowledged please complete the address side of the postcard receipt with your name and address and affix the appropriate value of postage stamps. You should return the postcard with your form. The card will be returned to you date stamped to indicate date of receipt.
Please note that if you have not heard from the Council within 6 weeks of the closing date you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful. However it is the policy of the Council that unsuccessful job applicants will be given he opportunity to receive feedback and to discuss their application. If you wish to do this, please contact Human Resources on 01438 242327.