Help with your job application

Why it's important to get your application form right

The application form is the first step in the recruitment process. The form will provide an overview of your:

• Education
• Work experience and history
• Knowledge
• Skills

The panel who are selecting candidates for interview will only have access to the information you provide on the form, so it's vital that you make the most of the opportunity and sell yourself as the candidate we're looking for.

Taking your time to complete a comprehensive application form also demonstrates your commitment, interest and understanding of the job. It's also important to make sure that the information contained in the application form is accurate.

Guidance on how to complete each section

There are a number of sections to the application form. It's important that you complete all sections as fully as possible. Where a section or question is not applicable to you, say so.

Any sections highlighted * are mandatory and answers to these questions must be provided or you won't be able to progress with the application form.

Make sure you leave contact details so we can get in touch. We'll normally contact you about an interview by email.

Starting with your current or most recent employment/self-employment/voluntary work, complete your employment history including a brief description of the job/services provided. 

Make sure you include the names and addresses, start and finish dates and any breaks in employment.

Make sure that you include the grade of any qualifications you hold, where appropriate.

Complete this section even if it is only to show that you have no formal qualifications. Not every vacancy requires formal qualifications and any formal qualification requirements will be detailed in the person specification.

This may include self-funded, external or internal training courses you have completed both for work and in other areas of your life.

You may be asked to provide evidence of attending the course, such as certificates.

This section may not be relevant to all applicants.

Some posts within the council will require the post holder to be registered with the relevant professional body. We'll need confirmation that you are allowed to work by that body: ie occupational therapists, social workers, lawyers, teachers.

Check the Person Specification if you are unsure if professional registration is required.

We have taken time to think about the skills we need for the job, and if you cannot show us that you meet those, you won't be shortlisted for the job. This applies to both internal and external candidates, who will be treated in exactly the same manner.

Make sure that you provide clear evidence that you meet the criteria. Don't just tell us you can do it, tell us:

• What the situation was
• What actions you took
• What the results were

It may help you to write a list of everything you have done in your career or life, and think about whether it meets the criteria we are looking for - you will demonstrate a wide variety of skills just getting through daily life.

Try not to include any irrelevant information - stay focused on the criteria we are looking for.

Remember that not all jobs require specific qualifications or experience - it is the personal qualities, skills and attitude that are important in many cases eg team working, initiative and flexibility.

Be positive and sell yourself.

We require references before we can confirm an offer of employment.

Do not include friends or relatives as referees; these will not be accepted and it will delay the recruitment process.

First Referee: Your first referee must be connected with your current or most recent employment/period of self employment/work experience/voluntary work, such as your manager, supervisor or a main contractor.

Second Referee: A suitable second referee would be a previous employer, business associate, leader or organiser of a voluntary organisation, school teacher or university/college tutor.

If you're applying for a job working with children, young people or vulnerable adults, and you're either currently working or volunteering with the relevant group or have done so in the past, one referee will need to be that employer or organisation.

Make sure that you ask the referee if they are willing to supply a reference on your behalf before including them on the application.

We support people who face barriers to employment.

If you can show you meet a job role's essential criteria in your application, and you:

• Have a recognised disability under the Equality Act 2010

and/or

• Left the armed forces in the past three years, and they were your last long-term employer

we guarantee you a job interview at Norfolk County Council.

How to show you are eligible

We ask if you are eligible during the application process. Answer 'yes' and whether you have a disability or are ex-armed forces (or both). 

We only ask the question to check your eligibility for a guaranteed interview. The information is not used for any other purpose.

What happens next

The hiring manager will review your job application. They will decide if you meet the essential criteria.  If you do, we will offer you an interview. You can ask for reasonable adjustments for interview.

A guaranteed interview is not a guaranteed offer of employment. We will interview other suitable candidates. Our selection processes will ensure we appoint the best candidate for the job.
 

Remember to check through your application before you submit it to make sure everything is correct. Once you have submitted the application form you may wish to print off a copy to refer to at the interview.

It may be helpful to get someone else to check what you have written to look for any spelling or grammatical errors.

You may want to come back to the application form in a couple of days, to reflect on, or amend, what you have said. You can save the form so that you can add to it, or amend it.

You cannot go back and change your application once you have clicked on the 'submit application' button.

This section includes brief advice about your right to work in the UK.

If you need more information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website as the rules change frequently. You can also find out about: 

• Your right to work in the UK
• Studying in the UK
• European Economic Area (EEA) countries where nationals can work in the UK without restriction
• Advice for Non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals

NCC is required by law to comply with the Data Protection Regulations.

Employees have an important role to play in ensuring that personal information is processed lawfully and fairly. Personal information is information relating to a living individual who can be identified.

It's each individual employee's responsibility to handle all personal information properly no matter how it is collected, recorded and used, whether on paper, on a computer, or in other material. Personal information must not be disclosed to others unless authorised to do so.

Every employee should familiarise themselves with NCC's Data Protection Policy.

We want to support you during the recruitment process and interview. We will consider any reasonable interview adjustments to help you. For example, you may need:

• Help completing a typing test
• A British Sign Language interpreter
• Extra time for the interview or skills tests
• An accessible location

We offer adjustments based on your needs and on a case-by-case basis. Do ask for help if you think you need it. Your interview confirmation email will explain how to ask for help. 

If you we offer you a job, we will discuss ongoing adjustments with you before you start work.