We’ve put together some useful information and a few pointers that could help with your application. After reading this page, you should have all the information you need to give you the best chance in your application.
Before you start
- Allow yourself plenty of time
- Please read all the instructions carefully
- Make sure that you understand all the questions
- Read the information relevant to the position, for example job description, employee specification and so on.
Employee specification
The employee specification is particularly important, as it tells you what experience, skills, abilities, knowledge and anything else you’ll need to do the job. Each of these is placed into one of two areas:
- Essential – as you’d expect, these criteria are vital to fulfilling the role effectively
- Minor – these criteria would be a bonus, but they’re not essential to fulfilling the role within the initial induction period
These criteria must be matched to your skills, abilities and experience. Remember, you’ll be shortlisted and invited for interview if you can show us how you meet them.
Tips
- Try to make any examples you give as relevant to the role as possible, and as clear as you can. Remember that you can include experience from all sources, including previous jobs, school, clubs, organisations and voluntary work
- Please refer to the job description and ensure that your application reflects the duties listed
- Don't leave any blanks. If there are any questions that don’t apply to you, simply put 'not applicable' or 'n/a'
- If you are shortlisted, we’ll ask for references unless you’ve indicated otherwise on your application form
- If you’re currently employed, one of your references must be your present or most recent employer. We can’t accept character references or references from relatives or people writing solely in the capacity of friends
Supporting information
‘Information in support of your application’ is any experience you may have that shows us how you meet the requirements of the employee specification.
- Provide us with as much detail as possible to demonstrate how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ section of the employee specification – and give examples
- You must meet the essential criteria in order for us to shortlist you. Minor criteria are certainly an advantage, but not crucial
- Don’t forget to keep referring to the job description and employee specification when completing your application
- Make sure that the information you give us is clear, precise and easy to understand
Safeguarding vulnerable people
- Barnsley Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- All shortlisted applicants for posts working with children or vulnerable adults must have completed the criminal record background section of the application form. Applicants for these posts are required to disclose any criminal conviction which would normally be considered to be ‘spent’. (Spent convictions are those that happened some time ago, and are not usually required to be revealed, as specified in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974).
- For more information, please visit the Criminal Records Bureau website
Final check
- Make sure that all sections are complete. If a box isn’t relevant, put ‘n/a’
- Our closing date and time is a strict deadline, so take a note of it and make sure that your application form is submitted in good time
- Please do not send in a CV as it won’t be considered
For further information, please call the Recruitment Helpline on 01226 772250.
