How to Apply
Recruitment Process
Seeking employment can be a daunting task, so to help you find and apply for a job with Birmingham City Council we have provided guidance with helpful tips on:
How to find a suitable job vacancy?
How to complete an application form?
How to prepare for a job interview?
STEP ONE : Looking for a job
Once you have located a job vacancy of interest, look closely at the job details given in the Applicant Information Pack (includes the advert, job description and person specification). This will help you to decide whether your skills, experience and abilities are suited to the job.
The job description details the duties of the job to be carried out on a day-to-day basis, whereas the person specification lists the experience, skills and abilities needed to carry out the job.
STEP TWO : Completing an application form
You can obtain a City Council job application form for any advertised job in a variety of ways, these are:
The online job advert provides a download applicant information pack with an application form and job information.
For more information on Birmingham City Council please visit www.birmingham.gov.uk
Our Applicant Information Pack includes a Guidance Notes section, providing valuable instructions on how the application form should be completed, to help you to make a good application.
When completing an application form you need to tell us what relevant experience, skills and abilities you have. Whether you have gained this during current or previous employment, voluntary work, at home, through social interests and hobbies or gained through academic achievement (including school and college). Make sure you complete all sections of the application form as clearly and fully as possible.
It is important that you relate section entitled ‘Relevant Skills and Experience’, to the person specification. Make sure you provide statements that demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria listed, giving examples as evidence of your experience.
More information is available in our How to Apply Guidance
Make a note of the vacancy closing date, and allow plenty of time for your application to reach us before this date. Applications cannot be accepted if they are received after the closing date. For application forms returned by post, you must ensure the correct postage is paid, forms without the correct postage will not be accepted, and will be returned to sender.
Additional Useful Information:
Select here for a checklist of important tips when completing your application form.
STEP THREE : Shortlisting of Application Forms
A selection panel (consisting of at least two people) will look at your application form, to see how the information given in your application form matches the essential criteria listed on the person specification.
STEP FOUR : Invite to interview
Applicants selected at shortlisting will be invited to attend an interview. If you are called for interview you will be notified, either by email, telephone or in writing. You will usually be given at least one week’s notice of the interview date, and will be notified if tests or assessments are to take place as part of the recruitment process.
At interview you will be required to give full examples of how your skills and experience apply to the job. Remember skills can be demonstrated by home and social examples as well as work based ones.
You will normally be notified within 28 days after the closing date if you have been selected to attend an interview, otherwise you may assume that you have not been selected for an interview on this occasion.
Additional useful information:
Select here for a checklist of useful tips when preparing for a job interview.
STEP FIVE : Job offer of appointment
If you are successful at interview you will be offered the job, this offer is subject to clearance of the following pre-employment checks:
References
On your application form you are asked to give two reference contacts. After the interview stage, the selection panel will seek references, these will further support your application and will assist the panel your suitability for the job.
Medical Clearance
Following a job offer you will be sent a pre-employment medical form to complete, this must be completed and returned. Medical clearance must be given before a start date can be confirmed.
Criminal Records Bureau Clearance (CRB)
For City Council jobs where job holders have contact with children or vulnerable adults, applicants are required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau form, also known as a police check. This process will identify any criminal convictions, spent or unspent, that an individual may have.
Qualifications
Some jobs may ask for formal qualifications, this will be indicated on the person specification, where applicable. You will need to provide evidence of such qualifications.
Once the pre-employment clearance checks have been successfully completed, a start date will be confirmed.
Some professions may require you to undertake an extended induction period, details of this requirement will be given, as appropriate.
Accessibility
A Large Print PDF document of this Recruitment Process Guidance is provided under the attachments section below. Alternative formats of this information guidance (i.e. audio and/or Braille, other size print) can be made available on request by telephoning 0121 303 8713. Please quote the job reference number and job title.