Guidance

These guidance notes will help you to complete the application form.

Your completed application plays an important part in the recruitment and selection process, as the information you provide will be used to assess your initial suitability for the job. So, please read this guidance carefully before you start completing your form.

Before you start

• Look carefully at the job description, person specification and application form.

• The job description tells you about the main tasks and duties involved in the job.

• The person specification lists the qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge candidates need to do the job, as an essential or desirable requirement. It also tells you how we will assess your suitability for the job. This might be assessed through the application form, the interview, a test or a combination of these methods. When completing your application form you need to consider how we will assess each criteria.

• All items listed on the person specification as being assessed by ‘application form’ must be demonstrated, with examples, of how your experience, skills and knowledge match the requirements for the post. For example, if the person specification asks for experience of using a computer at work, home, school or college you must clearly demonstrate what you have done on a computer i.e. college assignments, typed letters, created spreadsheets.

• As part of the Company’s commitment to Equal Opportunities, disabled candidates who meet the essential requirements on the person specification are guaranteed an interview.  

• Once we have shortlisted, if we have a large number of applicants who meet the essential requirements, we will shortlist further by considering whether applicants also meet the desirable requirements.

• You must submit a separate application form for each job you wish to apply for. Tailor your application to the job you are applying for, rather than submitting a copy of same application for a range of jobs.

• You must complete the Company’s standard application form. Do not send a C.V. (Curriculum Vitae), as this will not be accepted. If you need the form in alternative format, for example large print, please contact the Company’s Human Resources Team on 01942 486638.

• Try to complete the form in a concise, well organised and positive way.

• You will find enclosed a copy of our Equality and Diversity Policy and an Equality Monitoring Form. The Equality Monitoring form is used to help us measure the effectiveness of our policy and procedures, identify potential areas of discrimination and plan to address these. The monitoring information you supply is strictly confidential, and is not used to determine candidates’ suitability for interview or appointment.

Completing The Application Form

The following headings correspond to the sections on the application form 

Job you are applying for: include the full job title and post reference number.

About you: include your name, address and contact details.

Present or most recent job (if any): include details of your present employer, job title, start date, salary details, how much notice you must give and reason for leaving. You should also include a brief outline of job roles and responsibilities, as this will help us assess your experience. If you are currently unemployed, make a note of this on the form, and go to the next section.

Previous employment and work experience: as well as paid employment, include any unpaid work experience or voluntary work. List in date order starting with the most recent.

Your education: this section is used to assess whether you have achieved the appropriate level of education for the job. List any qualifications you achieved such as GCSEs, O Levels or CSE’s. Please include the grades and awarding body.

Further education and job related qualifications: this section is used to assess whether you have achieved the appropriate level of further education for the job. List any qualifications you achieved, such as a Degree, Diploma, NVQ, job related professional, technical qualifications or skills certificates.

Current study: this section is used to access whether you are working towards any relevant qualifications.

Training: include any courses which you have completed and which are relevant to the job you are applying for and/or listed on the person specification;

Membership of professional institutes and organisations: for some more specialist or senior jobs, membership of a professional organisation might be desirable or even essential. In these cases, the requirement is clearly stated in the person specification for the job. Relevant professional organisations include the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Chartered Institute of Building or the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

References: please provide details of two people who will be able to comment on your suitability for the job. One of these people must be your current or most recent employer. References from voluntary or unpaid work will be accepted. If you have recently left education references from a teacher, lecturer, tutor or work experience supervisor are also acceptable. Personal references from friends, colleagues and relatives are not accepted. If you are self employed references may be provided by your bank manager, solicitor, accountant or doctor. If your previous employer is HM Forces, discharge papers will be accepted as an employment reference. You should also indicate whether or not your references can be taken up immediately. Your wishes, in relation to this, will be respected.

Relevant experience, skills and knowledge: this is a very important part of your application. Ensure you show, with examples, how you meet the requirements in the person specification. To do this go through the person specification point by point giving examples of how you meet the education, experience, skills and competencies, knowledge, physical requirements and work related circumstances for the job. This could be through work, through voluntary or leisure activities or in the home.

General information: please ensure you tick all appropriate boxes and provide any relevant information. A number of jobs can be undertaken on a job share basis. However, check the advertisement whether this is the case for the job you are applying for.

Arrangements for interview: as part of the Company’s commitment to equal opportunities, disabled candidates who meet the essential requirements on the person specification are guaranteed an interview. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the selection process for disabled candidates.

Data Protection Act 1998 – Consent and certification of details

The information you provide in this form may be used by us to monitor our employment policies and practices, and in particular our Equality and Diversity in Employment Policy. The monitoring we carry out is for statistical purposes and you will not be personally identified in any monitoring reports or information we produce. However, we may contact you personally for feedback on our recruitment processes as part of our commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

We do share statistical information with other organisations, such as Wigan Council and the Audit Commission for performance monitoring and bench marking purposes.

We destroy all application forms of unsuccessful candidates after six months following an appointment to the job.

If you give false information in your application, you will be disqualified from the recruitment process and any job offer withdrawn, or if you have already been appointed to the job your employment will be terminated.

By submitting this form you confirm that you consent to Wigan and Leigh Housing recording the information detailed in my application. You understand that the Company may use this information in the course of its business and your consent is conditional upon the Company complying with its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998.  

What happens next?

• If you wish to make further enquiries once your application form has been submitted please telephone the Human Resources Team and state your name, the post title and reference number of the job you have applied for.

• After the closing date shortlisting will be conducted by an interview panel. The panel will match your experience, skills and knowledge against the criteria in the person specification. The selection process may involve an interview(s), a presentation, a work-based exercise or assessment centre.

• You will receive no further communication from us, unless you are selected for interview. If we have not contacted you within 3 weeks of the closing date you should conclude that your application has been unsuccessful this time. If you would like feedback on why you have not been shortlisted for interview please contact the Human Resources Team.

• All candidates are welcome to receive feedback on their application at the end of the recruitment process. If you would like feedback please contact the Human Resources Team.

• Wigan & Leigh Housing is committed to continuously improving its recruitment and selection processes and identifying and eliminating discrimination. If you have any comments on the process, or if you feel you have been unfairly treated please contact the Human Resources Manager.

• If you believe that there has been unfair discrimination in making the appointment you are applying for, there is a complaints process. The Company will investigate any complaints thoroughly, and take appropriate action, where evidence of unfair discrimination is identified. If you wish to make a complaint please contact the Human Resources Manager.

Please refer to our contact details below and good luck with your application!