Application guidance

Create an account

To apply for any of our jobs you'll need to register with our recruitment system.

To do this:

• select 'Apply online' on the job you want to apply for
• answer the right to work screening question
• select 'New user registration'

You'll need to provide some details and an email address and password. These will be your username and password for the recruitment system.

You'll get an email confirmation when you've registered.

Your email address will be your username the next time you log in.

Job closing date

Apply as soon as you can. Try not to leave it until just before the closing date to submit your application. We don't want you to miss our on applying because of an issue with your internet connection, for example.

Job description

The job description describes the role's responsibilities.

Use the job description to understand what you'll be doing if you get the job. It outlines the:

• job purpose
• key job outcomes
• accountabilities

Person specification

The person specification describes what you need to apply for the role. Use this document to assess whether you can meet the requirements of the role.

The person specification is broken down into:

• essential criteria (you must have these to apply for the role)
• desirable criteria (not essential to apply)

It outlines any qualifications, experience and skills you need for the role.

Screening questions

At the beginning of your application, you'll need to answer some screening questions relevant to the role you're applying for.

A screening question which applies to all our roles is related to the Right to Work in the UK. To work for Bristol City Council, you must have the Right to Work in the UK.

When you've answered the screening questions you'll be taken through to your Application Summary page. On the left side of the screen you'll see the different pages you need to complete to submit your application.

An exclamation mark will indicate that the page is not complete, and a check mark will indicate that the page is complete. When you've completed each section you'll be able to select the 'Apply' option to submit your application.

Personal details

This page asks for some basic personal information so that we can contact you about your application.

You'll need to provide an email address and a phone number if you can. Our shortlisting process is anonymised, so your name will not be visible until the shortlisting process has been completed.

Education and training

On this page you'll need to provide your education and training history.

This may include school, college, university and any other education you've completed. You can include any additional training undertaken during your career such as equality and diversity training, health and safety training, and anything else you feel is relevant to your application for the role.

Employment history

Starting with your most recent period of employment, you'll need to provide your employment history.

For each job, you'll need to give:

• the period of employment
• the job title
• a brief description of the job and main duties
• the reason for leaving

You can add as many periods of employment as want to.

If you're applying for a role which requires a criminal background check, you must include the reasons for any gaps in your employment history.

Further information

The further information section is central to your application because it's where you show how you meet the criteria in the person specification.

Refer to the person specification when completing this section, and show with examples how you meet each of the essential criteria listed.

Sometimes we get lots of applications, so when possible, show how you meet the desirable criteria. You may feel that your previous employment makes you an ideal candidate for the role, but we won't shortlist you for interview unless you meet all of the essential criteria.

If you're disabled or a care leaver, and have declared this on the relevant section of your application form, you're guaranteed an interview if you meet all of the essential criteria.

Please ensure that you give an example of each of 12 criteria in the person specification. Make sure that your examples are specific to your own skills and experience.

References

Include the details of two people who can provide a reference for you. Your first reference must be from your current employer, or your most recent employer.

We request references for candidates once a job offer has been made and accepted, unless the role requires a DBS check. Housing advisors require an enhanced DBS check.

Equality and diversity

Bristol City Council is working to ensure that its workforce reflects the city's diverse population. We can only judge our success in this area if we collate diversity monitoring information. The information you provide is treated with the strictest confidence and is not shared with the hiring manager. It is only used for monitoring purposes.

Bristol City Council is an inclusive employer, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community. We make recruitment decisions based on the knowledge, skills and experience required to do the job.

After you've applied

When the job has closed the shortlisting panel will carry out a shortlisting process. We assess each application against the criteria in the person specification to decide who has met the criteria and will be invited to interview.

The shortlisting panel is made up of two or more recruitment trained colleagues including the hiring manager. They review each application independently before reviewing as a panel to make a final decision.

If you're shortlisted for interview, we'll email you to invite you. If you haven't been shortlisted, we'll email you to tell you.

Email bristolresourcing@bristol.gov.uk if you're unsuccessful and would like feedback on your application.

Interview process

If you're successful in your application, we'll email you to invite you to an interview. You'll need to log in to your careers account and select a time and date from the options provided by the hiring manager. You'll find any additional information about the interview in your careers account. This could include information on practical assessments such as presentation topics. This information is not in your confirmation email.

The interview process may involve different methods used to assess your suitability for the role. Each assessment method is outlined in the assessment method key in the job's person specification. It describes how each criteria may be assessed during your interview. You should prepare examples based on this.

You'll be interviewed by two or more recruitment trained Bristol City Council employees. The interview will either be face-to-face or on an online video conferencing tool such as Microsoft Teams.

If you have any questions about your interview, contact the hiring manager before your interview date.

Reasonable adjustments

If you're disabled because of physical or mental impairments and require reasonable adjustments for the application process or for your interview, email bristolresourcing@bristol.gov.uk

Reasonable adjustments can be physical adjustments. For example:

• wheelchair users to have their interview on the ground floor
• candidates to complete a written test using a computer

Reasonable adjustments can also be non-physical adjustments. For example, allowing more time for the interview.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we encourage you contact us if you need any support to help you perform to the best of your ability.

If you're successful in your interview and offered the position, we'll make any reasonable adjustment required to support you to do your role to the best of your ability.