Application Guidance
Information for Applicants
Please note that completing an application in its entirety will give you the best opportunity at standing out amongst all of the applicants. The shortlisting panel will use your application form against the shortlisting criteria that is listed in the Job Description and Person Specification in order to make the decision as to whether you are shortlisted and selected for an interview. It is important that you remember to include all relevant information. To fully support your application, please read carefully the Job Advert, Job Description, Person Specification and any other information that is listed. If you require further information on specific roles then the Recruiting Managers details can be found in the Recruitment Packs.
Please note applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please do not send a C.V. as we will not accept these and you will not be considered.
Guidance Notes
Present or Most Recent Employer
Please detail your full employment history and include a brief description of your duties and responsibilities.
Previous Employment
Please detail all employment history with relevant dates.
When completing your employment history, it is important to list any gaps in your employment e.g. Sept 2016 – July 2018 (attended university), April 2020 – Aug 2020 (furloughed), Jan 2019 – March 2019 (unemployed)
Training, Vocation, Occupational Qualifications and Memberships of Recognised Professional Bodies
Please give details of any relevant training, work experience or voluntary work and/or memberships to relevant professional bodies e.g. Care Council, Educational Workforce Council
Your Qualifications
Please provide details of your education or training and grades achieved. This can include qualifications such as GCSE’s, A – Levels, BTEC, HNC/HND, NVQ’s, Degrees.
You will be required to provide evidence of all qualifications specified as essential.
Further Information
The ‘further information in support of your application’ is the most important part of your application form as this should outline why you are suitable for the job. Please read the Job Advert, Job Description and Person Specification carefully and further expand on how you satisfy this paying close attention to the Essential and Desirable Criteria. It is really useful to include examples to support your application as stating ‘I have great ICT skills’ or ‘I have excellent Customer Services Skills’ is not enough evidence to show us.
Examples could include:
I have great ICT skills and I possess an A-Level in Computer Science. I am used to using a variety of ICT packages such as Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint as I have had to use these programmes to deliver presentations and run reports to present the findings to my Manager.
I have excellent Customer Services Skills and I have a formal NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service. My current role is based in a call centre and my duties include speaking to customers regularly through telephone calls or webchat. This means I am expected to maintain a professional attitude as I am dealing with customers who can become frustrated.
It is also really important to remember that any experience or skills that you have gained from other opportunities outside of paid employment or formal education (as long as it is relevant to the role) should be included. This is your chance to sell yourself and tell us why we should hire you.
References
As part of our Recruitment and Selection Policy, we will require two satisfactory references, with one reference obtained from your current or most recent employer. Applicants applying for social worker posts will require 3 references.
If you are not currently working then your last employer or a professional reference (School/College/University, voluntary organisation) will be required.
If you have never been employed then we will require two-character references and these can be obtained from a teacher or tutor at your School, College, University or someone that you have known for 2+ years (however this must not be someone who is related to you).
Criminal Convictions
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 outlines that when applying for jobs you do not need to disclose any ‘spent’ criminal convictions. Some jobs however are exempt from the provisions of this Act which means that you must state on the application form all criminal convictions, cautions and reprimands that you have regardless of if they are spent or not. Please note that if you do not disclose any criminal convictions at the application form phase that we are later informed about then any offer of employment can be revoked.
Declaration of interests
When completing your application form with the Council, you will be asked to detail any relationship you have with an elected member or a senior officer of the Council. You will also be required to declare if you are or have been an elected member of the Council in the last 12 months as well as disclosing any business or other interests which could cause a conflict of interest with the role you are applying for.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
Here at Merthyr Tydfil Council, we value diversity in our workforce and consider ourselves to be an Employer of Choice. We are committed to promoting and integrating equality of opportunity into all aspects of our work. We welcome applications from everyone and encourage applicants from all groups and backgrounds to apply and join us. We are strongly committed to eradicating discrimination in the workplace and ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, disability, sex, race, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, religion or belief, gender identity and expression, and pregnancy and maternity.
We have achieved Level 2 status of being a Disability Confident Employer and actively promote our commitment. As part of this, any applicant that identifies themselves with a disability and meets the essential minimum criteria will be offered a guaranteed interview. You will be contacted by our Recruitment team and asked prior to attending an interview if you require any reasonable adjustments in order for you to participate.
Merthyr Tydfil CBC proudly supports the Armed Forces Community, upholding the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant to which we are signatories. The implementation of the Guaranteed Interview Scheme is a testament to our ongoing commitment, particularly as we seek the prestigious Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. While not mandatory, the Guaranteed Interview Scheme is a significant gesture of support for the Armed Forces Community.
This initiative is designed for Service leavers, Veterans, and Reservists who fulfil the essential criteria outlined in our Council’s employment specifications. It ensures that these individuals are afforded an interview for any available position, reinforcing the strong bond between the Council and the Armed Forces.
The launch of our new Guaranteed Interview Scheme will facilitate the transition of the Armed Forces community and veterans within Merthyr Tydfil CBC into civilian roles, mitigating the challenges they face post-service. This initiative also addresses the potential health and well-being issues associated with prolonged unemployment.
Furthermore, the Council stands to gain from the diverse pool of applicants who not only meet the essential requirements but also bring a wealth of transferable skills to the table.
Employment Support
Providing 1-2-1 employment support and mentoring, assisting with: CV writing, application forms, job search, training, placements, interview preparation and help to start work.