How to apply
Guidance and tips on completing a high quality application
Once you have found your ideal job you will need to put some thought into your application form. It's important you take your time completing the form so that your potential new employer can see how your skills and experience match the job profile. Each job advertised will have a job profile which describes the duties linked to the role and the qualifications, skills and experience necessary to do these duties. When completing your application form it is also important to refer back to this job profile as this will be used to decide if you have the necessary skills and attributes to be invited forward for interview.
All 32 Scottish Councils advertise their job vacancies right here on myjobscotland so you will need to set up an account and complete an online application form. As part of the online application form you need to go through the following 5 sections.
- Personal Information: Contact details, home address and most recent job title and employer
- Application Form: Qualifications, work history, professional memberships, relevant courses and referee contact details
- Additional Information: Series of questions relating to your skills, experience, work achievements, and personal qualities
- Equal Opportunity Questionnaire: You do not have to complete thus section, it's there to capture information about individuals applying for jobs to ensure fair practice and treatment. This information is confidential and is not available to the people who will look at your application form
- Data Privacy Statement: Details of how your personal information is stored or shared, and requires your consent
Application form
Qualifications – In this section you should record details of further education and qualifications related to the role you are applying for, in order from the most recent to the least recent. If you are applying for an entry level role or you have not got further education qualifications, secondary school qualifications should be included.
Work history – This section is for you to list your current employment and at least 3 years previous employment, you are asked to include a brief description of responsibilities, experience and knowledge gained. This is a free text box and is your chance to note down your experience based on your previous jobs and what duties you had to do. It is important to look at the job description to make sure you write down how you meet the criteria for this role through your previous experience. These sections are an opportunity for you to sell yourself, as this is the first point of contact with your potential new employer and is where you state why you are the best person for the job.
Your myjobscotland account and further applications
Once you have submitted your application you will receive an email confirming that your application form has been received by the organisation. The next email will let you know whether you have been successful and invited to the next stage e.g. interview, or if you have been unsuccessful.
You can log-in to your myjobscotland account to check the status of your application/s (e.g. submitted, invited to interview) and if you apply for a another job, the details you have already typed in will be saved in your next application form, so you do not need to re-do it. However, it is worth reviewing this information to make sure it is still relevant and is suitable for each job you apply for.
The video below takes a quick look at the importance of taking time over your application form, and has some hints on completing and submitting this form.
Take a look at the pages below for hints and tips in working out your skills, completing the application form, and that the all important interview.
The CV and profile: the personal brochure
What you need to know about interviews
Preparation, preparation, preparation
How to perform well at an interview
Your attributes – and their attractiveness