The application form, as opposed to a curriculum vitae (CV), is used to ensure that information is presented in a standardised format and provides only the details we require. This ensures all applicants are treated fairly and equally.
As the information contained on the form is used during the selection process, it is essential that you complete all sections as fully as possible. The following notes are intended to help you complete the application form.
Personal details
Please do not provide your first name. Only your initials are needed to ensure all applicants are considered fairly, whether male or female. Your first name is required on the Monitoring Form.
Education (from age 11)
School/College/University attended
Give details of secondary and any further education, including dates and qualification(s) attained. Please account for any gaps.
Membership of professional bodies or other relevant qualifications
Provide details of the professional bodies to which you belong and any professional qualification(s).
Details of relevant training courses
Include details of any short courses or evening classes attended, including dates.
Present employment
This section is for details of your present or most recent employment, including voluntary activities. You should:
- Provide a brief description of the duties and responsibilities held during.
- Include any duties that you consider to be of particular relevance to the position for which you are applying.
- Provide details of those jobs (paid or unpaid) that you intend to continue – the Working Time Regulations require the Council to monitor the hours that you work each week, including hours worked in other organisations.
- Indicate whether the employment is present or recent in the box provided.
- Provide your current salary or pay per hour.
- Indicate if you have been employed with Cambridgeshire County Council previously and provide the appropriate details.
Previous employment
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- Provide details of all previous employment, including that of a voluntary nature. The information should be provided in date order, starting with the most recent including the month and year. Please use the format mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy.
- Do not include your present employment in this section.
Please account for all/any gaps in employment history, including gap between education and first job.
How you meet the selection criteria
Use this section to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria set out in the person specification using specific examples, for example:
- How do your abilities and experience make you suitable for the post?
- If the job requires mobility, how would you travel within the county, can you drive, do you have a clean license and do you have use of a vehicle?
Referees
Please provide the details of TWO people who may be approached for a reference.
- If you are employed, one referee must be connected with your current employment, i.e. your manager or supervisor.
- If you are a school or college leaver, please give details of a teacher or tutor.
- A suitable second referee preferably should be a previous employer, business associate or leader/organiser of a voluntary organisation.
- Family members, friends or people with whom you have any other significant relationship are not acceptable referees.
- In specific circumstances a character reference from a person of a professional standing may be accepted, i.e. from applicants who have had a substantial career break for domestic reasons, e.g. to raise a family or to provide long-term care for a dependant.
- Please indicate whether you have any objection to us calling for your references if you are shortlisted for interview.
- Please note that an offer of employment may be withdrawn if suitable referees cannot be provided or contacted. We reserve the right to seek alternative references where the references provided do not meet the above criteria and to obtain further references (for whatever reason) as appropriate.
- Please provide details of sick leave for the last two years on a separate sheet of paper, including your full name and reference number for the post for which you are applying. This information will remain confidential and will be corroborated with your referee only if you are successful in your application.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
This section must be completed by all applicants. Include information on any investigation into your conduct with vulnerable groups even if this did not result in any action being taken. (Vulnerable groups include, children, young people and vulnerable adults).
You must complete this section if:
- You have been cautioned, court martialled or have criminal convictions that are not considered ‘spent under the rehabilitation of offenders act 1974.
- There is court action pending against you.
- If you are applying for a post that is exempt from the provisions of the act, (normally those dealing directly with children and vulnerable adults), you must disclose all criminal convictions found against you. The letter enclosed with the application form will confirm if the post is exempt and therefore what you must declare.
The Criminal Records Bureau’s code of practice is available on request. Having a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position. Please refer to the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Summary Statement enclosed.
Declaration
Please provide the name and job title of any relative, friend or acquaintance employed by Cambridgeshire County Council. If you fail to disclose any relationship known to you, you will be disqualified from appointment or, if appointed, may be dismissed without notice.
Please ensure you read this statement and sign and date the application form.
Please note that if invited to interview, you will be asked to sign your application form as a true record.
Monitoring form
The County Council is committed to reflecting the diversity of the community it serves in order to monitor our progress we need to gather information from applicants. This information will remain confidential and only be used for monitoring purposes only. It will not affect your application in any way and it will be detached.
Code of Conduct
The Council’s Code of Conduct details the standards of behaviour that the County Council expects from its employees and people applying for posts within the Council. The County Council, therefore, expects that applicants will:
- Tell the truth on their application form and at any interview.
- Disclose criminal convictions as appropriate.
- Disclose links or membership of any secret society or organisation whose aims may be thought to conflict with Council policy.
- Disclose friendships or relationships to Councillors/Council employees.
The County Council expects that applicants will not:
- Try to get Councillors or Council employees to show them undue favour before or during the selection process; OR
- Conceal any fact that they should disclose.
Please note that failure to follow the Code of Conduct will disqualify you from appointment, or if appointed, you may be dismissed without notice.
Brief introduction to behaviours
‘Behaviours’ define how the Council expects to see the successful candidate go about their work. You will find a list entitled ‘behaviours together with the job description and person specification for the job which you have applied. Behaviours are tested at interview stage. If you are called to interview, you will be asked to discuss whether you are able to work in the required ways and to discuss examples where you have displayed these behaviours in the past.
