Guidance for job applications

Job description and person specification

Please read the job description and person specification carefully before starting your application. You must ensure your application makes clear that you have the skills, knowledge and experience required for the role.

Please ensure you meet all the 'essential' requirements of the role before applying. For example many of our jobs require you to hold a full valid driving licence and have your own car. Some roles have specific work patterns, such as evening or weekend work or sleep-ins. Please refer to the person specification to check whether there are any such requirements for the role. If you are unable to fulfil these requirements, it is very unlikely your application will be progressed.

Using our application form

Our job application form is an internet form. It is made up of nine pages that cover the following sections:

• Vacancy details
• Qualifying questions
• Personal details
• References
• Education and qualifications
• Training
• Professional memberships
• Current employment
• Employment history
• Voluntary work
• Personal statement
• Equal opportunities monitoring
• Declaration

You will need to complete each page before you can move to the next page. Many fields within the form are mandatory – this means you will not be able to progress to the next page of the form unless you have completed these fields. This is so that we can make sure we get the information we need. If you really cannot fill in one of these fields for a particular reason, please enter ‘n/a’ in the field so you can progress to the next section.

Make sure you only use the 'previous page' and 'next page' buttons to navigate through the form. Do not use the back button on your browser – you may lose the information you have entered.

Completing the form

• Please refer to the person specification and job description when completing this form, to ensure the information you provide is relevant to the role.
• Make sure you give all the information requested – for example in the ‘education and qualifications’ section we ask the start and end date, institution, subject or course and qualification obtained.
• Ensure you provide full details of your current and previous employment, accounting for any gaps in employment.
• The ‘Personal statement’ is your chance to explain how your skills, knowledge and experience make you the right person for the role. You should refer closely to the person specification when completing this section and explain exactly how you fulfil each of the requirements. Give evidence to back up what you are saying – for example, a statement saying that you are committed to Equal Opportunities needs some supporting evidence. Do not repeat your career history. Specify your own responsibilities rather than those of the organisation where you work. Any relevant experience gained through your community, voluntary or leisure activities should also be included.
• Ensure that your application is submitted by the closing time and date. No late applications will be considered.

Equal opportunities monitoring

The information you give in the equal opportunities monitoring section of the form is anonymous and confidential, and will only be used for equal opportunities monitoring purposes. On receipt, this form will be separated from your application. It will not be seen by the panel that determines whether or not you are to be invited to attend an interview. For more information please view our equality and diversity policy.

Criminal record disclosure

Please refer to the ‘Information regarding terms and conditions’ document in the job application pack to establish whether you will be required to apply for a criminal record disclosure, and, if appropriate, the level of disclosure required. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from appointment; this will depend on the circumstances and the background to your offence(s). Each case will be considered on its merit. If you have any concerns whatsoever regarding convictions, please feel free to contact Transform’s Personnel Manager, on a confidential basis, before or after submitting your application. Call 01372 387100 or email mtaylor@transformhousing.org.uk. For more information please view our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

Data Protection Act 1998

By signing and returning this application form, you consent to Transform obtaining, keeping, using and producing information relating to your application for one year in order to consider whether to offer you any position, the terms on which to make any such offer, or answer any reasonable queries about your application and to monitor the recruitment process. If you are subsequently offered and accept employment with Transform, you consent to this application form being retained as part of your personnel records.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 the person or organisation that decides how information about individuals is used is known as the data controller. In our case Transform is the data controller. Transform’s Director of Finance is currently responsible for ensuring that we comply with our obligations under the act.