My Job Scotland - eh?

GlasweJen

I'm looking for a new job as the optical industry is currently very shaky and some of my colleagues have been paid off. Despite assurances from above I'm not confident that my job is safe any more and conditions are suddenly declining.

I found a job on the job centre web page and I fit the descriptors, have a relevant degree, the type of community links etc that they want but I don't understand the application at all. This could be because it's my first public sector application as I've always worked in the private sector?

I would be grateful for any help, in personal details part 2 there is a list of qualities. The instructions are to read the job description, pick out the qualities that are needed and then write about the relevant ones leaving out the irrelevant ones.

So I read the job descriptor which was mostly technical (must have degree, must have management experience sort of thing), at the bottom there are 6 qualities listed with a number beside them (all 1s and 2s).

I went back to the application and some of the qualities on the job descriptor aren't on the application and I can't manipulate them onto it.

I thought of answering all of the qualities anyway as I think they are important in all roles but again some of them are so vague it's almost impossible to tell what they want (example one of the qualities is "attitude").

Does anyone have any experience with this type of application who would be willing to give me some pointers?

sweetme

They're pretty confusing applications to fill huh? There should be a box somewhere where they ask you to write about your suitability for the job/your experience? I can't remember how it is worded. You could write them in there, on the upside once you've filled in one application it remembers your details for any further jobs you apply for.

Also, in my experience, be prepared for a long wait for a reply.

That probably wasn't much help really

GlasweJen

I'm glad it's not just me! So if I leave this part and do it last will the rest of the application make more sense?

edinburgher

Public sector job applications are notoriously difficult to complete. When I applied for a job in a government library in London, I wrote 17 pages of application and attended a 5 hour assessment day :eek:

You can usually go through the sections of the application as you wish - so do the basics (your details, education history etc.) and leave the statements 'til the end.

Without a link/excerpts, we can't really comment specifically.

dave_lunt2

Not 100% sure but do the 1's mean essential qualities they are looking for the 2's mean desirable (but not essential) qualities they are look for?

deedee71

GlasweJen I know exactly the type of application and website you mean. They are a nightmare designed to put off 95% of the applicants leaving only the internal applicants who have access to the exact criteria, as they work in the public sector and their annual reviews are based on the same 1,2,3 competency based system.

I've tried the essay approach, bullet points approach and just explaining why I really want the job. Absolutely none have been successful and each time I've asked for feedback about not being shortlisted for interview I've found out the job was given to an internal candidate.

I work in a very specific area and have applied for 10+ jobs all with the same job title across 6 different councils. The only job that didn't have the competency based application, I actually got offered the job but in the end decided not to relocate to that area.

It used to be My Job Scotland kept all your details and you didn't need to fill it in again but if you apply for different councils ie North Ayrshire, then South Ayrshire you have to start from scratch. Very annoying. I hate that website.

ETA: What happened to the post from MyJobScotland just above mine??

[Deleted User]

deedee71 wrote: »

It used to be My Job Scotland kept all your details and you didn't need to fill it in again but if you apply for different councils ie North Ayrshire, then South Ayrshire you have to start from scratch. Very annoying. I hate that website.

ETA: What happened to the post from MyJobScotland just above mine??

You shouldn't have to start from scratch again - the system was designed to retain around 90% of your information from your first application that you could then re-use with subsequent applications. If you can provide more information I'll get it checked out.

...and as for your comment about what happened to our previous post - I was just wondering the same thing!

[Deleted User]

GlasweJen wrote: »

I'm glad it's not just me! So if I leave this part and do it last will the rest of the application make more sense?

Definitely not just you.

We've been in touch with Glasgow to let them know that information is not clear and suggested that definitions are added to help candidates understand this better - however, we were told that that's just the way it is!!

If you'd like to complain about that directly you can email them direct at "[EMAIL="//cbsrecruitment@fs.glasgow.gov.uk"]cbsrecruitment@fs.glasgow.gov.uk[/EMAIL]".

Let us know how you get on.

deedee71

myjobscotland wrote: »

...and as for your comment about what happened to our previous post - I was just wondering the same thing!

It's possible it was marked as Spam - I think you need permission from MSE before you can post as a business entity.