Administration & Clerical Talent Pool - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join the pool?

To be successful in gaining entry into the Administration and Clerical Talent Pool there is a 2-part process that you will need to successfully complete.

Part 1 - Initial Application

The first part of the process is to complete an on-line registration form, about how many hours you are looking to work, whether you would prefer permanent or temporary work, what locations you are able to work at etc.

The registration form will also ask you to answer questions around your skills and/or abilities relating to the following 6 areas:

• Literacy skills (e.g. spelling and grammar)
• Numeracy skills (e.g. basic calculations and working with financial data)
• Filing skills
• Accuracy skills
• IT Skills
• Communications skills (verbal and written)

Once you have completed your registration, it will automatically be submitted to the Administration and Clerical Talent Pool Co-ordinator when you select 'save'. You will then receive an email to acknowledge your registration.

Please note that any amendments made to your registration form after the closing date will not be taken into consideration for the next assessment centre.  They will however, be taken into consideration for the next planned assessment centre. You will be informed of the proposed assessment centre date in your confirmation email.

Part 2 - Assessment Process

If your initial registration is successful you will be invited to attend an assessment centre where you will be asked to complete activities that have been designed to assess your level of ability against the 6 skill areas referred to above. It is expected that the assessment process will last for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and you will receive full details of the activities involved and a timetable with your letter of invitation.

Following the assessment you will be informed in writing if you have been successful or not and you will also have the opportunity to ask for feedback on your performance.

Applicants who have been successful following the assessment will then gain entry into the pool and will be considered for any suitable vacancies that arise. You will also be asked to complete a standard application form and some further pre-employment information such as a medical questionnaire. We will also seek 2 supporting references. A Criminal Records Bureau check may also be required if you are later offered a position working with children or vulnerable adults.

If you are successful in gaining entry into the pool, you will not need to complete any further application forms for any of the vacancies you are considered for.

What happens when a vacancy arises?

When a vacancy arises the Administration and Clerical Talent Pool Co-ordinator will check the details of the vacancy (e.g. level of responsibility, location, number of hours etc) against the information recorded for all candidates in the pool. The details of all candidates that match the criteria will then be provided back to the Manager who will decide on a short-list of candidates to interview.

Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend an interview and where a suitable candidate is found, an appointment will be offered. Those candidates who are not successful at this stage will be able to request feedback from the interview panel and can continue to remain in the pool.

Will casual vacancies be included in the Talent Pool?

No, the pool will contain both permanent and temporary posts.

Will schools vacancies be included in the Talent Pool?

No, the pool will contain vacancies for all areas of the Council, with the exception of Schools.

Will my referees be contacted prior to interview?

We will ask you to complete a standard application form if you have been successful at the assessment centre, which will ask for you to provide details of 2 referees. You will have the option to state 'yes / no' to references being taken up prior to interview.

References will be requested after the assessment centre if you have agreed to this. However, if you have not agreed, references will not be taken up until an offer of appointment has been made, following interview.

Do my references have to be from a previous employer or can I provide character references?

We require two employment references, from your most recent employers. Where this is not possible, we will liase with the recruiting manager and yourself to get the most appropriate references.

Is the process different for People with disabilities?

The Council is fully committed to the employment of disabled people.

Where applicants indicate on their registration form that they have a disability, they will be invited to attend an assessment centre.

Every effort will be made to provide suitable assessment centre / interview arrangements. Special requirements can be stated on the registration form.

How long will I be allowed to remain in the pool?

The maximum amount of time that successful applicants will remain in the pool is 6 months. This is to ensure that the Council can comply with Data Protection guidelines and also to enable the information contained in the pool to be as relevant and up to date as possible.

If you wish to continue to be considered for vacancies after this time period you will be invited to attend the next available assessment centre to re-new your status.

When can I join the pool?

You can complete an on-line application to join the pool at any time through the Council's website.

If you do not have immediate access to the internet, free access can be arranged for you through our Job Club initiative at any Library in the area or alternatively, you can apply for membership on-line by following this link.

How often do the assessment centres take place?

It is anticipated, initially that the assessment centres will take place approximately every 6 weeks, although this may be subject to change depending on the number of vacancies that arise.

The dates of the assessment centres will be posted on-line as soon as they are arranged. Candidates who are successful at the initial registration stage will be notified of the date and further details via email.

If I am already in employment can I still apply?

Yes, you can. You can still go through the assessment process and be held on the database if you have another job at the moment. You will be contacted about the vacancies you would like to be considered for as they arise.