How to apply

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that’s as diverse as the communities we serve. So we’ll guarantee you an interview if you meet the minimum requirements for a role and you:

• are in – or have ever been in – the Armed Forces
• consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
• are currently looked after by a local authority or a care leaver

Disability or long-term condition

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and do our best to support staff with physical and mental-health conditions, a disability or neurodiversity. We will offer you a guaranteed interview if you consider yourself to be disabled, but you also have the option to opt out of the scheme during the application process, if you wish.

Looked after children and care leavers

As part of our commitment to the Care Leaver covenant (CLC), we offer guaranteed interviews if you are currently looked after by a local authority, or a care leaver. This is part of our wider support given through CLC to help people leaving care make a transition to independence.

Current and former members of the Armed Forces

We are a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and committed to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, recognising and remembering the sacrifices they have made. This makes sure that veterans, reservists and serving personnel face no disadvantage throughout the recruitment process.

Top tips for your application

Make sure to read through the advert and any supporting documents including the role profile. Think about any roles you are currently undertaking, or you have undertaken before and how your skills, knowledge and experience match what we are looking for. You should give examples that match the generic skills and technical requirements on the role profile - these can be from any previous employment, voluntary work, education, or any other transferable life skills.

Begin by describing the situation and don’t forget to be specific about the skills and knowledge that you personally used, as well as the outcome. We want to get to know you so make sure your examples highlight your strengths and allow your application to shine.

Top tips for interviews and assessments

If your application is shortlisted, you may be invited to attend one or more assessments.

This could include a written task, interview, presentation, or an assessment centre. The type of assessment for each role will depend on the knowledge, skills and behaviours required.

Assessments may take place in-person, online, over the phone or on a video call.

To help prepare you can:

• read the Our Manchester strategy and the State of the City report to get a good understanding of the Council’s priorities and ambitions
• read through the role profile again. Consider the types of questions you may be asked and the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to demonstrate
• develop a list of examples where you have demonstrated key skills, worked well under pressure or made a real difference. Take a look back at the examples you used in your application form. Expand on them and come up with more if you can
• think about any questions you want to ask. Remember, it’s also an opportunity for you to assess whether the Council is the right fit for you
• practice speaking slowly and with confidence. Remember that it’s okay to take a few moments to collect your thoughts before responding to an interview question
• plan all the practicalities for assessment day in advance. If the assessment is in person, think about how you will get to the venue. If the assessment is virtual, read our tips for virtual assessments.
• plan what to wear – it’s important to feel comfortable but also to make a good impression
• contact us about any adjustments that you may need to help you perform at your best.

Things to remember for video interviews

Whether you are an expert at video interviews or have never experienced one before, we want you to feel comfortable and confident. Here are some top tips to help you prepare:

Check your technology

You’ll need a device that with a camera and microphone, as well as an internet connection.

We use Microsoft Teams for video interviews. You can join from your browser, or download Microsoft Teams to your device. If you need help with using teams, there are useful guides online.

You will receive a calendar invite by email to confirm the date and time of your interview, this will also contain a Teams meeting link. To join a meeting, you’ll need to click on the link in the email at the specified time.

Before your interview, you should test the device and make sure that the camera shows a clear picture and sound quality is good, and that your internet connection is stable.

Don’t forget to make sure your device is charged or plugged in, so your battery does not run out. To give yourself plenty of time to prepare, switch everything on at least half an hour before the interview and give it a quick test.

Choose a suitable location
Try to pick a quiet location for your interview. You might also want to let anyone you live with, or who might be at the location know that you will be in an interview and how long it should last.

For added privacy you can blur your background on Teams. When you join a meeting, you will first see a set of options, select Background filters. It's just below the video image.

Your background options will display on the right. Select Blur to blur your background. You'll appear nice and clear while everything behind you is subtly concealed.

Don’t forget to close any tabs, windows or applications that may play notifications sounds, and put your phone on silent.

Prepare yourself

You should dress for your video interview as you would for an in-person one.

Body language is also important, and you should remember to try and look at the screen or camera when the interviewer is speaking. Digital connections can be delayed so please be mindful that there may be a second or two delay.

When speaking, try to keep a steady pace so that the microphone can pick up what you are saying. If you need help with hearing the interviewers, you can also enable live captions.

Final review

To recap, here’s a quick checklist of things to remember:

• Have a suitable device connected to the internet.
• Test your technology well in advance.
• Where possible, have the interview in a suitable quiet location.
• Disable any visual or audio distractions.
• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Be mindful of your body language, try to look at the camera and screen and act as you would at an in-person interview.
• Be prepared to answer questions related to the role profile or job description advertised.
• If you encounter issues, try not to worry. Let us know and we can see if there are any alternative ways you can connect for your interview.

Best of luck!

General Queries - Application Process

Where do I apply for vacancies within Manchester City Council?

To apply for any role please visit - https://jobs.manchester.gov.uk/

Do I need a CV to apply for a job with you?

Some application forms might ask for a CV but others might ask for a personal statement on how you meet the requirements of the role however the recruitment system has the option to build a CV if you do not have one already.

Interview notification

You will receive email notification if you have or have not been shortlisted for an interview or assessment. You can also log into your candidate portal to track the progress of your application - https://jobs.manchester.gov.uk/

Rearranging an interview

Please note that slots are on a first come first served basis. We may not always be able to offer alternatives if you can’t find a suitable time. You will need to contact the recruiting manager to see if they are able to rearrange the date/time for you, their email address can be found in the interview invite email you received.

Guaranteed Assessment

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that’s as diverse as the communities we serve. When a candidate has stated they meet the below criteria and have met the minimum requirements for shortlisting they will be guaranteed an assessment/interview:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
  Read more about our Guaranteed Interview Scheme - https://jobs.manchester.gov.uk/how-to-apply.aspx

Interview/Assessment Process

We have various processes when it comes to interviews, most interview panels tend to stick to the standard formal interview with a diverse panel.

Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for disabled candidates in order to remove any barriers they may have during a recruitment process. Further information and guidance on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy can be found here https://jobs.manchester.gov.uk/why-work-for-us.aspx#Equality

Sponsorship

Some roles are eligible for sponsorship to find out what roles are eligible please visit - https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers/job-suitability

General Queries - Appointment Process

Accepting your Conditional Offer

You will receive an email advising you your offer has been created and a link to view the details, once you log into your candidate portal you will see a Things to do section, here you will review the details of the offer and an accept/decline option, once accepted you will be taken to the onboarding form to complete this.

Pre-Employment Checks

All external new starters are required to provide/complete:

• Legal Right to Work documentation
• 2 References - one must be from their current or most recent employer.
• Onboarding form

Other checks that may be required depending on the role and may also be required for the role you have applied for:

• DBS check
• BPSS check
• Police Vetting
• Qualification
• Registered body
• Manchester Residency
• Reference verification
• Medical clearance
• Full employment history check
• Evidence of Conduct
• Car Documents

The Resourcing Team will contact the recruiting manager to confirm the above checks have been completed and you can arrange a start date. We cannot agree a start date prior to the checks being completed.

DBS Certificate

When you receive a copy of your DBS certificate you do not need to send/provide us with a copy, we receive notification via the only portal that the clearance has been received.

Baseline and Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance

A BPSS check is a UK background check that was created to help reduce the risk of illegal workers and tackle identity fraud. It is seen as a procedure to help protect national security so individuals cannot apply for BPSS Clearance on themselves, only an employer can apply to have a BPSS check performed.

References

All External new starters are required to provide references at the pre-employment checks stage, once received these are sent to the recruiting managers to review and approve or decline dependant on the information provided.

In addition to the managers approval, the Resourcing Team may have to carry out a reference verification check, this involves contact the referee to verify the details provided. The verification process is required for certain roles, roles that fall under Children’s and Families and roles that require a BPSS check

Agreeing a start date

It is important that all pre-employment checks are verified and completed prior to a start date being agreed between a manager and their new starter to ensure that a candidate is suitable for the role and to ensure that we comply with specific legal requirements.

You should only hand your notice in at your current job if we have confirmed to you all checks are completed. Once all checks are complete, you will receive an email and then the recruiting manager will contact you to confirm a date can now be arranged.

New Starter Salary Payments

New starters are set up on SAP and will receive their first payment 2 weeks after the start date. If you do not start on the 1st of the month the payment will be issues as a BACs payment and this can be received by the bank any time after 12.30pm.