Application Guidance

 

Cloverleaf Advocacy appreciates the effort and commitment involved in making a job application and we want you to have a positive experience of applying for our jobs. To help you with your preparation, please consider the following guidelines before submitting your application:

 

What will the recruiting managers be looking for?

 

• From the applications received for the job, the recruiting managers will aim to select the candidates best suited to undertake the role successfully and invite them to the next round of assessment. This will normally include an interview combined with some other form of assessment, such as a presentation, written test or practical test relevant to the role.
• Your application is your opportunity to convince the selection panel that they should select you to go through to the next phase of assessment. Remember that the selection panel will only be able to base their decisions upon the information provided in your application.
• We regularly receive high numbers of applications for many of our roles, so invest the time in ensuring that your application stands out. Provide the selection panel with a full picture of your ability to undertake the role by submitting a well-structured, informative and interesting application.

 

When completing an effective application for any role, make sure: 

 

• You state the job title of the role you are applying for.
• All information provided is honest and accurate.
• All sections of the application are presented clearly and concisely.
• You tailor your application to meet the needs of the person specification. Make it easy for the selection panel to see how well you match the job.
• All information provided is relevant to the job.
• You provide evidence of how your previous experience, skills and abilities mean that you match the needs of the job i.e. the abilities/skills specified within the essential/desirable criteria of the person specification. Remember that you may be able to draw from different areas of your life to provide relevant and useful examples, not just paid employment.
• You provide a full and continuous history of your education/training and unemployment/work experience. Unexplained gaps are not helpful and will be explored with you in person if you are invited to attend an interview.
• You complete all essential fields on the application form. Incomplete application forms will not be accepted during the HR review of applications.
• You have checked all spelling and grammar.

 

Do not:

 

• Just confirm that you can do the criteria specified in the person specification without further explanation. You need to provide clear evidence of how you meet the criteria by giving examples that draw upon previous experience, from paid or voluntary employment, education or other interests.
• Cut and paste supporting statements between applications. This will be obvious to the selection panel and will have a negative impact on their consideration of your application.
• Overinflate achievements. Keep them accurate and honest.
• Make it difficult for the selection panel to assess whether you match the criteria specified for the role. By structuring your application around the criteria identified for the job, you will make your application more relevant and easier to assess.

 

Criminal records (DBS)

 

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at Cloverleaf Advocacy.  We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. All applicants will routinely be asked to provide details of current convictions and information about spent convictions will only be sought for jobs that have been identified as exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 due to the nature of the work involved. This type of job will also normally be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and this will be specified within the advertisement and job description.

 

Diversity monitoring

 

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer. Please complete this section as fully as possible to help us with our vital work on equality and diversity. The information provided in this section will be removed from your application and analysed on an anonymous basis to help inform our strategic action and decision-making. It will not influence your application in any way.