How to apply to work with us

All of our vacancies are advertised at wmjobs.co.uk - a jobs board for public sector jobs in the West Midlands.

Our job descriptions and person specifications outline information about the job and responsibilities, including the essential and desirable criteria for the post.

To be shortlisted for an interview, you must show how you meet the qualifications, skills and experience listed in the person specification.

Where qualifications are listed as being essential for the job, you will need to provide original certificates.

We generally use application forms for our vacancies. This way, all candidates are measured against the same criteria, demonstrating how they meet the essential skills and experience for the role.

We may, on occasion, accept CVs, but this will be clearly marked on the advertisement. Where CVs are accepted, your covering letter or supporting statement should clearly outline your suitability for the role and demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.

We may also ask a number of application questions. Here you will be asked to provide specific examples of your skills and experience and evidence how they match the requirements on the person specification.

Each advert will have the contact details for the hiring manager. Please don’t hesitate to contact them if you need further information about the role.

• read the job description and person specification in full to familiarise yourself with the responsibilities, skills and experience required. If you do not meet the essential criteria, we will not be able to consider your application.
• make sure you provide evidence of the essential criteria in your application (and desirable criteria if applicable). We can't make any assumptions about your experience based on your job titles alone, so please ensure you provide detailed examples in your application.
• the person specification will tell how we measure each section of the criteria - this could be at the application stage, interview or an assessment such as a test or presentation.

If you would like any further advice about applying for a job or have specific accessibility needs, we will be happy to assist you. Please contact us at recruitment@solihull.gov.uk.

Solihull Council is committed to equal opportunities and expects all staff and volunteers to recognise and value differences.

No applicant will be treated differently due to their:

• sex
• race
• colour
• nationality, ethnic or national origins
• marital status
• disability
• sexual orientation
• age
• trade union activity
• political or religious beliefs

We are recognised as a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, please contact us at recruitment@solihull.gov.uk.

While our interview process can vary depending on the job you have applied for, for most of our positions this includes:

• the closing date and interview date for each opportunity will be clearly marked on our adverts, however it’s always best to apply early as we may close vacancies before the closing date
• once the closing date has passed, we’ll shortlist applications that meet the essential criteria and invite the highest scoring applicants to an interview
• depending on the role, your selection process may include some form of assessment, either at or prior to your interview
• in most cases our interview date is fixed. You will be advised of this in the job advert. If you can’t make this date the hiring manager may choose to offer you a different date if this can be done without impacting other candidates
• at the interview, you are encouraged to ask questions and gain a wider understanding of the job and how it meets your personal requirements
• conditional offers are usually made within a few days of your interview

We are legally required to check you can work in the UK. You will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility and have your documents checked at your interview and if you are offered a job.

Depending on the role you apply for, we may need to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check if you are offered a job.

Any DBS requirement will normally be indicated in the job advert.