Our recruitment process

To create an account, click the blue ‘Apply’ button on the job advert. You can then follow the steps to complete your application and upload your CV, which takes around 5 minutes.  

If the application requires a personal statement, make sure you include your relevant skills and experience that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

You should receive an email confirming your application has reached us.

If you are selected for an interview, you may be contacted via email to book in your interview slot.  

For some roles, you will be contacted via the phone by the recruitment team to discuss the role in more detail before shortlisting. This is a great opportunity for you to informally ask any questions you might have for us. This call takes around 15 minutes.  

If you aren’t shortlisted on this occasion, you will receive an email to let you know. Please don’t let it put you off applying for any future roles with us!

Make sure you read your interview confirmation email. It will tell you how long the interview will last, and anything you might need to prepare or bring with you. If it’s unclear, you can reply and ask for clarification.

Interviewers will want to see that you understand the job role and their own company values.  It can help to re-read the job description before the interview. You can also research West Northamptonshire Council. There is plenty of information on our website for you to learn more about working with us.

In most interviews, you will be asked some competency-based questions. These are usually in the style of ‘can you tell me about a time where….’. 

You may find it helpful to use the STAR interview technique to structure your answer as it helps to clearly demonstrate your skills and experience by providing specific examples, as well as helping the interviewer to see your suitability for the role.

Here is a breakdown of each element:

Situation

Describe the context of the situation you are going to talk about. Provide enough background information for the interviewer to understand the circumstances. 

Task

Explain the specific task or goal you were responsible for in that situation. What were you trying to achieve?

Action

Detail the specific actions you took to address the situation or achieve the task. Be specific about your role and what you did.

Result

Explain the outcome of your actions. What was the result of your efforts? What did you learn from the experience? 

Think of questions you want to ask. This shows that you’re taking a real interest in the organisation, the role and the team.