If candidates need to complete a standard application form, you can use the application pack to ask them to give examples of how they have shown your values in practice.
You can ask them to do this in their cover letter, or as part of their personal statement on the application form.
Asking for examples from their work, volunteering or personal life for each of your values as part of their personal statement or application letter, means candidates can use examples they may not otherwise have shared.
So, you may get a better idea of how their values and behaviours match your organisation’s.
Example statements to include in the application pack
Short online application forms, which are easy to complete on a mobile phone, can encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and candidates who are put off by long application forms.
On the form you could ask for their name, contact details and one question asking why they think they share the values of your children’s home.
You could then ask them to complete the full application form with all the information for safe and fair recruitment when they come to interview.
Example
Why do you want to work for us? Use and share examples from your work, volunteering or other areas of your life where you have shown you share our values of being child centred, respectful and compassionate, taking responsibility and working in a team.
Another way to encourage a wider range of candidates to apply is to offer them the opportunity send in a short video or audio application where they record themselves answering the application questions. This can be a helpful reasonable adjustment for a wider range of candidates.
The shortlisting panel can use a table to decide who to invite to interview, and make sure the people shortlisting are trained and briefed on how to look for the values and behaviours.
Using a table can also help the panel to record the other essential criteria for the post such as relevant skills, experience and qualifications.
We have a table you can use to show how the candidate demonstrates, partially demonstrates, or doesn’t demonstrate the essential criteria, and the evidence for this.
The first row lists the role. Second row the candidates name.
The first column lists essential criteria, for example:
Skills and experience
Qualifications
Values
The remaining columns have space for you to add notes against the scoring and whether the candidate shows :
