Thanks for your interest in working for Burton and South Derbyshire College. Please read these notes carefully before you complete the application form for your best chance of success.
Are you the right person for the job?
Please read the job description carefully. Can you demonstrate all the essential criteria and qualifications and carry out all the functions and key tasks for the role? If not, we won’t be able to consider you for interview.
Include all the important details in your application
We won’t assume you have any skills or experience, so do make sure you tell us fully on the application form. We base our decision on whether to interview on your application form, so don’t save key information to tell us at interview.
Make sure you read our application guide (this can be downloaded from the side of this page) before starting your application.
Be positive in your supporting statement
Sell your skills, knowledge and experience - we use this statement to short-list candidates for interview. Make sure you address all the major aspects of the job description and demonstrate how you match the specification for the role. It shouldn’t be a repetition of your employment history - instead show examples of your skills and experience, and how they’ll help you fulfil the role and contribute to the college. Describe how you meet all the selection criteria and give specific examples, and include details of all relevant skills, whether you got them in the work place, your personal life, or voluntary work. Finally, make sure your statement is clear and doesn’t use abbreviations or company vocabulary that we may not understand.
For teaching posts, include literacy and numeracy qualifications
You’ll need Level 2 qualifications in literacy and numeracy, so make sure you include the details.
Don’t enter your name into your personal statement
The short-listing panel won’t see your personal data. It enables us to check that we are attracting a wide and varied range of applications for all areas of the local and wider community. Only the HR team will have your personal details to communicate with you during the recruitment process.
Make final checks
- Have you accounted for gaps in your employment history, including time away for a career break or travel?
- Have you demonstrated clearly why you want the role and how you meet the requirements?
- Have you completed each section as fully as possible?
- Have you included two referees, one your current or most recent employer?
- Have you ticked the declaration at the end of the application form?
- Don’t miss the closing date
When will you hear from us?
We will contact everyone who has submitted a correctly completed form to let you know whether you have been successful or not.
We’ll communicate by email
We’ll acknowledge your application and, if you’re shortlisted, invite you to interview by email.
And finally, good luck in your application! We look forward to hearing from you.