Application forms

An application form can be a good way to gather some information about potential candidates. However, this stage can also be a barrier to participation and remove excellent candidates from your process before you have had a chance to discuss their experiences, skills and political interests face to face.

In order to make this process more accessible for all candidates:

●       Have a role description and make this easily accessible to potential candidates;

●       Be transparent about what you will be assessing the applications against or the competencies you require;

●       Make sure plain English is used;

●       Think about the length of the form and avoid making it overly long;

●       Be clear about how many words you are expecting for each answer or in a written statement;

●       Give equal consideration to references from referees outside of the party.

Be aware that some potential candidates may have English as a second language or have accessibility requirements. Verbal communication is a key skill in politics and therefore a written application might not be the most accessible format for some candidates.

Consider having an alternative choice of format for the application. For example:

●    Personal statement video;

●    Voice notes or a voice recording.

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