APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES
How to Complete Your Job Application Form
General Information
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Please read the guidance notes for each section and complete all sections of the form in black ink or type, as
it may be photocopied and/or scanned.
If you require these Guidance Notes in another language or in large font print, please contact Link’s HR
Department on the appropriate number below:
Subsidiary
HR Department No.
Link Group or LinkLiving
0330 303 0124
Link Housing, Link Homes or Linkwide
01324 417 186
Larkfield Housing Association
01475 630930
Our application form can be made available in a paper copy, or can be downloaded from our website to print
and complete by hand, or to save and complete electronically. Please see below for details on how to return
your completed application form.
Before completing the form, you should read the job advert, job description and person specification carefully
and ensure that your skills, qualifications and experience meet the essential requirements of the person
specification.
If you choose to submit additional information on separate pages/sheets, please ensure your initial[s], surname
and the post you are applying for is written on each page/sheet.
If you are posting the form back to us please do not staple any additional pages/ sheets to the application
form.
Please do not submit a curriculum vitae (CV) either as a substitute for or along with a completed application
form. We are unable to consider CV’s as part of our recruitment process.
Personal Details
Please note that only your surname is required in full. Give only the initial(s) of your first name(s). This ensures that
recruiting line managers will not be aware of the gender of applicants. Candidates will be required to produce proof
of identification e.g. birth certificate, driver’s licence with photo or passport along with proof of eligibility to work in
the UK, before any offer of appointment is made.
Please Note: Link correspond with job applicants by email. In order to ensure you receive our emails, please add
our address to your email safe senders list.
Education/Relevant Courses (including in-house courses)
This section asks about your education and any relevant courses you may have undertaken. For the successful
applicant, relevant/essential qualification will be verified by writing to the establishment from which the qualification
was awarded, and a copy of any certificates will be placed on your personal file. Please also list any qualifications
you are working towards.
Membership / Registration with Other Professional Bodies
If you are currently a member of a relevant professional body, give the name of the awarding body, the date you
joined, the registration /membership number, membership status and state if your membership is still current.
Please also state if you have ever had membership withdrawn from a professional body and provide further details.
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APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES
Details of Experience
Please provide details of your previous employment, starting with your present or most recent job and working
backwards. You may also wish to provide information about any, voluntary work, caring responsibilities and
placement experience.
Breaks in Employment History
Please provide details of any breaks in employment.
Match to Job Requirements
Please refer to the person specification and competencies related to the post for which you are applying and
provide evidence of your knowledge and experience against these requirements. Include any relevant experience
gained through paid employment as well as through, for example, community or voluntary work or academic study.
Describe any special areas of responsibility you may have had, your particular achievements and what you think
you could contribute to the service or team. You may wish to continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
You should avoid bland statements such as “I have all the gifts and qualities mentioned in the person specification”
and fully explain how you meet the requirements e.g. if the person specification asks for “experience of working
with elderly people”, you need to explain when, where and what was involved, e.g. “I helped to care for my
grandmother for 3 years. She lived in the family home and I helped her to wash and dress each morning. I also
helped with personal care including…”
Link’s Mission Statement
Please provide details of any other relevant experience which you feel supports Link’s Mission Statement. You may
wish to think about how you can draw upon your skills and experience and personal values and how these support
Link’s Mission Statement.
Additional Information
Please let us know if you hold a current, clean driving licence and if you have access to a car.
Please note, if you have a disability you should indicate if there is any assistance you require should you be invited
to attend for interview. Link operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with a disability who match the
essential criteria as per the Person Specification.
Also, please state if you have ever had a criminal record and use the Criminal Record Declaration form to declare
all criminal convictions – please refer to the guidance on this declaration for further information.
The information provided in this section will not be used as criteria when short-listing for interview. If necessary,
however, details provided may be explored further at interview.
References
Please provide details of at least two people willing to act as referees. At least one of the referees should be your
current or most recent employer. They should have [or had] some management or supervisory responsibility for
your work, and not be colleagues, subordinates, relatives or friends. If this is your first employment, a
tutor/teacher’s or personal reference will be acceptable. Referees from voluntary positions will also be welcomed.
Please provide an email address where this is possible.
It is our policy to request references only when an offer of employment is made, and which offer is subject to the
receipt of satisfactory references. Referees will be provided with a copy of the job description for the vacancy.
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APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES
Source of Application
Please tell us where you heard about this vacancy. This information will allow us to monitor the effectiveness of our
recruitment advertising.
Data Protection Act 1998 Declaration
Please read the Data Protection section and declaration before signing the form, using only your initials and last
name. If you return your application form electronically you will be asked to sign the declaration if invited for
interview.
Diversity Monitoring Form
Link is committed to employing a diverse workforce. We recognise the benefits that accrue from utilising the
diverse talents of our employees and therefore welcome applications from all sectors of the community. Any
diversity information provided by you will only be used for monitoring purposes and it will be processed separately
from your application for employment. We can assure you, therefore, that this information will not be used as part
of the selection process.
Although completion of this section is optional, any information you provide will assist us to monitor the success of
our diversity policy. Thank you, if you choose to complete this form.
Submitting Your Application
Email
If you have completed the application form electronically it can be returned to us at the following email address:
[email protected]
Royal Mail Post
If you are posting your application form within four days of the closing date please send it to the appropriate
address below with the correct postage attached (please note these are not freepost addresses):
Subsidiary
Office Address
Link Group
Strictly Private & Confidential – HR
Link House
2C New Mart Road
Edinburgh
EH14 1RL
LinkLiving
Larkfield Housing Association
Link Housing
Link Homes
Link Wide
Strictly Private & Confidential – HR
Watling House
Callendar Business Park
Falkirk
FK1 1XR
Fax
If you would like to fax a copy of your completed form to us, please also post the original form to the address
above. Please state Strictly Private & Confidential – HR on your cover letter when faxing your application.
Subsidiary
Fax No.
Link Group or LinkLiving or Larkfield
0131 624 7801
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APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTES
Link Housing, Link Homes or Linkwide
01324 417 184
Late Applications
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. We regret that an acknowledgement of your
application will not be issued.
Thank you for your interest in Link.
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