Recruitment & Selection

The Request to Recruit Form should be completed for all new posts:

• Request to Recruit Form (updated August 2023)

To request cover for periods of maternity leave please complete the Maternity/Birth Parent Fund application form:

• Maternity/Birth Parent Fund application form

The Variation/Extension to Employment Contract (VEEC) form should be completed for all variations/extensions to posts

• Variation/Extension to Employment Contract Form (VEEC)

Once you have received the relevant authorisation, you will be asked to assist in the preparation of the following documents:

• Job Description
• Further Particulars including Person Specifications 
• Job advert

For the eRecruiter Manager quick guide please click here.

For complete eRecruiter Manager Guidance notes please click e-Recruiter Guide

Summary of the timescale you can expect during the recruitment and selection process (new appointments):

• Post approved by Restructuring Committee
• Job Scored/Matched (2 days)
• Redeployment/Internal Job Boards (2 weeks)
• Internal/External Job Boards (2-4 weeks depending on visa status of the role)
• Shortlisting of candidates (timescale at panel’s discretion)
• Interviews (minimum of 1 week notice for candidates)
• Offer made to appointee

There are three main reasons why it is important to take notes during an interview:

1. To ensure good practice, as decisions will be based on objective evidence and not subjective judgements
    
2. To protect the organisation from discrimination claims, as decisions will be clearly evidenced against selection criteria
    
3. To provide appropriate feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

• Helps the panel to be more objective and fair
• Gives the panel a level of security and confidence in their decisions
• Helps to ensure all candidates are assessed equally
• Mitigates against the possibility of unconscious bias

Before the interview begins you should ensure:

• Each member of the panel has a copy of the note-taking template as issued by the University
• Panel members are clear on the questions they are going to ask, and how these relate to the selection criteria
• It is agreed between panel members that the person asking a question will not write down notes on the candidates answer – other panel members can record their notes on their forms

During the interview you should ensure:

• The candidate is briefed before the interview starts that panel members will be taking notes
• To record objective evidence in your notes form – do not write down subjective evidence or judgements. (i.e. ‘Candidate offered a clear response to the question, with supporting evidence linking to the selection criteria’ as opposed to, ‘Candidate is confident in the experience they can bring to the role’)

Dos

• Do comment objectively on candidates (i.e. ‘The Panel agreed that the candidate met the educational criteria for the position.’)
• Do tailor your questions to the Person Specification, this will provide evidence for informed decision making. (i.e. ‘An essential criteria of the position is to be able to manage projects, please tell us about a time where you have managed a project successfully.’)
• Do ensure that you keep notes on why candidates aren’t suitable. In certain circumstances, these can be requested by and sent to unsuccessful candidates for feedback purposes.
• Do ensure your notes are legible or typed up where possible.
• Do be honest and respectful in your language used when note taking. (i.e. ‘the candidate presented well, however their understanding could have been more advanced’)
• Do support statements with examples where possible. (i.e. ‘the candidate presented well, however their understanding could be more advanced – this was demonstrated when the panel questioned the candidate on their presentation to probe further into their knowledge. The panel feels that more background research was necessary’)
• Do try to maintain eye contact whilst note taking.

Don'ts

• Don’t write subjective statements (i.e. ‘I thought the candidate seemed disinterested’)
• Don’t assess candidates against each other, assess them against the person specification.
• Don’t use generic or outdated Further Particulars or Person Specifications. Present detailed information about the requirements of the role to ensure effective questioning and to provide the candidate with ample opportunity to showcase their skills and knowledge. (i.e. if a requirement of the role is to hold an undergraduate degree, should it be in a certain or specific area related to the position?)
• Don’t write rude or inappropriate comments about candidates. (i.e. ‘The candidate was dressed strangely.’)
• Don’t write comments which refer to legally protected characteristics referred to below. (i.e. ‘the candidate seemed too old to adapt to a changing environment.’)

• Panel members should take time to discuss their evaluation of the candidate, supported by their notes
• Keep accurate notes of the decision making process, including clear reasons for offering the position to one candidate and for rejecting the others. Bear in mind that unsuccessful candidates may request feedback on their performance. If you are not certain that your notes are representative of the views of the panel, read them back to the group and invite additional comments
• The panel should use the notes recorded on the template as the basis for a decision by consensus
• At the end of the interview process, the convenor is responsible for collecting the individual panel member notes which should then be scanned and sent to HR immediately following the selection committee meeting. HR will retain the interview notes for 6 months.
• Complete the Selection Committee Decision Form and send it to HR.
• All interview candidates should be rated via eRecruiter prior to any offer being made by HR

TheGeneral Data Protection Regulation gives candidates the right to see notes made about them during interview. HR will retain the interview notes for a period of six months, and they will be provided to candidates upon request. Please be aware that there is the potential for your notes to be seen by the candidates you interview.

Equality legislation protects candidates from discrimination in the recruitment and selection process. The Equality Act 2010 provides protection based on nine protected characteristics:

• Age
• Gender
• Disability
• Race
• Religion and Belief
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Gender Reassignment
• Sexual Orientation
• Marriage/Civil Partnerships

If a candidate believes they have been discriminated against on the basis of one or more of the protected characteristics, they could take legal action against the University. To reduce the risk of this happening, selection panels should:

• Undertake the specific equality training for selection panels. This is mandatory for any member of staff involved in recruitment and selection. To access this training, please contact the Recruitment Team
• Ensure interview questions are based on the person specification
• Refrain from asking questions regarding the protected characteristics, unless relevant to the post
• Assess candidates objectively
• Refer to the Briefing on Unconscious Bias (in development)
• Be mindful of their own diversity profile, in particular the panel should be gender-balanced.

The University operates an optional Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled candidates. If the selection panel is notified that a candidate has applied under the Scheme, then they must interview that candidate if they meet the Essential criteria in the person specification. Some disabled candidates may require an adjustment to the selection process to allow them to fully participate. HR will notify the selection panel of any adjustment which have been requested by a candidate. To find out more about the Equality Act 2010 please see link here.

Help and support on any of the issues discussed in this factsheet is available through the Recruitment Team.

Watch this presentation for further guidance on interview note-taking.