Application and interview info

Thanks for your interest in applying for a position at Surf Coast Shire Council. The info below should help you understand the recruitment process and give you a better shot at getting an interview.

Complete your online application.

Your application

To be considered for positions at Council, we must receive your application by the closing date and time, and your application must include:

• Cover Letter

  Your cover letter should introduce yourself and your interest in the advertised position.

• Statement addressing the selection criteria

  You must provide a statement addressing the selection criteria as outlined in the position description. It’s important you demonstrate clear connections between your qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge against the selection criteria. 

• Résumé

  Your current résumé should outline your employment and educational history, experience, skills and knowledge.

• Referees

  Make sure your application includes the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of two contactable, professional (work-related) referees. These should include a direct report and/or current employer. Written references are not required with your initial application. Please note, referee statements gained during this selection process will be deemed confidential information and will be classed as exempt documents under the Freedom of Information Act (1982).

Please combine the cover letter, statement addressing the selection criteria, résumé and reference information into one document for ease of processing.

Notification and Timeframes

When we receive your application we will reply with a confirmation email (or letter, if you sent your application by mail). We will usually short-list candidates within about two weeks of the closing date. You should normally receive either a phone call inviting you to attend an interview, or a letter advising that you were unsuccessful, within about four weeks of the closing date.

The Interview

If we invite you for an interview, you can expect an interview panel with two or three people that will last about 45 minutes to one hour. Interview questions will be consistent for each applicant. We prefer to interview candidates in person, however if you are interstate or overseas we can arrange an initial interview via teleconference.  The panel will inform you at the interview when they expect to be in touch with the outcome or update.

Qualifications

If you attend an interview, please bring original documentation supporting the qualifications outlined in your resume. If you are the successful applicant, you will be required to submit copies of all documents relating to your qualifications to the Human Resource unit.

Pre-Employment Checks

Besides relevant qualifications, all employees must also have:

• Police check
  Council will complete a police check for all potential employees.

• Working with Children check
  Council is committed to creating a child safe and child friendly environment, and requires all employees have current Working with Children cards. If you are the successful candidate, Council will run and pay for the check if you don’t already have one. Learn more about Council's Child Safe commitment.

• Pre-employment health declaration
  At the interview stage you will need to complete a pre-employment health declaration that just lets us know if you have any pre-existing injuries or illnesses that may be aggravated as a result of carrying out the role or that might require some reasonable adjustments to the workplace.

• Medical examinations
  Certain positions call for employees to complete a medical check before starting work.

• Proof of eligibility
  In some circumstances we may ask you to provide proof of eligibility to work in Australia, either in the form of a passport or birth certificate identifying Australian citizenship, or a valid work visa.

Qualifying Period

Most new employees to the Surf Coast Shire Council will be required to complete a six-month qualifying period.

Information Privacy

The personal information supplied as part of your application is collected by Surf Coast Shire Council for recruitment and selection purposes and will be used solely by Council for the primary purpose it was collected, or a secondary purpose that you could reasonably expect. You may apply to Surf Coast Shire Council for access to and/or amendment of certain information within six months of the position’s closing date after which time all documentation relating to unsuccessful applications will be destroyed. If you have any questions in relation to your personal information, you may contact the Manager People and Culture on (03) 5261 0600. Surf Coast Shire Council complies with the Information Privacy Act 2000.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Surf Coast Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer.  We ensure fair, equitable and non-discriminatory consideration is given to all applicants, regardless of age, sex, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, race, religious beliefs or other irrelevant factor. We recognise our proactive duty to ensure compliance with equal opportunity and other workplace-related legislation, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination.

 

Thanks again for your interest in applying for a position at Surf Coast Shire Council. If you have any questions, call us on 03 5261 0600.