Publication - Advice and guidance
Recruitment: candidate guide
A detailed guide for applicants interested in applying for a job with the Scottish Government.
Our assessment framework
Success Profiles
From 1 October 2024, we adopted a new assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which evaluates candidates against a range of criteria, using a variety of different assessment types.
The Success Profiles Framework is flexible and allows candidates to showcase their suitability for a role in different ways, helping us to identify the best candidate for the role and ensuring we meet our commitment to recruiting a diverse workforce.
We have created a new guide for candidates which provides all of the information required to submit a successful application using Success Profiles: Success Profiles Candidate Guide.
Skills for Success
Prior to 1 October 2024, we used an assessment framework called ‘Skills for Success’. Any vacancies which were advertised before 1 October will continue to use the Skills for Success framework throughout all stages of recruitment.
When the final vacancy has concluded using ‘Skills for Success’ we will no longer use this assessment framework.
Information on the Skills for Success Framework has been included below for candidates who have an application in progress.
The assessment framework ‘Skills for Success’ outlines the core competencies we assess for our positions. Competencies are core skills which are universal and not job-specific, they can be applied to a wide variety of positions and contexts.
The framework includes descriptions on each of competencies we assess and the level required for each, based on the grade of the post. You are not required to evidence all of the competencies, only those listed in the job advert, this will typically include 4 of the competencies which are most relevant to the role.
Skills for Success framework
The framework for A-C roles is included below:
Band A Core Skills:
Managing and Leading |
Delivering Outcomes |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Self Awareness |
Team Work |
Customer Service |
Information Management |
Communications and Engagement |
| Responsible for personal behaviour and is accountable for own actions, health and wellbeing. | Knows and understands the contribution the team makes to the Directorate Plan and Government Purpose. | Knows and understands internal and external customers & how they fit into the SG and the wider public sector. | Uses a range of corporate systems and is aware of security and organisational procedures. | Contributes views, ideas and experience, identifying appropriate methods of communication and target audience. |
| Aware of personal strengths, takes pride and responsibility for performance at work and is responsive to constructive feedback. | Can be relied on to deliver agreed personal objectives and is aware of how their work connects with the work of others. | Understands customer needs and expectations and responds in a helpful and professional way. | Accesses, manages, stores, retrieves information through effective use of SG Management Information Systems. | Identifies and sources information to produce accurate numeric work and concise, well structured written work using SG guidance. |
| Adaptable, contributes to and embraces new ways of doing things, seeking the support of others when needed. | Builds networks and maintains good working relationships with colleagues, valuing their contribution and open to different points of view. | Builds positive working relationships with customers and works to agreed time scales and standards of quality. | Shares and presents information of all kinds in an appropriate format, accurately and on time. | Verbal communication is confident, contributing ideas in a clear and concise way. |
| Identifies personal development needs and actively manages own development plan. | Contributes views, ideas and experience to improve the team’s performance, offering and/or seeking practical help when necessary. | Takes responsibility to review and improve customer service, listening to and acting on feedback. | Contributes to the continuous improvement of Management Information Systems. | Inquisitive and actively listens, responding appropriately using clarifying questions to test understanding. |
Band B Core Skills:
Managing and Leading |
Delivering Outcomes |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Self Awareness |
People Management |
Communications and Engagement |
Improving Performance |
Analysis and Use of Evidence |
Financial Management |
| Responsible for personal behaviour and is accountable for own actions, health and wellbeing. | Prioritises and agrees objectives aligned with the Directorate Plans to engage staff, manage workloads and build capacity to deliver. | Engages and is credible with stake holders and is connected to a range of internal and external networks. | Demonstrates ongoing use of relevant performance improvement tools and techniques including skills development. | Use evidence to assess, measure and evaluate projects and policies, considering the impact on other policies and government outcomes. | Uses accurate and relevant financial data to create objectives and targets relevant to budget responsibilities. |
| Aware of personal strengths and takes pride and responsibility for performance at work and responsive to constructive feedback. | Credible with staff, creating conditions to build confident effective teams that empower, value, develop and motivate people. | Communicates clear & creative ideas that meet the needs of a range of audiences, ensuring objectives & outcomes are achieved. | Uses SG Programme and Project Management Principles effectively and proportionately. | Engages with analytical specialists at appropriate stages of policy and programme development. | Takes responsibility for the monitoring and controlling of expenditure. |
| Adaptable and embraces new ways of doing things, contributing ideas and energy to continuous improvement. | Raises performance using constructive challenge, feedback and coaching skills, seeking support and advice from HR professionals when needed. | Produces concise, clear, well structured written work using SG guidance. | Adapts quickly to fit skills and resources to changing circumstances and expectations. | Interrogate analytical and management information to draw out key messages and findings to support decisions. | Understand & apply the principles of Budgeting, Financial Management & Resource Accounting outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. |
| Takes control of personal and professional development, actively managing own Personal Learning Plan as well as supporting the development of others when needed. | Aware of impact on others and creates a positive environment for innovation, is aware of diversity and equality and supports health and wellbeing. | Considers and communicates the impact of decisions on wider policies and programmes. | Applies risk management principles to decision making and controls opportunities and threats to achieving objectives. | Organises and collates robust information from a variety of sources in decision making, sharing knowledge and information across the wider system. | Maintains regular contact with relevant finance staff, and knows when to seek advice from audit, risk, procurement and finance professionals. |
Band C Core Skills:
Managing and Leading |
Delivering Outcomes |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
People Management |
Leading Others |
Communications and Engagement |
Improving Performance |
Analysis and Use of Evidence |
Financial Management |
| Prioritises and agrees objectives aligned with the Directorate Plans to engage staff. Responsive to change, managing workloads and building capacity to deliver | Communicates a clear vision which supports actions and engages others. | Contributes to and develops clear, creative and detailed policy communication strategies to achieve SG outcomes. | Uses relevant tools, techniques and skills development to facilitate continuous improvement. | Develops policy options and decisions using a range of evidence and research, to ensure that polices are aligned to outcomes. | Interprets and uses accurate financial data to inform decision-making, investment appraisals and risk management implications. |
| Credible with staff, creating conditions to build confident and effective teams that empower, value, develop and motivate people. | Takes responsibility to deliver consistent services, managing risk and resources to support continuous improvement. | Manages internal and external relationships, creating positive networks and maintaining trust and credibility. | Understands SG Programme and Project management Principles and uses PPM effectively and proportionately. | Uses relevant evidence, recognising validity and limitations, in evaluations & assessment of risks against desired outcomes, engaging analytical specialists appropriately. | Delivers objectives within budget, applying procurement policies & procedures and knows when to seek advice from audit, risk, procurement and finance specialists. |
| Raises performance issues using constructive challenge, feedback and coaching skills, seeking support and advice from HR professionals when needed. | Promotes collaborative working and is able to respond creatively to tough challenges. | Knows when to engage with Communications specialists and considers the impact on other policies and programmes across SG & wider system. | Adapts quickly to fit skills and resources to changing circumstances and expectations. | Captures and securely organises knowledge & information for wider use across the organisation. | Set targets to improve the value achieved from resources, utilising financial data in business cases for change and monitors outcomes using performance measures. |
| Self aware, recognises impact on others and creates a positive environment which supports diversity and equality and promotes health and wellbeing. | Actively manages authorising environment, making connections across boundaries to build strong networks and partnerships. | Communicates complex information clearly, presenting strategic ideas in a clear and positive way. | Maintains and promotes risk management processes to improve strategic planning and resource allocation. | Shares knowledge and information across the wider system, to obtain best value from it across the wider public service. | Understands the wider public expenditure and financial decision making environment as outlined in the policies of the Scottish Public Finance Manual. |
Contact
The Scottish Government Recruitment Team: ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot
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