Guidance

Supporting candidates who need help during the recruitment process (vX)

Guidance for recruiters who support candidates at ‘Help required’ status, manage deadline extensions and arrange application re-submissions.

Candidates requiring assistance - Help Required statuses

We ask specifically whether help is needed with an online test or interview.

The questions asked are:

  1. Will you require a reasonable adjustment during the interview/assessment stages? For instance, you may require wheelchair access at interview.
  2. Will you require a reasonable adjustment during the online tests? There is no time limit on the Numerical, Verbal or Situational Judgement tests. (This question only displays if online tests are used).

We have descriptive help required statuses:

  • Help required 1 - Online test (prior to full form)
  • Help required 2 - Online test (post full form)
  • Help required 3 - Interview

The candidate will move to the correct ‘Help required’ status when they submit their first stage short form or full application form.

To view the adjustment or help they need:

  1. Select the Candidates at Help Required button on the Dashboard.
  2. Use the Filter Results box to find candidates for a specific vacancy.
  3. Select a candidate by double-clicking on their row.
  4. Select the Application Forms tab, then Full Application Form.
  5. Review the Assistance required section.
  6. Take necessary action, then select the Progress button. This will move the candidate to the next status.
  7. The candidate will not be automatically emailed.

If a candidate has only completed the ‘First Stage Short Form’, selecting Progress will move them to status ‘Full Application Started, not Submitted’.

If a candidate has completed the ‘Full Application Form’ or there isn’t a full form, selecting Progress will move them to the next status in your process, this may be an online test, a pre-sift or a sift.

Extending a vacancy deadline for a candidate

To allow a candidate to submit an application after the vacancy closing date:

  1. Go to the vacancy they have applied for.
  2. Select Applications.
  3. Select the link for status ‘Full application started, not submitted’.
  4. Select the candidate.
  5. Select Deadline options button.
  6. Select ‘Yes’ to Bypass test/form deadline?.
  7. Enter the reason for the deadline bypass.
  8. Submit.
  9. Contact the candidate to confirm.

The candidate will be able to edit and submit their application via Civil Service Jobs, even though the deadline has passed.

Allowing a candidate to edit an application

If a candidate needs to correct errors in the Eligibility part of their application, you can change their status so they can edit and resubmit it.

This is needed if a candidate is rejected due to incorrect eligibility answers.

To allow them to edit:

  1. Go to the vacancy they have applied for.
  2. Select Applications.
  3. Select the link for status ‘Rejected after failing eligibility’.
  4. Select the candidate.
  5. In Application Summary select Administration from the List Action Toolbar, under the search box.
  6. Select Other Status.
  7. Find and select ‘Short application started, not submitted’ and then Change Status.
  8. Contact the candidate to confirm.

Candidates can edit their application on Civil Service Jobs by selecting the Applications dropdown, then Review Status.

Candidates will not show on the Applications tab until they have re-submitted their application.

Managing online test questions

The Recruiter guide for ‘Managing online tests’ gives information about available online tests, and how to apply them.

Technical issues within online tests should be directed to test providers.

Extending an online test deadline for a candidate

To allow a candidate to take an online test after the test closing date:

  1. Go to the vacancy they have applied for.
  2. Select Applications.
  3. Select the link for status ‘Invited to test’ - whichever test they’re invited to.
  4. Select the candidate.
  5. Select Deadline options button.
  6. Select ‘Yes’ to Bypass test/form deadline?.
  7. Enter the reason for the deadline bypass.
  8. Submit.
  9. Contact the candidate to confirm.

The candidate will be able to launch their test via Civil Service Jobs, even though the deadline has passed.

Candidate login problems

If a candidate needs help logging in, they should see the candidate guidance for using the Civil Service Jobs website.

This advises how they reset their password or get technical support form Oleeo.

Help and support

Contact the Product and Support Team if you have a technical problem: support.csjobs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 31 July 2019
Last updated 8 October 2019 + show all updates
  1. We have added more information about the new process for Help Required status, as this was generating some questions.

  2. First published.

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