The job application process

Job application processes create many opportunities for hidden discrimination. Acas advises employers to be clear about the job and skills required. A neutral application form and person profile designed for the role setting out essential and preferred job requirements is much better than a Curriculum Vitae. A good job description should be concise and straightforward and should include the overall title, aim of the job and the tasks the successful candidate will carry out.

The person specification should be concise and straightforward and should link directly to the job description. Acas says it should:

• set out the skills, knowledge and experience the successful candidate needs to have or be able to acquire;

• use explicit terms, for example instead of “needs a good command of spoken English”, the specification could state “needs to give clear information to clients by phone”; and

• avoid subjective or irrelevant criteria.