Swansea Council is the first local authority in Wales to recruit staff
online.
The council has received 10 per cent (150) of its applications via the
internet since its introduction last month.
The authority advertises job vacancies on its website and allows prospective
employees to apply online via a standardised application form. A hard copy form
can also be requested and then posted. Successful applicants are invited in for
an interview and go through an assessment centre before a recruitment decision
is made.
The scheme has proved so successful that the council wants to extend the
programme by putting its assessment centre online and introducing online
interviewing.
John Williams, assistant director of management service, including
responsibility for HR, said the move has increased the council’s recruitment
pool.
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He said: "We are attracting different applicants than before – even
from the US. The online process means we are attracting more competent IT
staff. The quality of applications is also better as applicants are thinking
harder about their answers."
Williams said the online move has cost nothing to introduce and has a
minimal running cost.
