Use our dedicated jobs pages for all job applications with us; download our full job application guidance before starting your online application.
See vacancies and apply for council jobs
It's a good idea to keep this window open so you can refer to it while you complete your application, and move between guidelines for the relevant sections:
- Our priorities and values
- Our equality statement
- Before completing your application
- Your online job application account with us
- Using our online application system
- Applying for an apprenticeship
- Applying for 'internal vacancies'
- Criminal background checks
- Guaranteed interview schemes
- Submitting your application
- Getting updates and providing feedback
- Privacy notice
Our priorities and values
Our top 3 priorities
-
a prosperous city for all
-
a focus on frontline services
-
a council that listens to its residents
Our Values
Our 3 values are:
- We work together
- We share information and knowledge
- We care about and respect others views
- We encourage and support each other
- We support and enable individuals and our communities
- We improve
- We challenge what we do and how we can do it better
- We try new ways of doing things
- We learn from our experiences, feedback and mistakes
- We are ambitious for our communities and our city
- We make a difference
- We are honest about what we achieve
- We deliver on our commitments
- We communicate openly
- We make our actions count
Our equality statement
Within our Equalities policy, all applicants get the same information about a job vacancy.
If a contact name is given, all applicants are invited to telephone for an informal discussion about the job prior to applying for it. This may help you decide if you meet all the criteria and whether you want to proceed with your application.
We:
- value diversity
- challenge all forms of unfairness
- aim to promote self-confident and harmonious communities
- place fairness and inclusion at the heart of our strategies and services
To achieve this, we'll develop targets that will help us to:
- reduce social, economic and educational disadvantage
- move towards a more representative workforce and councillor body
We'll:
- listen to our customers and communities and not make assumptions on their behalf
- use our procurement, commissioning and grant-giving practices to promote fairness and diversity
Disability Confident Employer
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer who supports fair recruitment practices; we're one of thousands of businesses who are removing barriers to disabled people in employment and benefitting from their skills.
Find out more about the Disability Confident Employer Scheme we've signed up to.
Before completing your application
Job compatibility
Read the job description and other related documents carefully, to ensure the job and conditions are suitable for you and your level of experience.
It's important to complete every section of your application as fully and accurately as possible. Our decision on who to interview will be based on the information you give in your application form. You can't attach CVs or supporting documents to your application, and we don't accept these by email, post or in person either (this applies to existing jobs we're advertising for and prospective jobs).
All applications (from both internal and external candidates) are considered against the knowledge and skills given in the job description.
Documents and information
When completing your application, you'll need to provide a variety of information. It's a good idea to gather this before you start, so you're not interrupted during the application process.
The information required for an application includes:
- UK National Insurance number: if you don't have a UK National Insurance Number, this field should be left blank
- Employment history: you'll need to give details of the places and dates of previous employment, including job title and duties, and details of any gaps in your employment history
- Education and qualifications: you'll need to enter the dates, grades and types of qualification you hold, as well as details of the centres of learning where you obtained these
- Referees: you must provide details including name, address and telephone number/email address of 2 people who can provide a reference. One of the referees must be your present or your most recent employer (if you're not employed)
Interview expenses
Please note that we don't reimburse interview expenses.
How we use and store your data
For information on how we use and store the data you provide on your application form or as part of registering with our Jobs site, see our Privacy Statement.
Your online job application account with us
Our Jobs site works best with the most up-to-date internet browsers, including:
- Internet Explorer (version 8 and above - version 11 is recommended)
- Firefox (version 26 and above)
- Chrome (version 32 and above but not compatible with v57)
- Safari (version 6 and above)
- Microsoft Edge
If you experience difficulty using our Jobs site, try upgrading your browser in the first instance.
Click 'apply online' to start using our online recruitment system.
If you need clarification about any part of our online application process, contact our Recruitment Team.
Logging in
CYC employees
If you're a CYC employee, use your iTrent self-service username and password to log in to our Jobs site.
When you log in using your iTrent details:
- your personal and equal opportunities data will be entered for you
- changes to personal details including qualifications will update automatically
You shouldn't:
- register separately or create a new account, otherwise you'll be considered an external candidate
- allow anyone else to use your iTrent login details to apply for jobs, as this could compromise your personal data
New users
If you're a new user, you'll need to create a username and password via 'New user registration'.
- your username must be at least 6 characters long
- your password must contain at least 8 characters (use a combination of alpha/numerical and upper/lower case characters)
Once you've registered, you'll receive a confirmation email with your login details to the email address you supplied. Keep this safe as you'll need to use these details to access your Jobs site account.
Existing users
If you've previously applied or registered on ourJobs siteyou should use these details to log in.
Forgotten username or password
If you've forgotten your username or password, don't keep trying as there's a limit of 5 attempts before you'll be locked out. Instead, use the ‘Forgotten your password?’ link and follow the on-screen instructions.
You'll be sent an email to reset your password. The email link will take you to the 'password reset' form, where you'll also see your username. You don’t need to change your password if you've only forgotten your username. To change your password, follow the on-screen instructions (if required).
Deactivated accounts
Existing users and CYC employees only have 5 attempts to log in before their account is 'deactivated'. If your account is deactivated, the ‘Forgotten your password?’ process will not reactivate it.
Instead, email: iTrentsystemadm@york.gov.uk to request reactivation (Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm).
Using our online application system
Your application summary
Once you've logged in and selected the job you want to apply for, you'll see the 'application summary' screen.
Note the following before starting your application:
- the application is divided into 'application pages'
- you can complete or edit the application pages in any order
- each page will be marked '!' until you complete the 'mandatory' details
- mandatory fields are identified by a red asterisk (*)
- you should also complete any relevant, non-mandatory details
- you'll only be able to ‘Submit’ your application once all the pages are marked 'complete' (with a green tick)
- submit your application by midnight on the closing date
- hover your mouse over a '?' icon to get additional information
Reusing your information
After you've submitted your first application, we'll save your personal details, employment history and qualification details so you won't have to re-enter them the next time you apply.
However, some other information is not retained (such as your 'supporting information statement', your professional membership and training information), so you should save these details outside our Jobs site for future reference.
If you're logged in as a CYC employee, any changes you make to your personal details, qualifications or equal opportunities information will automatically update your staff record within the core HR iTrent system.
Navigating within the system
Use the 'previous', 'summary' and 'next' buttons at the bottom of each page to navigate through your application. If you use the 'back' button on your browser, you may lose any information already entered.
The application form will time out if you have not saved any data for a 60-minute period. We strongly advise that you save your application regularly by clicking on the 'Save and Continue' button.
Complete every page and section of your application as fully as you can; answer every relevant question, selecting options from dropdown menus or typing as much detail as possible in your responses.
Download the guide
If you need more help, download our full job application guidance for helpful tips and hints.
Application pages consist of:
- confirmation statement
- personal information
- employment details
- education, qualifications and training
- supporting information
- references
- guaranteed interview scheme
- criminal declaration
- equal opportunities monitoring
- additional details
- declaration
See more about submitting your application.
Applying for an apprenticeship
In addition to the standard application questions, applicants applying for apprenticeship posts are asked 2 supplementary questions under 'Supporting information'.
Pay close attention to these questions and use the guidance within these sections to help shape your answers. Remember to provide evidence for your answers, beyond simple statements, and note the word limits for each answer. If you choose to type directly into these supplementary boxes and then 'save' whilst over the word count, any surplus text will be irretrievably deleted. Consider drafting and saving your answers elsewhere first.
Remember to frequently 'save' as the form will 'time out' 60 minutes after it was last saved or logged in. Any unsaved work will be lost.
Get more information on apprenticeships with City of York Council, how they work and how they could develop you.
Applying for 'internal vacancies'
Some jobs are only open to City of York Council employees. These will be indicated by 'Internal Vacancy' on the job advert. When you click to 'apply online', these vacancies will ask whether you're a CYC employee.
If you're not a CYC employee, you should tick 'No' as you won't be able to apply for these vacancies.
(Explore and Veritau employees are not eligible to apply for these posts).
Criminal background checks
We'll request a check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if you're conditionally offered a post, if the post involves working with children, young people or vulnerable adults. These posts are covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
See our full job application guidance for what you must disclose to us. Any information you provide will be confidential and won't necessarily exclude you from being appointed.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau)), is a government agency which undertakes criminal record checks on behalf of employers or individuals who work with (or wish to work with) vulnerable groups and children. They can disclose information about certain spent/unspent convictions/cautions/warnings and other information held by the police, and whether the individual is barred from working with vulnerable groups or children.
You can contact the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as follows:
- email: customerservices@dbs.gsi.gov.uk
- telephone: 0300 0200 190; Welsh: 0300 0200 191; International: +44 151 676 9390
- office hours: Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.00pm; Saturday from 10.00am to 5.00pm
Download the DBS code of practice
Policy statement on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
If you're an ex-offender, make sure you read our Recruitment of ex-offenders policy statement before submitting your application, if you're applying for a post working with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
Guaranteed interview schemes
We operate 3 guaranteed interview schemes (GIS’s), however, you must meet the minimum criteria for the job to be eligible for these.
This means you must provide evidence in your application that demonstrates you meet the required level of competence for each element within the 'skills and knowledge' section of the job description.
You should also indicate on the application that you're applying on this basis.
Disabled applicants
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer who supports fair recruitment practices; we're one of thousands of businesses who are removing barriers to disabled people in employment and benefitting from their skills.
As a Disability Confident employer, we offer an interview to all disabled applicants who can demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria.
Children and Young People in Care
'Looked after' children or Care Leavers will also be offered an interview if they can demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria.
Armed forces veterans and their spouses
As part of our commitment to the York Armed Forces Covenant, we offer an interview for veterans of the armed forces and their spouses, who can demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Further details about all our guaranteed interview schemes (GIS) can be found in our full job application guidance.
Submitting your application
You'll need to complete all mandatory fields within the 'application pages' section before you can submit your application. Once all pages are marked with a green tick, the 'submit' button will be unlocked. Mandatory fields are marked with a red asterisk.
Take time to review your application before submitting. It's a good idea to print it out and read it again - use the 'print preview' option to open your form as one continuous document.
Once you're happy with your application, click the 'Submit' button and confirm you wish to proceed. Alternatively, you can return to the 'Summary' page if you're not ready.
We'll send you an email acknowledging your application submission. Some time after this you will then be notified via email if you've been shortlisted for interview.
Getting updates and providing feedback
You can access previous applications, or those which you're in the process of completing, under 'My applications' when you're logged into our Jobs site.
Job alerts
Once you've registered with our Jobs site, you can sign up to 'job alerts' to receive auto-generated emails about vacancies which may be of interest to you.
- choose your search criteria - select specific types of jobs or a keyword (eg 'Social Care'), then click 'Search'
- scroll to the bottom of your search results and click to 'Save this search as a job alert'
Any job alerts you've set up will be visible in your profile. You'll be able to review existing alerts or set up new ones at any time.
Providing feedback
We welcome your feedback on our recruitment process and Jobs site. If you've any comments, suggestions or queries, please contact our Recruitment Team.
Recruitment privacy notice
We recommend that you check our Recruitment privacy notice each time you visit the site.
We collect and store personal information you submit to us via our Jobs site.
Our privacy notice is subject to change, and we'll notify you of any changes we make to it in future on this page. By continuing to use our Jobs site, you are thereby agreeing to such changes.
Also see
Recruitment Team
Human Resources (HR) Business Centre
