Recruitment and selection process

Woollahra Municipal Council, William Street, Paddington

Writing your application

Woollahra Council makes merit-based employment decisions. This means that what you write in your application and how you address the selection criteria will determine whether or not you are selected for interview.

Our preference is for applications to be submitted electronically.

However, we will also accept hard copy applications addressed to

Human Resources
Woollahra Municipal Council
PO Box 61
Double Bay NSW 1360

Our online system will ask you to demonstrate how you meet of the selection criteria, so you might want to prepare a selection criteria statement before you go ahead and start the online application process.

All applications should:

  • address the listed essential and desirable criteria - a statement at the end of your CV is ideal
  • you can copy and paste from your selection criteria statement to the online form, or just refer us to it
  • include your current CV, which details your relevant work and educational history
  • include contact details for at least two work related referees - their names, position titles and telephone numbers

Woollahra Council is committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.

Hint: The best way to set out your application is to make a heading for all of the selection criteria and then clearly describe how you meet each one. You might like to use examples from your work or educational history, referring to your skills, qualifications, knowledge, abilities or relevant work experience. Do not simply state that you meet the selection criteria - show us how!

The online recruitment process involves a selection criteria questionnaire, which you must answer. If you have already addressed the criteria in a separate statement, you can copy and paste directly from that into the questionnaire, or you can just type 'please refer to attached statement'.

The information we receive from you is used only to determine your suitability for employment. It is kept secure and confidential. If you are unsuccessful in obtaining employment, we will not retain this information for longer than three months.

Please feel free to contact Human Resources on (02) 9391 7000 if you have any questions about a particular role or about the recruitment process.

Selection process

There are a number of stages in the selection process. Here is what to expect if you have applied for a position at Council:

Shortlisting

After the position has closed, the selection panel will assess each application against the selection criteria to decide who should be selected for interview. This process may take up to four weeks from the closing date to complete.

Interview

Candidates who are selected for interview will be notified by telephone. We will generally give you 3 - 5 days notice of your interview time.

Some interviews will involve a practical assessment, such as a typing test or knowledge-based exercise, and some positions will also require candidates to undertake a personality assessment. These details will be provided when you are notified of your interview time.

Interviews are conducted by a panel (usually three people), who will ask questions based on the selection criteria and the position requirements to make a merit-based decision.

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of arranging an interview.

Pre-employment screening

After the panel has determined the most suitable applicant(s), background checking must be carried out. This varies from role to role, but will involve reference checking and a pre-employment medical as a minimum.

Certain positions may require further pre-employment checks. These might include the working with children check or a police background check.

Notification of employment

At the satisfactory completion of the screening process, a member of the selection panel will contact the successful applicant by telephone to offer the position.

After the preferred candidate has accepted the position, the unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing.

See Frequently asked employment questions

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