Future Planners Programme 2025: candidate guide

The application process

The Future Planners Programme has a 4-stage application process:

• stage 1: online application
• stage 2: initial assessment
• stage 3: written assessment and interview
• stage 4: offers, university applications, and pre-employment checks

Further information on each of the stages is included below.

Stage 1: online application

To apply for a place on the programme you will need to complete the initial online application which can be accessed through our careers website.

The application window opens on Wednesday 26 February 2025 and closes at 23:55 on Wednesday 19 March 2025. No applications will be accepted after the closing date has passed.

To complete the online application, you will be required to submit some personal details, and complete a Personal Statement in response to the Success Profiles outlined in the advert (up to 750 words).

We recommend that you prepare your Personal Statement in an offline document in advance of the application. This will allow you to save a copy for your records and will ensure that you do not lose any work if your connection to the system drops during application.

You will not be able to update or make changes to your application after you have submitted it.

You will be asked to provide some diversity information with your online application. Please note that this has no impact on your application and is not mandatory, it is captured for monitoring purposes only.

Stage 2: initial assessment

When the application window has closed, you will be invited to participate in the next stage of recruitment which involves completion of an online assessment via our provider SHL.

If you fail to complete the assessment by the deadline specified, you will not be eligible to continue in the recruitment process.

Registering for the assessment platform

After the closing date for applications has passed, you will receive an e-mail inviting you to register for an account on the assessment platform, provided by our assessment partner, SHL.

To register for an account, you will need to provide some contact details (including the e-mail address you applied with) and create a password. To complete your registration, you will also be asked to agree to a data protection notice and candidate responsibilities statement.

About the assessment

The assessment consists of 2 parts, both of which include multiple choice questions aimed at identifying your common behaviours at work and personal characteristics. Please allow 30 minutes for completion of the assessment.

You will need to complete both sections of the assessment (ideally in one session), and you will only be able to complete the assessment once.

You do not need to prepare in advance for the assessment, however you may want to practice the types of questions you will be asked in each of the sections. Practice questions are included in the assessment (at the start of each section) and can be answered before you progress to completing the final assessment.

You can undertake a series of practice questions in advance of completing the assessment on the practice platform.

The assessment platform offers the option to adjust settings and undertake the test in a variety of different languages.

Assessment accessibility

The online assessment has been tested for accessibility and there are options included in the assessment platform to adjust settings to your own preferences.

If you have any problems accessing the online assessment, please email us at: ScottishGovernmentRecruitment@gov.scot providing details of the problem experienced in your e-mail. This mailbox is monitored during business hours Monday to Friday.

Technical support

The assessment platform is compatible with most mobile devices and browsers. No specific set up is required in advance.

If you experience any technical difficulties while trying to complete the assessment, you can contact the dedicated support team by telephone - available 24 hours per day, 5 days per week. 

Technical Support Team: 0330 100 3435

There is also a webchat function available on the assessment platform.

Guaranteed interview schemes

If you have already notified us that you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Schemes, please be assured that we have recorded this information.  In most cases we will automatically apply the Guaranteed Interview Scheme when notified in an application, otherwise we will be in contact with you to discuss further.

Tips for completing the assessment

• use the practice platform to get familiar with the type of questions you will be asked
• find a distraction-free, quiet environment where you are unlikely to be interrupted to complete the assessment

Stage 3: written assessment and interview 

The highest scoring applicants from the initial assessment will be invited to a virtual assessment centre.  

This will include:  

• an online written assessment 

• a remote interview 

Candidates who make it to this stage will receive information about this via email in April 2025. 

Registering for your assessment 

If you’re successful in progressing to this stage of the recruitment process, you will get an email asking you to select a date and time for your interview and written assessment.  

Accessing your assessment 

Before your scheduled assessment, you will receive a calendar invite email containing a Microsoft Teams link allowing you to access this. Please make sure that you regularly check your junk/spam folder for this email.  

• your virtual assessment will take place via Microsoft Teams 
• you do not need to create a Microsoft Teams account, you can access your virtual assessment as a guest 
• we recommend using a desktop or laptop for your assessment and interview 
• make sure you have a suitable space to complete your assessment and interview without interruption 
• make sure you have a stable internet connection 

About your assessment 

The virtual assessment will be split into 2 parts — an online written assessment and a remote interview. 

Part 1: online written assessment 

The first part of the virtual assessment is a written analysis exercise.  

When you join the Microsoft Teams call, an assessor will explain the exercise and provide you with the necessary documentation. They will then leave the call, allowing you to focus on compiling your written response.  

You will receive three documents to review. You will have 45 minutes to thoroughly read, analyse, and prepare a written response based on the given topic.  

You will be given instructions at the start of the session on how to submit your written response.  

Part 2: remote Interview 

After your written analysis exercise, you will move onto the second part of the virtual assessment, your interview.  

At this stage, you will be joined on the Microsoft Teams call by an interview panel. They will ask you questions based on the following Success Profile behaviours at Level 2:  

• Communicating and Influencing  
• Working Together  
• Seeing the Big Picture  
• Delivering at Pace  

Your interview will be scored on how well your answers align with each behaviour. We recommend familiarising yourself with the full descriptions of each behaviour.  

For interview tips, visit our careers website.  

Recruitment adjustments 

We want every candidate to have a fair and equal opportunity to succeed. 

If you would like to request an adjustment to the recruitment process or provide us with further details relating to an existing request, please let us know as soon as possible.  

We are happy to support you and encourage you to contact us. Your request will be handled confidentially, and we will only use this information to implement the necessary adjustments or mitigations. 

If you need an adjustment, it is important that you contact us well in advance of the date of your assessment at ScottishGovernmentRecruitment@gov.scot. You should outline the support you require in your email. This will give us the opportunity to provide the support you request.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive process where everyone can perform at their best. 

Read more about requesting adjustments. 

Stage 4: offers, university applications, and pre-employment checks

If you have been successful, you will receive an e-mail to congratulate you on your success with a conditional offer of a place and details of the next steps.

Before you begin your fixed-term employment with the Scottish Government, you will need to complete our pre-employment checks and be accepted to one of the postgraduate courses. You will be asked to provide some information and documentation at this stage. Read more about pre-employment checks.

At this stage you will also apply for one of the three postgraduate courses. We will host an online session with the three universities we are working with to give you further information on each course before you apply.

It is expected that successful candidates will commence their employment and start the programme in August 2025.