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Publication - Advice and guidance

Recruitment: candidate guide

Last updated
18 September 2025 - see all updates
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Work and skills

A detailed guide for applicants interested in applying for a job with the Scottish Government.

Our assessment framework

Success Profiles

We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which evaluates candidates against a range of criteria, using a variety of different assessment types.

The Success Profiles Framework is flexible and allows candidates to showcase their suitability for a role in different ways, helping us to identify the best candidate for the role and ensuring we meet our commitment to recruiting a diverse workforce.

We have created a new guide for candidates which provides all of the information required to submit a successful application using Success Profiles: Success Profiles Candidate Guide.

Contact

The Scottish Government Recruitment Team: ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot

First published
9 May 2024
Last updated
18 September 2025 - show all updates

  1. Update to threshold for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker Visa scheme.

  2. New section added providing guidance to candidates on the use of AI tools. New information added to the pre-employment checks page providing more detail on the different levels of security vetting.

  3. Addition to Hybrid Working information to reflect changes to take effect from October 2025.

  4. Updates to application process page, to link to Success Profiles guidance.

  5. Update to remove reference to Skills for Success assessment framework as it is no longer in use.

  6. New section on complaints process added and updates on assessment framework made to the application process section.

  7. Link added to further guidance on the Disability Confident Scheme in the Guaranteed Interview Schemes section.

  8. Working Pattern content has been updated to reflect a change in the standard working week for staff and a new page and content has been added providing information on the declaration of interests process.

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