Recruitment: candidate guide
A detailed guide for applicants interested in applying for a job with the Scottish Government.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in recruitment
Artificial intelligence (AI) software such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini are powerful tools which can help to enhance your application and prepare for the recruitment process, but it is essential you use them appropriately.
This guidance provides information for candidates on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in the recruitment process. It also suggests some uses of these tools that may be helpful to you.
What we look for in applications
The most important thing to remember is that during the application stage, we want to find out about you. Your application should represent your skills and personal experiences accurately and authentically, so we can understand how you would fit a role with the Civil Service.
Good applications help us understand:
- how your skills and experience align with the role (or scheme) you are applying to
- what motivates you to do your best work
- what you have achieved and how you did it
How and when you can use AI tools
The recruitment process typically involves several stages, beginning with a job application, followed by one or more assessments, and concluding with an interview. At each stage, it is important to understand how and when to use AI tools appropriately.
Preparing your application and personal statement
If you want to use AI tools at the application stage, the goal should be to enhance your application by helping to show us who you are and what you are good at.
AI tools should never be used as a substitute for your views and professional experience, or used to provide misleading or false information at any stage of the application journey.
Acceptable uses
You can use AI tools in the application process to:
- help you refine and clarify your ideas and thoughts
- research public information about the Civil Service and organisation you are applying to
- find out information about trends in industries or professions that you can relate to your personal or professional experiences
- check the spelling, grammar and clarity of what you have written
Unacceptable uses
You should never use AI tools to:
- inflate or invent your skills and experiences
- create generic responses and copy these into your application
- provide an AI tool with sensitive information about your organisation such as figures or personal details
Top tips for using AI tools at application stage
There are several ways that AI tools can improve the clarity and quality of your application whilst continuing to provide an honest and accurate reflection of your skills and experience:
- think about your personal leadership experiences and ask AI to help you improve how you present them
- ask AI to summarise public information about important projects or policies in the organisation you are applying to, so you can think about how your skills and experience could contribute to these in your responses
- ask AI to help identify relevant skills and Civil Service behaviours in the job advert and then think about how you’ve demonstrated these in previous roles as you prepare your application
- write a list of examples you would like to include in your application with details of how you relate your experience and skills to the role, then ask AI to help you structure your response using the STAR format or other ways to strengthen your submission
- ask AI to check your answers are concise and recommend improvements that maintain their meaning
Top tip: Make sure your application stands out by making it personal to your skills and experience.
Participating in assessments
Assessments during a recruitment process are designed to allow you to evidence the skills, behaviours and attributes required for the role. Assessments can take different forms, such as online assessments that evaluate personality, behaviours, judgement and numerical skills, or activities at an assessment centre or interview such as a role play exercise or presentation task.
Assessments are used to ensure a fair selection process for all candidates, enabling recruitment decisions to be based on merit.
It’s important to understand that while AI can help you prepare for an assessment, it is vital that you do not use AI during live assessments at any stage of the selection process.
Acceptable uses
You can use AI tools before assessments to:
- research public information about the Civil Service and the organisation you are applying to
- find out information about trends in an industry or profession that you can relate to your personal and professional experience
Unacceptable uses
You should never use AI tools:
- during any form of live assessments
Preparing for your interview
Interviews are a chance for recruiting organisations to find out more about you and explore in detail your skills and experience. AI tools can be helpful in preparing for this stage, but it is important that you reflect your authentic self at interview.
It’s important to understand that while AI can help you prepare for an interview, AI must never be used during an interview to generate responses.
Acceptable uses
You can use AI tools before an interview to:
- prepare for your interview, including practicing mock questions you might be asked
- research publicly available information about the Civil Service and the organisation you are applying to
- find out information about trends in an industry or profession that you can relate to your personal and professional experience
Unacceptable uses
You should never use AI tools:
- during an interview to answer questions or generate responses
Top tips for using AI tools before an interview
If you are invited to an interview for a job in the Civil Service AI tools can help you prepare and practice beforehand:
- you could ask AI to read the job description and create mock interview questions to help you prepare example responses based on your experiences and skills
- ask AI to generate sample behaviour questions, so you can practice your responses
- compare your responses with recommended approaches, and ask for areas to improve on
- ask for tips on communication and presentation styles for interviews
Why authenticity is important
Your application, assessment and interview should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills and experience.
Civil servants follow the Civil Service Code which sets out our core values and standards of behaviour - we are looking for talented candidates who can resonate with, and uphold these during recruitment. Authenticity and honesty in your application is vital to determine whether you are a good fit for the role.
Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Contact
The Scottish Government Recruitment Team: ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot