The council uses an online portal for job applications, which I found fairly straightforward to navigate. I was pleased to be invited for an interview, which took place at the council offices on Southfield Road. The reception area was a bit confusing at first, as part of the building is shared with the Job Centre and there wasn’t a clear reception point or person to check in with. Thankfully, one of the interviewers came to meet me and took me up to the room. The offices themselves were a little dated, though that’s pretty typical for a council building, so it wasn’t unexpected. The interview consisted of 7 questions and followed a fairly standard structure. The panel explained the process clearly, gave a good overview of the role and mentioned that they used a scoring system to decide on the successful candidate. They were friendly and professional, which helped me feel at ease, and overall the interview went smoothly. Although I wasn’t offered the position, I did receive a kind email encouraging me to apply for future opportunities with the council. I was also offered the chance to discuss my interview feedback over a video call, which I really appreciated- it was constructive, supportive and not something I’ve experienced elsewhere. It left a genuinely positive impression.