The application process, as usual, depends on who is advertising the vacancy, sifting applications, and interviewing candidates. I have found that, even though this organization claims it has a fair selection process, offers equal opportunities, makes adjustments, and is impartial in the way they judge the candidate, it isn't like this in practice. Not to be critical of all the colleagues who are involved in the hiring process, but I have personally come across a majority who will select someone based on their needs rather than the need of the organization, and they don't really follow the process correctly, they will find loopholes to get the candidate they want rather than the one who is most suitable for the role. Favoritism is really common and a friend of the post holder is more likely to get the vacancy just because they're friends, rather than for the good of the country since this is the Civil Service. I would also like to highlight that pretty much every manager I've come across lacks knowledge of well known disabilities/conditions, which, depending which ones you may have, could turn your career progression into an impossible task. Not only that, the lack of knowledge could cause you major stress and burn out if you're disabled or have a health condition that your manager struggles to understand in order to support you.