Somerset County Council is divided in to four directorates: Children and Young People, Community, Environment and Resources. Additionally the Chief Executive’s Office supports the management of the council.
The council look after a population of over 515,500, educate over 70,000 pupils in 283 schools, look after around 390 children, support over 1,000 adults with learning difficulties to live independently, maintain over 6,500kms roads, deal with around 300,000 tonnes of domestic waste each year and host a stage of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race.
The council employ over 17,000 staff, in over 550 offices, schools, residential units, libraries and other facilities. The council also work with 140 partners and third party organisation to ensure their services are delivered effectively.
Somerset County Council hire approximately 20 graduates each year.
Each graduate trainee will work within one employing directorate ("Children and Young People", "Community", "Environment" or "Resources").
The Council operates a grading system for all positions. Entry level for the Graduate Development Scheme is at Grade 12 with a clear development path that sees graduates progressing through incremental pay rises.
Generic and specific training and development activities including induction arrangements and the achievement of a postgraduate qualification will support graduates' workplace development. This qualification will either be in general management studies or a professional qualification dependent on your role. Additional support is offered through a general internal training programme.
To be considered for a graduate role, you must have completed a first degree, in any discipline, and have either a predicted or an achieved 2.2 minimum. For professional roles such as engineering particular disciplines may be required.
There are a number of key competencies that you will be expected to achieve throughout the Council's graduate scheme – and there may be further competencies specific to the area that your position is within.
Somerset County Council's four, general key competencies are:Both on the application form and, if selected, during the assessment process, Somerset County Council require candidates to provide clear and succinct examples of how you meet the key competencies, experience, skills, and personal characteristics they are looking for.
Graduates are selected through a series of interviews, presentations, aptitude tests, group exercises and an occupational personality questionnaire.
Applicants short-listed for initial interview will be invited to attend an assessment centre. Successful candidates will then be invited to return for an additional formal interview with prospective line managers.
If candidates are not successful in gaining a post initially but have passed the assessment centre stage of the selection process, they will be held in a waiting pool for up to twelve months until further graduate posts become available.