FAQs

Applying for a role with WMCA is straight forward. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Create your Careers Account

• Click the Apply button on the job you are interested in. This will take you to the Welcome Page.
• Register with your first name, last name, email address, and a password. It’s important to double check your email address is correct as we will use this to communicate with you regarding your application.
• Already have an account? Log in and proceed.

2. Build your Profile

• Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
• Take a few minutes to review and format your profile for accuracy.
• Use your CV as a reference to copy and paste key details into your profile.

3. Write your Supporting Statement

• Prepare a strong supporting statement that aligns with the role’s Person Specification. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
• You can type directly into the system or copy and paste a pre-written statement from a Word document.

4. Submit your application

• Once complete, click submit.
• You’ll see a confirmation screen and receive an email to confirm we’ve received your application.
• To review your submission, go to the My Applications tab on your dashboard and select "View application summary."

Additional Information

Anonymised Process.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. it’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience!

Need Support?

If you require an alternative application method, email the Recruitment Team at careers@wmca.org.uk. We’ll be happy to assist. We’re here to make the process as smooth as possible for you!

You can upload your CV when creating an account, which will automatically populate the career and education sections of your profile.

Our application process is anonymised, meaning our recruitment teams won’t see your CV. Shortlisting decisions are based solely on the information you provide in your profile and supporting statement.

To give yourself the best chance, take the time to tailor and complete your profile before submitting your application.

Please note: Incomplete applications will not be shortlisted.

We’re glad you ask! Your supporting statement should evidence, using examples, how your skills and experience match the essential criteria of the role that you are applying for. It is the evidence we will use to make decisions about whether you are suitable for the role and whether you will be invited to an interview.

Here are some tips:

1. Focus on the job description

Start by carefully reviewing the job description and person specification.

• Pay close attention to the “What’s Essential” section, as it outlines the must-have skills, knowledge, and experience.
• Your supporting statement should address each essential criteria with clear examples from your background.
• Use the job description as a checklist to ensure you cover all key points.

Tip: Use similar language to the job description to clearly connect your skills to the role.

2. Use the STAR method to structure your examples

The STAR method helps you organise your examples in a clear and impactful way:

• Situation: Set the scene—what was happening, and why was it important?
• Task: Explain your responsibility or goal.
• Action: Detail the steps you took, emphasizing your personal contribution.
• Result: Share the outcome and its positive impact.

For example, if the role requires leadership skills, you could describe a time when you led a team to successfully complete a project ahead of schedule.

Tip: Provide a STAR example for each essential requirement, and don’t be shy about highlighting your achievements.

3. Show your Enthusiasm

Demonstrate genuine interest in the role and the team.

• Share why this opportunity excites you and how it aligns with your career goals.

Tip: Mention what you can bring to the role and how it will support your career growth.

4. Highlight Transferable Skills

If you don’t meet every requirement, focus on your transferable skills.

• Think about core competencies like communication, problem-solving, or adaptability.
• Provide examples of how you’ve used these skills to achieve success in other roles.

For instance, if you’re still learning a required technical skill, explain how you’ve quickly adapted to new systems or tools in previous roles.

Tip: Emphasise your ability to learn and grow. Being proactive can be just as valuable as direct experience.

Bringing It All Together

Your supporting statement should clearly explain why you’re the ideal candidate for the role.

• Address the essential criteria.
• Provide structured examples that highlight your impact.
• Show enthusiasm and a genuine connection to the role.

While there’s no strict word limit, 1–2 pages is a good guideline. Be concise and focused - your goal is to make it easy for the hiring team to see your suitability.

Quick Checklist

• Review the Job Description: Address the essential criteria in detail.
• Use STAR Examples: Provide structured, impactful examples.
• Show Enthusiasm: Explain why the role excites you.
• Highlight Transferable Skills: Emphasise adaptability and potential.

When you apply, your application will first be assessed by the recruitment partner managing the vacancy. They will check if you meet the essential criteria and are eligible to apply.

If your application meets these criteria, it will be forwarded to the recruiting manager for further assessment against the job description and person specification.

Your supporting statement plays a key role in this process. Be sure to clearly highlight your experience and demonstrate how it aligns with the requirements outlined in the job description.

AI tools are becoming increasingly popular for creative and administrative tasks, including drafting CVs, writing supporting statements, or answering application questions. While these tools can be useful, it’s important to use them thoughtfully.

Why caution is Key

AI-generated content may seem impressive, but it lacks the personal touch we value in your application. It can’t explain:

• Why you want the job.
• What motivates you.
• How your unique skills and experiences align with the role.
• How the position fits into your career aspirations.

Relying too much on AI might make your application stand out—but not in the way you’d hope. AI often produces generic content, and no matter how much information you input, the results can sound similar to others who use the same tools. This can make your application feel less personal and more predictable.

How we handle applications at WMCA

At WMCA, every application is reviewed by a person, not a machine. While we occasionally use AI to support tasks like drafting job adverts or interview questions, all applications and interviews are assessed by our staff.

We believe in the importance of human judgment throughout the hiring process.

Making your application stand out

AI can be a helpful tool if used appropriately, but it shouldn’t replace your input. If you decide to use AI, here’s how to ensure your application reflects you:

• Use AI to structure or refine your content but always add your personal insights and voice.
• Tailor your application to the job by focusing on the criteria and highlighting your skills, experience, and motivation.
• Avoid over-relying on AI—after all, it’s your application.

Remember, when it’s time for the interview, it will be you in the room, not a bot. Put the effort into creating an application that truly represents who you are and what you can bring to the role.

Please note: applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting.

No, we do not offer salaries beyond the advertised range.

Our salary ranges are carefully determined through a thorough job evaluation process. This ensures fairness, equity, and consistency across similar roles within our organisation, while also aligning with industry standards.

When considering an application, we encourage candidates to consider the full compensation package, including benefits and potential growth opportunities within our organisation.

Absolutely! If you believe your experience and abilities align with more than one vacancy, we encourage you to apply for any role where you feel there’s a strong fit.

For roles you’ve applied for previously but were not successful, we recommend reflecting on how your experience has evolved since then. Highlighting these new skills or experiences can demonstrate how you’re now an even stronger match for the role.

If you have registered for an account and uploaded your CV, but this hasn't auto-populated your profile, it could be that your CV contains images (for example, employer logos). 

If it does, please remove these and try again.

If you are still experiencing problems, please get in touch with the Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk) and we will be happy to help. 

Absolutely. In the 'Personal Information' section of your profile, you will be able to upload your CV by clicking on the 'Upload CV' icon. 

After uploading, select 'Upload the file and use it to override my existing profile.' This will automatically update the career and education sections of your profile.

We recommend taking a few minutes to review the details to ensure they are accurate and that the formatting looks as expected.

Unfortunately no. Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be updated or edited. We strongly recommend that you double check your application before clicking submit.

With that said, we understand that mistakes can happen. If you realise that you made a significant error or omission in your application, you can get in touch with the recruitment partner handling the vacancy. The easiest way to do this is email careers@wmca.org.uk.

In very general terms, it supports WMCA’s vision of being a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier region, with the emphasis on being fairer with respect to recruitment, retention and development. 

When you disclose your diversity data, you entrust us to monitor, analyse and report on whether the range of applicants for our vacancies reflects that of the West Midlands region. If the evidence shows that we are not attracting a reflection of the West Midlands population, we will take further steps to address this in future recruitment campaigns. Our aim is to recruit the best person for the job from a diverse pool of candidates.

Being transparent about our processes to support workforce diversity is an important step towards applicants having the confidence in the Combined Authority’s drive to deliver meaningful and inclusive change in our commitment to promote equity and address inequalities.

It is used by our recruitment team to monitor, analyse and report on the range of applicants with protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010 that apply for our vacancies. Names, addresses and other personal information that is shared as part of the application process are not used.

Diversity information falls within the scope of ‘sensitive personal data’ under GDPR 2018. The Data Protection Action 2018, which supplements the provisions of the GDPR, includes a limited provision that specifically allows these types of special category data to be processed for the purpose of monitoring equality of opportunity or treatment between different groups.

No. We can’t guarantee this, but we can guarantee that you will be treated fairly and without prejudice for doing so. We are a ‘Disability Confident’ employer and as part of our commitment to improve how we recruit, retain, and develop disabled people, we will interview people, who disclose as disabled, where they have evidenced in their application that they have met all the essential criteria required for the job.

When you apply, our system will send an automated acknowledgement email to you using the email address that you provided when you created your career account. 

You can log in to your WMCA careers account to check all correspondence that we have sent to you. This will be in the 'email sent to you' section. 

We use this email address throughout the selection process, including sending out interview invitations – and so it is important to make sure you are receiving these.

When you are invited to an interview, you will receive an email asking you to login to the system and book a slot at a date and time that is convenient for you. It’s important that you read this email carefully as it will contain useful information relating to the interview process and anything that you may need to know or prepare in advance. (e.g., a presentation or a task.)

If you are experiencing problems, please get in touch with the Recruitment Team by email: careers@wmca.org.uk. 

If your application has been unsuccessful, we will let you know, usually by email.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are sorry to say that we cannot commit to providing detailed feedback to everyone who applies for a job with us.

However, if you have been interviewed for a role, we will do our best to ensure we feedback to you on your performance. You may receive this feedback via email from the recruitment partner handling the vacancy, or via a telephone call from the hiring manager.

Once you select an interview slot, you will be sent an email confirming the details – who you will be meeting, the time and date. If your interview is over MS Teams, we’ll send you a calendar invite direct to the email address used when you applied. In most cases, invites will show in your calendar app on your iPhone or Android device.

Some email providers (Google/Gmail) have advanced filtering algorithms which occasionally filter out emails as spam. If you haven't received your invite within 24 hours of your interview date and time, please check your Junk or Spam folder. If you need to get in touch with us, please email careers@wmca.org.uk and someone from the team will be in touch.

MS Teams works best over a strong and reliable internet connection. Most issues are caused if a network is too busy (too many people trying to use a limited amount of bandwidth), or the signals used for Wi-Fi or 4G are poor. We recommend testing your connection ahead of your interview.

When you apply, our system will send an automated acknowledgement email to you using the email address that you provided when you created your career account. 

You can log in to your WMCA careers account to check all correspondence that we have sent to you. This will be in the 'email sent to you' section. 

We use this email address throughout the selection process, including sending out interview invitations – and so it is important to make sure you are receiving these.

If you are still experiencing problems, please get in touch with the Recruitment Team by email: careers@wmca.org.uk. 

Send an email to careers@wmca.org.uk. Just because we're online doesn't mean we don't like to speak to people.

If you're getting in touch about a specific job, then let us know which one and the Recruitment Partner handling the role will be in touch. 

If you are invited to attend an interview with us, one of our Recruitment Partners will usually be in touch with you the day before your interview to check in via a phone call or follow up email. This is a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have before meeting with the interview panel for the role.

Great question! Once shortlisted, you’ll receive an email asking you to log in and select a convenient interview date and time. If the available slots don’t work for you, just email careers@wmca.org.uk, and we’ll do our best to assist—life happens, and we get it!

Be sure to read this email carefully, as it will include:

• Whether the interview will be face-to-face or on Teams.
• Any preparation required in advance (e.g., a presentation or task).

After booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details, including the names of the interviewers. If you’ve opted into text message updates, you might also receive a reminder the day before.

The Recruitment Partner managing your role will usually reach out the day before the interview to check in and answer any questions.

We do! Here are our top tips to help you feel confident and ready:

1. Research the Role and WMCA

• Read the job description carefully to understand key responsibilities and required skills.
• Explore WMCA’s website, recent news, and social media to learn about our mission, values, and priorities.

2. Reflect on Your Skills and Experiences

• Identify examples that showcase your achievements, skills, and how you’ve overcome challenges.
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to organize your responses.

3. Practice Common Interview Questions

• Be ready for questions like:
• “Why do you want to work for WMCA?”
• “Tell us about a time you faced a challenge and how you overcame it.”
• “How do you prioritise tasks and manage deadlines?”

4. Prepare your own questions

• Interviews are a two-way conversation! Ask about team culture, current projects, or opportunities for growth.

5. Plan for the Interview day

• Confirm the date, time, and format (virtual or in-person). If online, test your tech in advance.
• Arrive early to settle in and focus.

6. Stay calm and confident

• Remember: you were shortlisted for a reason! Take a few deep breaths and trust your preparation.

7. Be yourself

At WMCA, we love authenticity and diverse perspectives. Just be yourself—let your personality shine and share your story honestly.

Final thoughts

We’re here to support you every step of the way. Your interview is as much an opportunity for us to learn about you as it is for you to learn about WMCA.

Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you!

We’ll let you know whether your interview is going to be held virtually (via Teams) or in-person, at one of our offices.

The beauty of being based in Birmingham city centre means that we are well connected with great transport links, including bus and rail. 

Parking is available at Summer Lane, although limited at busy times. Parking is free for those visiting the office (for example, if attending an interview) and is charged at £3 per day for employees.  

Please note: if you are attending an interview, and would like to reserve a parking space at Summer Lane, please email the Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk) with details of your interview, and the make, model and registration of your vehicle.

There is no parking at our Midlands Connect office but there are plenty of car parks nearby – although not free of charge. The nearest is Q-Park at the Mailbox. 

There is bike storage available at Summer Lane and ramp access to both buildings for those with reduced and limited mobility.

For most roles, the standard working hours are 36.5 hours over 5 days (Monday to Friday). However, there are some roles which involve working on a shift basis that could include weekends. These roles will be advertised as such. If you have any questions about hours of work, please email us at careers@wmca.org.uk and we will be in touch.

If you would like to apply for one of our roles on a part-time basis, please let us know this in your Supporting Statement and we’ll consider this as part of your application.

We understand that Hybrid working will mean different things to different people, and will vary depending on the needs of the role.

For some, it offers flexibility to split their time between working remotely and having essential face-to-face time in the office. For others, for example those working in customer facing roles, it may mean working on site all the time.

We're unable to support fully remote working and everyone who joins the WMCA must be able to get to and from their place of work without restriction.

Please note that reasonable adjustments will be considered for those with mobility problems.

It is always a good idea to be clear on what is meant by ‘flexible working.’ When you apply for a job, we ask that you tell us what you are looking for so that can look to accommodate your needs as best as we can. If you are looking to work on a part-time basis, let us know.

We run a hybrid working model. This means some of us splitting our time between working remotely and using our office space to come together to share ideas and learn from each other.

Sadly, not all our people are able to work in a hybrid way. Those roles which are customer facing (for example, positions in our bus stations) often work on a shift basis and are required to present on site during each shift.

WMCA will make reasonable adjustments to remove or reduce a disadvantage or barrier related to someone’s disclosed disability at all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be made for your specific disability or impairment where practicable. In the recruitment and selection process, examples of a reasonable adjustments could be:

• Allow an extension to the job application deadline due to an applicants declared temporary or permanent health condition.
• As requested by a wheelchair user who has been invited to interview, ensure that they have a reserved accessible parking space and that the interview takes place on the ground floor where there is an accessible toilet.
• At the request of a diabetic employee, allow fixed and regular break times and/or longer break times to check their blood sugar levels.

WMCA understands that an individual’s disability status can change over time and therefore, the nature of the reasonable adjustment for an employee may change accordingly. In making the adjustment, WMCA will carefully consider if the adjustment will remove or reduce the disadvantage or barrier, is practical to make, is affordable, and whether by making the adjustment could harm the health and safety of others.

WMCA can only employ those who have the legal right to work in the UK.

Your right to work in the UK depends on your immigration status - this is also called your ‘leave’. If you don’t have the right to work, you might be able to apply for it.

You automatically have the right to work in the UK if:

• you’re a British or Irish citizen
• you have pre-settled or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme - or you’ve applied and you’re waiting for a decision
• you have a family permit from the EU Settlement Scheme
• you have indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK
• you have right of abode in the UK

You might have a right to work in the UK if you have a visa with a time limit. This is called having 'limited leave to enter or remain’. You’ll have limited leave to enter or remain if you have a visa with a time limit.

You’ll usually have a document which says if you have the right to work - for example, a biometric residence permit.

If you have limited time to remain, you might have restrictions on the type of job or work you can do, or the number of hours you can work. This may also impact the type of employment contract that we can offer you.

Once we make you an offer, we will ask you for up references that cover the last 3 years which must include your current or most recent employer/education institute. 

For some roles, a DBS check may be required. We’ll let you know if this applies to the role you are applying for.

Employees joining West Midlands Combined Authority who are moving from, or have previously worked for, another local authority or other government body may be entitled to retain their previous service for the purpose of continuity of some contractual entitlements.

This will apply where the previous organisation is included within the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, generally referred to as the Modification Order.

More information can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2277/contents/made