If you want to work for a council in Scotland, there is one website you need to know about: MyJobScotland. It is the shared online recruitment service used by all 32 of Scotland's councils, plus a number of other public bodies. Rather than each council running its own separate jobs board, they pool their vacancies in one place, which makes life much simpler for job seekers.
This guide explains what MyJobScotland is, the kinds of roles councils advertise, how to set up an account, and how to give your application the best chance. Whether you are after your first job, returning to work, or moving from another sector, the same basic steps apply.
What MyJobScotland is
MyJobScotland is an online portal where Scottish councils and partner organisations post their job vacancies and collect applications. A council is a local authority, the body that runs services in your area such as schools, social work, roads, planning and waste collection.
The big advantage of the portal is that you create a single account and use it to apply across many different employers. You do not need a separate login for Glasgow, Highland, Fife or Dumfries and Galloway. Your details are saved, so once you have filled in your work history you can reuse it for future applications.
Alongside the 32 councils, MyJobScotland also carries roles for various partner bodies. These can include leisure and culture trusts, valuation joint boards, and other organisations that have chosen to recruit through the same system. So even if you are not set on a council role specifically, it is worth browsing the full range.
The kinds of jobs councils offer
Councils are large, varied employers, and that means the list of roles is long. Some jobs need specific qualifications; many do not. Common areas include:
- Education and schools. Teachers, classroom assistants, early years practitioners, school administrators, janitors and catering staff.
- Social care and social work. Care-at-home workers, support workers, qualified social workers, occupational therapists and residential care staff.
- Environment and operations. Refuse and recycling crews, roads and grounds maintenance, drivers and fleet staff.
- Planning, housing and regulation. Planning officers, housing officers, environmental health and trading standards.
- Corporate and office roles. Administrators, finance and payroll staff, HR, IT, customer service advisers and communications.
- Leisure and culture. Library staff, sports centre staff, museum and arts roles, often through council leisure trusts.
Roles come as full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary and seasonal. There are also modern apprenticeships and graduate routes for people starting out. If you are not sure where you fit, browsing a few listings gives a quick sense of the language councils use and the entry requirements they ask for.
Setting up your account
Getting started takes only a few minutes.
- 1.Register. Go to MyJobScotland and create an account with your email address and a password. Keep the login details somewhere safe.
- 2.Build your profile. Fill in your personal details, employment history, qualifications and any training. Doing this thoroughly once saves time on every later application.
- 3.Set up job alerts. Tell the system the kind of work, the location and the hours you want, and it will email you when matching roles appear. This is the easiest way to avoid missing a closing date.
- 4.Search and save. Use the search filters to narrow by council, category, contract type and location. You can save searches and shortlist jobs you are interested in.
Take a little care with the profile section. A complete, accurate profile is the foundation of a strong application.
How to apply
Each council sets its own application process, but the pattern on MyJobScotland is consistent.
- Read the advert and candidate pack. The pack usually includes a job description and a person specification. The person specification lists the skills, experience and qualifications the employer wants, often split into "essential" and "desirable".
- Complete the application form. Many council roles use a structured form rather than a CV. Fill in every section. Do not leave gaps in your employment history without a brief explanation.
- Write a strong supporting statement. Most forms include a section where you explain why you suit the role. This is where applications are won or lost.
- Check and submit before the deadline. Council vacancies have firm closing dates and rarely accept late submissions. Submit with time to spare in case of technical hiccups.
After you apply, you can usually track the status of your application from your account dashboard.
Writing a supporting statement that lands
The supporting statement, sometimes called a personal statement, is your chance to show you match the person specification. A simple method works well.
- Go through the person specification point by point. For each essential requirement, give a short, concrete example that shows you meet it.
- Use real situations. Rather than claiming you have "excellent communication skills", describe a time you explained something complex to a member of the public, or calmed a difficult phone call.
- Mirror the language. If the advert asks for "experience of working to deadlines", use that phrase and then evidence it. Recruiters often score against the exact criteria.
- Keep it readable. Short paragraphs and clear headings make it easy for a busy panel to find what they need.
Many Scottish councils recruit against published values, such as respect, integrity and a focus on the people they serve. Showing how your approach fits those values can strengthen your case.
Pay, conditions and benefits
Council roles are placed on published pay grades, so you can see roughly what a job pays and how progression works. Each council sets its own grading structure, and pay is reviewed annually, so always check the salary stated on the advert rather than relying on older figures.
Beyond pay, council jobs typically come with a workplace pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme, a solid annual leave allowance, family-friendly policies, and support for flexible or hybrid working in many office-based roles. The exact terms are set out in the candidate pack, so read it before you apply.
Disability and fair work commitments
Many Scottish councils hold recognised employer commitments around fair and inclusive recruitment, including guaranteed interview schemes for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If that applies to you, look for the relevant section on the application form. Employers will also make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process if you ask, for example providing documents in a different format or allowing extra time.
Next steps
MyJobScotland is the front door to council work across the country. Set up an account, complete your profile carefully, switch on job alerts, and take your time over the person specification each time you apply. Those few habits put you ahead of many applicants.
This article is general guidance rather than formal careers advice for your own circumstances. GovJobs lists council, NHS and government roles from across Scotland in one place so you can compare them easily, and links you straight through to MyJobScotland to apply.
