How can schools increase their applications and reduce GDPR risk?
It won’t surprise you to know that 76% of teachers completely disregard the schools who ask them to download and post a form (Eteach annual survey 2018). Modern candidates only want to apply electronically or by CV upload. And when forms take more than two hours to complete, who can blame them? Schools have so many alternative ways to collect application data without driving hard-earned candidates away with antiquated methods.
In fact, more than 60% of our teachers search and apply via their mobile phone now. Only schools with mobile-optimised job ads (no pinching required) can catch these keen applicants.
The GDPR risk
But even the commonly used method of emailing application forms poses a risk to schools.
The process of receiving emailed attachments and sending them to staff who might open them on their phone or PC creates countless ‘local’ copies of the application form electronically all over your school devices. Not to mention printed versions.
Could you delete them entirely if the request is made of you?
Advances in technology
There is now no need for schools to offer downloadable forms to be completed and emailed about.
You can now offer candidates your application form digitally, which feeds each field of data directly into your secure applicant tracking system. The data is cloud-based which allows your team to log in and view the electronic candidate record to shortlist, never creating a version that can be forwarded or accidentally saved.
GDPR is the shock schools need
There’s also a lot to be said about slashing the length of application forms now. Short application forms increase your advert response anyway but they also now have the added bonus of reducing the amount of data you are holding in school. Now is the time to consider inviting short ‘initial interest’ forms as the first response to an advert, then only asking the shortlisted people for the unabridged application from.
Do you actually need each piece for information in this first stage? NI number, bank details etc can all be asked for on an additional form given at interview. Could you justify if challenged your lawful reason to ask for each individual piece of data at the outset?
When it comes to employment application forms now, less is more. Put simply, reduce your risk by asking less in the first place.
Move with the times
Eteach gives schools the tools they need to create a totally GDPR-compliant recruitment process. It comes with the most cost-effective recruitment tools in the sector, including mobile-optimised adverts as standard and digital forms.
Find out more at http://www.eteach.com/ats or download the full GDPR Guide for Schools and Colleges.
About the author
Katie Newell
Katie Newell BA(Hons) PGCE is an ex-primary school teacher, Head of Maths, Head of Year five and languages specialist. Katie qualified in Psychology at Liverpool then specialised in Primary Languages for her PGCE at Reading. Katie feels passionately that teachers are the unsung heroes of society; that opening minds to creative timetabling could revolutionise keeping women in teaching, and that a total change to pupil feedback is the key to solving the work life balance issue for the best job in the world.