Office of Human Resources - selection procedure

Summary

The request sought details on the Isle of Man Government's recruitment and selection procedures, specifically regarding the role of the Office of Human Resources (OHR), AI usage, and shortlisting criteria. The response disclosed that hiring panels review all applications, no AI is used for selection, and OHR only performs pre-sift reviews for a small number of senior roles.

Key Facts

• The Office of Human Resources (OHR) provides recruitment services to most of the Isle of Man Public Service but excludes the Constabulary, Financial Services Authority, Clerk of Tynwald, Manx Utilities Authority, and Post Office.
• For the majority of roles, the first stage of selection is shortlisting by the recruiting panel, not OHR.
• There is currently no AI functionality within the Isle of Man Government's recruitment system to analyze or sift applications.
• Selection panels review every single application received, including those that fail screening questions, unless the candidate withdraws.
• CV format is not a strict selection criterion, but good formatting is encouraged to help panels assess content efficiently.

Data Disclosed

• 4959938
• 2025-09-30
• 2025-10-03
• 3
• 1
• IM1 3PN
• (+44) 01624 686244

Original Request

I would like to know what the process of recruitment and selection is. What is the first process of selection? Are all applications viewed by the selection/interview panel assigned to the role? Or, are all applications first reviewed by OHR, an AI programme or in another form before going to the selection/interview panel? Do the selection/interview panel see every single application, or is there a shortlisting process prior to applications going to them? If the first line of selection is completed by OHR, what are the criteria that determine a successful or unsuccessful candidate? Is the format (not content) of the CV used as selection criteria, or is it purely based on content?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

1

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 4959938 3 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 30 September 2025, which states:

"I would like to know what the process of recruitment and selection is.

What is the first process of selection?

Are all applications viewed by the selection/interview panel assigned to the role? Or, are all applications first reviewed by OHR, an AI programme or in another form before going to the selection/interview panel?

Do the selection/interview panel see every single application, or is there a shortlisting process prior to applications going to them?

If the first line of selection is completed by OHR, what are the criteria that determine a successful or unsuccessful candidate?

Is the format (not content) of the CV used as selection criteria, or is it purely based on content?"

The Office of Human Resources (OHR), Cabinet Office provides recruitment administration services to the majority of the Isle of Man Public Service except for the Isle of Man Constabulary, the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority, the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald, Manx Utilities Authority and the Isle of Man Post Office. These areas manage and administer their recruitment independently and as such the Cabinet Office cannot comment on their recruitment and selection processes. For advice and assistance you may wish to contact them directly with your queries.

OHR provides recruitment administrative support and guidance to Hiring Managers but is not typically part of every hiring panel. HR officers may take part in panels when an independent panel member is required, independent panel members may be a staff member from OHR or any other Department. The recruiting panel usually makes decisions on candidate suitability without reference to HR unless they wish to seek advice.

What is the first process of selection?

2 For the majority of roles, the first stage of selection is the shortlisting by the recruiting panel. For a small number of very senior roles, a pre-sift review is carried out by an officer of OHR with recommendations provided to the panel, all applications are still available to the panel in these instances.

Some application forms will have ‘Screening Questions’ which normally consist of Yes or No answers linked to an essential requirement of the post. If a candidate indicates that they do not have the essential requirement when answering the screening question, this will be flagged on the recruitment system and may result in their application being rejected following a manual check by the Recruitment Team.

Are all applications viewed by the selection/interview panel assigned to the role? Or, are all applications first reviewed by OHR, an AI programme or in another form before going to the selection/interview panel?

All applications and supporting documents received for a job vacancy are reviewed by the panel members. At present, there is no AI functionality within the Isle of Man Government’s recruitment system to analyse, sift or make decisions on submitted applications.

Do the selection/interview panel see every single application, or is there a shortlisting process prior to applications going to them?

As referenced in the previous question, the panel sees every application received, including those that fail any screening questions. If a candidate withdraws their application the panel will be unable to access it.

If the first line of selection is completed by OHR, what are the criteria that determine a successful or unsuccessful candidate?

OHR does not undertake the first line of selection other than when screening questions have been specified by the recruiting manager.

Is the format (not content) of the CV used as selection criteria, or is it purely based on content?"

As stated above, OHR do not participate in every panel, however success at both shortlisting and interviews is normally based on an assessment of the candidate from the information supplied with their application against the person specification for the post. This may include a cover letter, or other information submitted with the application, as well as their CV. Good formatting of a CV is helpful and encouraged to give the candidate the best chance of being selected and makes shortlisting more efficient for the panel by presenting information clearly.

Please quote the reference number 4959938 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

3 If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely