Guide to the use of generative AI
in your DWP application

Career ideas: Input your skills, life and/or work experience, and ambitions into a GenAI tool to get role and career suggestions that match your profile. It might suggest options you have not considered before.

Research: Use GenAI to learn more about the role, profession, terminology that isn’t familiar to you, or application processes. This helps you understand the right match for you and how to make the most of your application.

Top tip: GenAI interprets data it has access to, which can sometimes be inaccurate or misinterpreted. Make sure to check the accuracy of your research.

Application tests: Civil Service online tests are used on some campaigns to assess your aptitude, personality, or skills. They are a fair and consistent way to understand your strengths.

Acceptable
You can use GenAI to help you prepare for application tests, for example by researching the format of tests and sourcing practice tests.

Unacceptable
You should not use GenAI when undertaking tests as part of your application as your responses should personally represent you.

Writing application statements: Application statements are one of the most important parts of your application and should contain detailed information about your skills and experience. GenAI can be used as a tool to support writing these statements but they must demonstrate your personal experience.  

Acceptable
Planning: GenAI can help you to structure your statement and line up your skills and experience with the essential criteria in the job advert. For example, ask it to help you understand more about Civil Service Success Profiles or how to structure your statement.

Feedback: Ask GenAI to check your statement for grammar, spelling, and readability. It can also help you strengthen your examples and meet the word count.

Unacceptable
AI written applications: Statements written by GenAI are often generic and may not personally represent you or your skills and experience. Don’t copy and paste answers from GenAI tools into your application. You must draft your statement yourself to ensure it accurately reflects your personal experience and aligns with the job advert.
 
Sharing sensitive information: Including data from previous experience in your application can help strengthen your statements but don’t input company information into a GenAI tool unless it is already publicly available.  

Remember: Make sure your application represents your own evidence and personally represents you.

The interview is normally the final stage of a campaign and is your opportunity to provide detailed information about what you would bring to the role and ask questions about the organisation. GenAI can be used as a preparation tool but your responses to interview questions should focus on your personal experience and the skills you would bring to the role.

Acceptable
Research: You can also use GenAI to help you research the role and organisation and to understand more about the department’s culture and priorities so you are informed ahead of the interview.
 
Preparation: GenAI can help you prepare for an interview by suggesting possible questions based on the job advert. You may choose to use these for mock interviews to practice, structure and improve your responses.

Unacceptable
During the interview: You must not use any GenAI during live or pre-recorded interviews. Your responses to interview questions must be in your own words, align with your written application and be specific to your skills and experience.
 
Questions in Advance: For some DWP campaigns, interview questions are shared in advance to help candidates prepare. This will be mentioned in the advert. Keep these questions confidential and do not input them into any GenAI tools.