Pros
None, unfortunately, due to concerning hiring practices around disability access.
Cons
Last year I applied for a role at Middlesbrough Council. They state on their website that they offer interviews to all disabled candidates who meet their essential criteria. I filled out their application form, carefully giving examples about how I meet the essential criteria, and some of the desirable. I was surprised to receive an email to say I had been unsuccessful. I queried this, concerned they might have missed the part where I stated I was disabled. They stated they had too many applicants to be able to do this, so couldn't interview me. An employer is legally allowed to select candidates who best meet the criteria when they've stated broadly that they will guarantee all applicants in a certain group (e.g. Disabled, veterans) but they do have to state this publicly. Nowhere on the Middlesbrough Council website could I find anywhere that stated this, not even on the full policy. Frankly, if I I knew this was the case, I would have included more examples in my application to ensure I got an interview. As a disabled person, I rarely declare in application forms that I'm disabled because it feels like I'm asking to be discriminated against, but made an exception with Middlesbrough Council because of what they stated on the website. I shan't be applying for any further roles at the council.