Person specification form template

£9.99

UK-specific • Editable • Instant download • 12 months' updates

Our Person Specification Form Template streamlines the process of outlining the essential skills, qualifications, and attributes required for a specific job role, ensuring accurate candidate evaluation.

Person specification form template
2026 Reviewed
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 1 page • 45 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 01/08/2026
Next review 01/02/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .xls · .txt · email

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Template

Person specification

Job title:

Department:

Reports to:

Qualifications:

[List the qualifications that someone in this role will

PREVIEW ENDS HERE

This is the end of the preview

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What is a person specification form?

Person specification form template preview

A person specification states the minimum set of capabilities a person needs to have in order for them to be appointed into a position. The primary use of the person specification is to assist in the recruitment and selection of a new employee. It can be separate to the role profile, or standalone.

The person specification highlights the experience, qualifications, skills and experience that are required for a person to be appointed into the role.

Implementation guidance

Use these best practice actions, recommended timescales and process stages to understand when and how the Person specification form should be used, helping ensure each step is handled consistently and appropriately documented.

Step Description Responsibility Timing
1 Identify job requirements: Determine the skills, qualifications, experience, and attributes needed for the role. Hiring Manager Before drafting
2 Use the Person Specification Form: Complete the form with specific job-related criteria, ensuring clarity and accuracy. HR or Hiring Manager During job creation
3 Review and approval: Have the form reviewed and approved by relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment. HR or Hiring Manager Before posting the job
4 Evaluate candidates: Use the form to assess candidates during the recruitment process. Compare applicants against the specified criteria. Hiring Team Throughout selection
5 Refinement: Update the form based on feedback and experience to improve accuracy for future job openings. HR After each recruitment cycle
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HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

Person Specification Forms are informed by various UK employment legislation to ensure fair and non-discriminatory recruitment practices. Key legislation includes:

  • Equality Act 2010: Ensures protection against discrimination based on protected characteristics such as age, gender, disability, and more.

  • Human Rights Act 1998: Protects individuals' rights to be treated fairly and equitably.

  • Data Protection Act 2018: Regulates the collection and use of personal data, including data gathered during recruitment.

  • Employment Rights Act 1996: Governs the recruitment and employment relationship, safeguarding against unfair treatment and ensuring equal opportunities.

  • The Public Sector Equality Duty: Applicable to public sector employers, requires consideration of equality implications when creating person specifications.

  • Disability Discrimination Act 1995: Ensures that employers make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled individuals to apply for roles.

These legislations guide the development of person specification forms to uphold equal opportunities, eliminate discrimination, and promote diversity in the workplace.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this in my small business?

Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.

Is it compliant with 2026 UK employment law?

Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.

Can I customise it for my organisation?

Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.

Do I get instant access to it?

Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.

What if I need more help, not just this template?

If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Person specification form template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.

Why should I use this Person specification form template, and not AI to generate it?

AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Person specification form template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing job design processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

RB
Ruth Brock Chief Executive Officer The Hygiene Bank
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