The purpose of shortlisting is to identify those candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post; who are most likely to be capable of carrying out the duties of the job; and about whom you wish to find out more during a formal interview.
Selection for the shortlist must be done by assessing applications in relation to the essential and desirable criteria as detailed in the person specification. Candidates should be assessed against the selection criteria and not against each other. Therefore, it is very important to ensure the person specification is clear, up-to-date, and appropriate to the duties to be undertaken. New selection criteria should not be introduced at the shortlisting stage. The shortlisting panel need to ensure that the process used is consistent and fair and that the decisions made comply with legal requirements.