Interviews and selection centres

Laura Newman and Sara Boyle

Agenda

• • • • • • • • • The recruitment process Preparation Activity One The BT Competencies Activity Two Interviews and Assessment Centres Activity Three Hints and tips Questions and Answers

The recruitment process

CV and Application Form Self-Selection Tool Interview and Testing

A mix of online psychometric tests and telephone interviews.

Standard online application system.

Assessment Centre

A mix of capability interviews, role play scenarios and paper based tests.

Your career starts here

Preparation

Know the organisation Know yourself

Activity One - Knowing the company

• In pairs: – – List 5 products or services that your potential employer provide.

Now describe them – does your partner understand your description?

What do BT provide?

• Technology consumables • Phone book • 21CN • VOIP • Business process consultancy • Information management • Networked IT service provider • Government policy advisor • Software development and deployment • Future technology development • Core and emergency communication network • Broadcast / On Demand TV • Media and Broadcast Solutions • Sub-sea cables • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Manage historic and cultural land marks BT Community Connections BT Education Programme BT Satellite Services BT Yahoo internet Connected Earth Museums CRM & Contact Centres Security and Compliance consultancy Identity Management Operational Risk Management Applications Management and Hosting Carbon Impact assessment – Sustainable practices.

Network Design Wholesale access

What employers are looking for throughout the process BT Competencies

Activity Two – can you relate?

• In pairs: – Think of an example of something you’ve achieved and relate it to the BT values.

Trustworthy do what you say they will Helpful work as part of a team and contribute to the success of others Inspiring create a compelling vision and help customers to realise new possibilities Straightforward clear objectives exercise common sense and judgement in pursuit of Heart passionate and confident about implementing our strategy, mobilising and energising people, acting as role models.

Preparing for the day: Assessment centre activities

Interviews Group exercise In-tray exercises Role play Case Study Psychometric tests

Business case study

What?

Why?

The case study will often consist of information about a company, how well it is doing, its competition, what it’s challenges are, its values, it’s finances etc. You will then be asked to answer a series of questions using the content provided.

To assess your: Analytical skills and written communication Ability to process lots of information and identify the key detail Ability to be innovative Ability to cope with time and pressure

Hints & Tips?

Keep an eye on the time Highlight the important information Make sure you answer the question asked Be clear and concise Answer as much as possible, even if it involves bullet pointing Make sure your handwriting is legible!

Group exercise

What?

• Placed in a group with other candidates • Asked to solve a problem / organise an event / recommend a solution • Often required to meet certain objectives • Likely to be advised not to select a leader/chairperson

Why?

To assess your: • Ability to communicate with others • Ability to solve a problems in a team • Ability to influence others • Ability to recognise good ideas and arguments • Interpersonal skills

Hints & Tips?

• Recognise the contribution of others and invite people into the discussion • If you volunteer to time keep/scribe don’t forget to continue to contribute to the conversation • Keep focused on the objectives of the task

Presentation

What?

5 / 10 minute presentation to two or more managers 20 – 30 minutes preparation time Could be on a topic that you have chosen or a business scenario Q&A by the panel

Why?

To judge whether you are a professional individual Ability to research a topic Ability to convey a topic to an audience with little prior knowledge

Hints & Tips?

Be aware of your body language Prepare thoroughly Be prepared for questions Ensure you talk at a steady pace If you use slides don’t cram them full of text!

Role play

What?

• Often involves discussing an issue/challenge with somebody acting as a peer or manager

Why?

To assess your: • Ability to work with others • Ability to deal with resistance/conflict • Interpersonal skills • Ability to think and react quickly

Hints & Tips?

• Concentrate on the key messages you want to get across • Support your suggestions with evidence from the brief • Listen carefully to the other person’s responses • Remain calm – pause to collect your thoughts if you need to

Assessment Centre – Top Tips!

Travel Effort Exercises Time Prepare Professional Be yourself Feedback

Face to Face Interview

Format First Impressions Preparation Appearance

The Interview

Why have you applied to us?

• Demonstrate that you are serious about the organisation

Capability questions

• How have you dealt with a difficult situation • When have you had to take on additional responsibility • When have you had to achieve a difficult task or goal • When have you had to challenge unacceptable behaviour

What do you think you can bring to the role/organisation?

SITUATION

Set the scene. Briefly! Don’t waste word count

ACTION

What did you do? Most importantly, why?

TASK

What was the task? When was it? How did it come about?

STAR

Situation Task Action Result

RESULT

Did you achieve your objectives? What was your learning?

Activity Three – Interviews, are you prepared?

• In pairs: – 15 minutes each – Answer the questions on the next slide – Interviewee - Remember we are looking for specifics – Interviewee – Remember to answer the question – Interviewer – think about what feedback you can give afterwards – how clear were the answers, how articulate was your partner

Activity Three – Sample Competency based interviews

Q1: Inspiring is about thinking creatively to change things for the better. Think about a time when you challenged existing thinking. What was your role?

What was the setting?

Q2: BT puts customers at the heart of everything it does. A customer is anyone we do work for. Think of a time when you were involved with one or more ‘customers’. In particular, think back to a time when you had a difficult situation with a customer.

1. Briefly describe the situation.

2. How did you identify the opportunity to do things differently?

3. What was your approach?

4. What factors did you take into account?

5. What problems did you encounter?

6. What was the outcome?

7. What was the most important thing you learned?

1. Describe the situation. (Your role, Who were the customers? What was the setting?) 2. What did you want to achieve?

3. What actions did you take to address the situation and why?

4. What was the outcome?

5. What would you do differently if you were in the same situation again?

Feedback

• 5 Minutes – Now just spend a few minutes giving each other some feedback • Group Feedback – Are there any concerns?

– How did you find the exercise? – What was useful about it?

Interview Hints and Tips

Be pleasant Time Listen Answers Be clear Tone and rhythm of your voice Don’t over prepare Pauses Smile!

Any questions?

For more information on the BT Graduate Scheme please visit http://www.btgraduates.com/