Graduate Recruitment Talent Acquisition or Risk Mitigation 1

Getting a Job – Hurdles and Steps to Overcome Them by Dermot O’Brien 15 years experience in community regeneration/employment Founded Adab Trust in

Getting a Job – The Obvious Reality The Recruitment Process UCAS Points – What’s That? 3

Getting a Job – The Unapparent Reality People buy People Seconds First job is the hardest Goal Setting Successful habits Attitude Visualisation 4

Getting a Job - The Basics ChecklistGoodAcceptablePoorAdditional Comments Attire (Appropriate) Shoes (Polished) Handshake Eye Contact Body Language Smiling (Friendly) Tone of Voice Oral Communication Attentiveness Confidence 5

Getting a Job – What are the hurdles ? 1. Application Form / CV 2. Online Ability /Psychometric testing 3. Telephone Interview 4. Verification 5. Face to Face Interview 6. Assessment Centre 6

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 1.Application Form/ CV Spelling! Spelling!! Spelling!!! Two page CV Show achievements.....What difference did you make? Show Uniqueness and Initiative......Volunteering/Interesting hobbies 7

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 2. Online Ability /Psychometric Testing Mathematical and Verbal Reasoning Personality Profiling Practise! Practise !! Practise!!!......SHL/others 8

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 3. Telephone Interview Create space/environment Diction and etiquette Imagine ‘they’ are a customer Can you communicate ? Pause to think Would they want you representing them ? 9

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 4. Verification Pencil & paper ability test Further Psychometrics Technical Testing 10

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 11

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 5. Face to Face Interviews Some competencies (a) Building productive relationships (b) Team working (c) Problem solving (d)Learning & improving (e)Effective communication 12

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 5. Face to Face Interviews (a) Building productive relationships Give an example of working with someone you disagreed/ did not get on well with Describe when you helped or encouraged someone to achieve something. Give an example of a situation when you found yourself interacting with an individual /individuals different from you (by background, culture, experience, etc.) 13

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 5. Face to Face Interviews (b) Team working Talk about a time when you worked in a team to achieve a result: - What was your Role? - What skills did you bring to the team? Tell me/us about a time when you worked in a team that worked well together AND one that did not. 14

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 5. Face to Face Interviews (c) Problem solving Talk about a recent problem you had to deal with - at work or university Describe a situation where you had to use data and systems to resolve a problem Talk about a time when you had to solve a problem on your own – one you would usually refer to someone else. 15

16 Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 5. Face to Face Interviews (d) Learning and Improving Learning & improving – suggested questions a) Give an example of something you have done which did not work out as well as hoped. (Awareness of own performance and development needs) b) Tell me/us about a time when you had feedback in the form of constructive criticism. (Attitude to and use of feedback) c) Tell me/us about a time when you set out to learn something new. (Commitment and self development) d) Tell me/us about a time when you found yourself in a new challenging situation where you felt uncomfortable and out of place. (Adaptability to change)

Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles 5. Face to Face Interviews (e) Effective communication Talk about a time when you chose the correct/incorrect form of communication during a project/work situation: - What did you learn? - How would you communicate next time? Give an example of when you were communicated to in an incorrect way 17

6. Assessment Centre Ice Breaker Elevator Pitch Current Affairs Presentations Group Exercises Role Play Interview 18 Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles

6. Assessment Centre All of the above – What Makes you Tick - Pressure Behaviour /Attitude / Etiquette Loud Aggressive Domineering = NO JOB ! Quiet Timid Placid = NO JOB !! Who makes sure all are being heard ?....Who keeps time ? Who brings harmony ?...Who incites action?... Who can lead or be part of team? Who is thinking up ideas, part of the solution = JOB !!! 19 Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles

6. Assessment Centre Ice Breaker – Straight forward, put you at ease or test you immediately Elevator Pitch – 1 Min on your self, who/where – offer/want and 2 minutes on an object. Current Affairs – A good general knowledge – use same sources or better than your bosses Presentations – A topic will be given, short time to prepare, 5-10 mins long Group Exercises – Likely to be a business problem with multiple solutions. Did you understand the brief? Keeping focused? How do you work within a team? Style of working? Time keeping? Task achieved - how you play is more important than the conclusion Role Play – Often related to above with people taking up assigned roles. Sometimes applicants have to argue both sides of brief convincingly Interview – a tough one with a senior employee – in depth probing 20 Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles

Assessment Centre Radio 4/BBC World Service The Today Programme World Briefing Today In Parliament In business On the Ropes The Bottom Line The Money programme Just a Minute THE FT 21 Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles

UCAS Small range of Companies Small Gear whizzing in a big machine Or a chunk of a small business Networks Market Knowledge Eyes Wide Open Make Opportunities – no one else will Self Employment 22 Getting a Job – Overcoming Hurdles

Never Stop Acquiring Knowledge Do the work with a smile Change if necessary Ask Questions What goes round come round Belief – Think Australian 23 Getting a Job – Be Prepared !