Interviews and
selection centres
Peter Wakelam
Business Improvement Programme Manager
Agenda
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The recruitment process
Assessment Centres
Activity One
The BT Competencies
Activity Two
Face to face interviews
Activity Three
Hints and tips
Questions and answers
The recruitment process
CV and Interview and
Application
Testing
Form
Assessment
Centre
A mix of online
psychometric tests
and telephone
interviews.
A mix of capability
interviews, role play
scenarios and paper
based tests.
Standard online
application system.
Your career
starts here
Preparing for assessment centres
• Know the company
– understand the company’s business
– think about what they are looking for in you
• values, capabilities, and skills
• what are you assessed against?
– be familiar with the role/graduate scheme
• Know yourself
– be familiar with your application form
– understand your strengths and weaknesses
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
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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
• Showing these competencies at all
stages of the application process is
as important as having good
examples to answer the questions
• These competencies remain a key
part of employee assessment and
development once you are in the
business. They are an integral part
of the companies identity and
employees are expected to show
them at all times.
The BT recruitment competencies
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Create Strategy
Customer Connected We put customers at the centre of all we do
Bottom Line We own BT’s performance - profitable growth and customer
satisfaction
Inspiring We create and deliver new possibilities
Align for Execution
Heart We win hearts and minds, mobilising others behind BT’s strategy
Drive for Results We drive for business improvement for BT and our customers
Helpful We work as one team for customer success
Lead Others
Trustworthy Trusted to do the right thing, by customers, colleagues and partners
Straightforward Making things simple for our customers, colleagues and partners
Coaching for Performance We help individuals and teams achieve their full
potential
Personal Qualities
Resilience & Confidence
Flexibility & Agility
Learning Orientation
Activity Two – can you relate?
• In pairs:
– Think of an example of something you’ve
achieved and relate it to the BT values.
Customer Connected
Bottom Line
Inspiring
Heart
Drive for results
Helpful
Trustworthy
Straightforward
Coaching for performance
Preparing for the day:
Assessment centre activities
• Interviews
– based on competencies / skills
• A group task
• A one-to-one management task
• Aptitude tests
• Remember the BT
leadership capabilities
• You’ll be told when
your assessed
• Take each activity as
it comes
• Meeting other applicants – the start of your BT network!
• The assessment centre is not a competition and requires you
to work with others
Format of a Face to Face Interview
• In general:
– Most located at employers offices
– Interviewer(s) will introduce themselves and talk to you
about what will happen in the interview
– Most interviews will last for 60 - 90 minutes
– Often competency based questions but occasionally also
look at career motivation/work experience
– Chance for you to ask questions
Interview Preparation
1. Prepare for the Interview
• Prior to the interview read through your application form
• Re-read the job advert or graduate website
• Research the company
• Practice answering questions with a friend
• Gather together any questions that you might want to ask
the interviewer - have these in a typed format. Do not ask
about financial package
Interview Preparation (continued)
2. Prepare Yourself!
– Ensure that you are relaxed – get your suit out the night
before, check your travel arrangements, re-read your
application form
– Ensure you know who you are going to be asking for when
you arrive and arrive at least 15 MINUTES before the
interview
– Ensure that you are smartly dressed, clean and have
combed your hair
During the Interview
• Non Verbal Communication
– Your Handshake
– Your Posture
– Eye Contact
– Your hands
– Don’t fidget
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?
Activity Three – Interviews, are you prepared?
• In pairs:
– 20 minutes each
– 10 minutes per question
– 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, how much did their answer show that
they could be Customer Focused and Inspiring?
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?
Hints and Tips
• Be pleasant to everyone-the interview effectively starts as soon as you’ve
entered the building
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Take your time
Don’t just give 1 or 2 word answers
Listen to the question and what is being asked
Make the research your own – don’t be afraid to ask questions
Be aware of the tone and rhythm of your voice
Don’t over prepare
Expect pauses from the interviewer
Smile!