Careers - GUIDE TO APPRENTICESHIPS

Assessment centres As part of the interview process you may be asked to attend an assessment centre where you will be asked to participate in a combination of tasks and activities. These are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills and abilities and you will usually be joined by a number of other candidates. You will be asked to work both individually and as part of a group in a variety of tasks such as in tray exercises, role play, presentations, written tests or psychometric tests. Employers are looking to see if you are a ‘good fit’ for their organisation and will be assessing key skills such as communication, creativity, decision-making, planning and teamwork. Remember, all, several or none of the candidates may be successful. If you are unsuccessful, ask for feedback so you can improve for the next one! • Be assertive, but not ‘aggressive’ during the exercises • If you make a mistake in one task, do not dwell on it. It is only one part of the overall assessment. • Draw others into the group discussions, it shows good team-working skills • Do not worry about the other candidates, if you work well together you may all be offered the job • Be friendly and polite to everyone you meet; you are always being assessed • Relax and let your personality shine through Telephone interviews Increasingly employers are turning to telephone/skype/teams/zoom/video interviews as a screening process as they save time and help keep interview costs down. • Prepare by practice speaking on the phone to increase your confidence. • Ask family, friends or a student adviser to call you for a mock interview. • Always answer any call in a professional and positive way – ‘Good morning/ afternoon’ do not be caught out if you have a pre-arranged interview booked • Remember to treat this interview as you would a face to face one and research the company well beforehand. • Have paper and pen to hand to jot anything down. • If it is a Skype/Teams/Zoom/video interview remember to check what an interviewer will see behind you. • Choose a suitable location – avoid noisy, public spaces and if at home, minimise background noises by closing windows, turning off the television or radio • Dress to impress, even if it is a telephone interview – it will make you ‘feel the part’ and boost your confidence. • Have a glass of water ready - interview nerves can lead to a dry mouth

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