Candidate Information Pack

www.advantageresourcing.co.uk

Welcome to Advantage Resourcing

For over thirty five years we have been providing contingent recruitment services and volume solutions to a diverse client base. Advantage Resourcing is focused solely on the UK market, with specialist teams working in each region to provide a service tailored to local economic conditions. This specialism enables us to adapt our strategies to support the UK economy and employers, providing a flexible and efficient service that provides optimum value, regardless of shifts in market conditions.

Advantage Resourcing’s consultants are adept at delivering through a number of different routes to hire, including individual search and selection or through a third party recruitment provider. We are therefore able to identify the best recruitment solution for your organisation’s needs and utilise this to deliver the best value solution for you.

Advantage Resourcing is proud to be part of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd, the world’s fourth largest recruitment consultancy. Our status as part of the Recruit family enables us to offer the stability and support that being part of a global staffing leader provides, without compromising on the specialist knowledge and client service you would expect of a specialist consultancy.

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS & BUSINESS SUPPORT

HUMAN RESOURCES

TECHNICAL

TECHNOLOGY

Advantage Resourcing is a recruitment consultancy specialising in the permanent, temporary and contract placement of high-calibre candidates in:

OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE FOLLOWING SECTORS:

Automotive

Banking & Financial Services

Defence

Energy, Utilities & Natural Resources

FMCG

Manufacturing, Engineering & Construction

Media & Publishing

Pharmaceutical & Medical

Professional Services

Property & Construction

Public Sector & Not for Profit

Retail & Leisure

Technology & Telecommunications

DEDICATED CONSULTANTS IN REGULAR CONTACT At your introduction meeting you will be introduced to our team of consultants who specialise in the areas you are looking to work in. They will be in touch as and when roles arise which suit your profile. Working as a team ensures you receive the widest possible variety of roles to choose from.

ONLINE CAREER CENTRE Our website has a dedicated candidate area where you can check the latest jobs available and receive professional career advice on everything from updating your CV to getting that next promotion. You can also request job alerts through the site, receiving roles which match your exact specifications, direct to your inbox.

INTERVIEW SUPPORT When you are offered a job interview, we will arrange for you to have a preparatory meeting with your consultant. This meeting will be aimed at helping you get to know the client, the role and practicing the types of questions you are likely to face on the day. Following your interview, you will be contacted by your consultant for feedback on your experience, which will also be passed onto the client.

CANDIDATE EVENTS Advantage runs candidate events throughout the year and you will receive invites to these as dates are confirmed. These events are built around the working day, either at breakfast or in the evening, and range from practical workshops to support you in your job search, to cheese and wine networking evenings.

SALARY REVIEWS AND MARKET INTELLIGENCE Advantage carries out a Market Report and Salary Survey across every discipline we work in, every six months. This means our consultants are continually up to date on market conditions and can help you set realistic expectations regarding your salary package and the types of roles which are currently available.

REGULAR NEWS UPDATESOur quarterly magazine for Advantage candidates is a treasure trove of career advice, seasonal events and exciting suggestions for ways to unwind outside the office. Alternatively you can follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn and be among the first to hear all about our Advantage news, market updates and upcoming events.

JOB OFFER SUPPORTOnce you’ve landed that dream role, we will continue to support you throughout the offer process, ensuring you get the strongest possible package and have a direct line of communication during this exciting period. Once you’ve started in the role, we’ll maintain regular contact across your first three months to help proactively address any teething problems.

KEEP IN TOUCHTo ensure you get the most out of your Advantage experience, please ensure you check your mobile phone and email regularly. If you have a preferred method of contact please do let us know. Keeping us informed of your work situation, or whether you have holidays booked, will also enable us to better tailor your service.

OUR CANDIDATE CARE PROGRAMMEAdvantage is dedicated to providing the highest levels of candidate care, helping you not only to secure your ideal role but improve your skills and meet useful contacts in the longer term. This is why our candidate care programme extends through the job searching process, into your new role and beyond, providing professional support and advice every step of the way.

AS AN ADVANTAGE CANDIDATE, YOU CAN EXPECT:

Your CV is your marketing tool, providing the first impression a prospective employer has of you. To get the best chance of securing an interview or assignment, ensure your CV accurately sells your experience and looks professional.

PRESENTATION Check for spelling and grammar. Do not rely on the

computer’s spell check – use a dictionary. If a CV includes errors, it shows lack of attention to detail and creates a negative impression

Double-check all dates and qualifications

Keep it simple - use bullets, tabs and bold to make it easy to read

Avoid using graphics and photos

Choose a clear font such as Arial, no smaller than 10ptEDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

Listed chronologically, detail school and university/college qualifications, including grades and dates.

If you have an extensive work history, there is no need to give too many details on your educational background, it is preferable to list it after your employment history. On the other hand, if you are looking for your first job, your education will be extremely important.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

State all professional qualifications and recent courses attended. Additionally, specify your IT systems, foreign languages and any other skills of interest, all with your relevant level of proficiency.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Include your name, postal, email addresses and contact telephone numbers.Specify nationality and visa details, if applicable.

Writing your curriculum vitae

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Begin with your current/most recent position, including the name of the company and nature of the business. State your job title and the dates you were employed. Describe your responsibilities, duties and main achievements. Your last role is what an employer is really interested in so make sure it is easy to read and clearly defined. This should be on the first page.

Don’t leave any employment gaps - ensure all your time is accountable. It is advisable to explain if you have switched jobs frequently or travelled.

Name Name & surname

Address Street name & number Town/City Postcode

Telephone Work/home number Mobile number

Email address Your email address

Nationality British, Australian, etc.

Profile (optional) Add a short description of yourself and the ideal position you are looking for

Employment history Begin with the most recent first

Job title Company name e.g. Jan 2013 – present Description of company if not well known » Specific tasks » Further responsibilities, etc. » Examples which showed your personal initiative, organisational skills, etc. » List any particular achievements

Job title Company name e.g. Jan 2007 – present Description of company if not well known » Specific tasks » Further responsibilities, etc. » Examples which showed your personal initiative, organisational skills, etc. » List any particular achievements

Education

Qualification grades University / college Dates

Degree attained – if applicable

Start year – end year, name of school Number of A-levels » A-level & pass grade » A-level & pass grade » A-level & pass grade Number of GCSEs (A-C grades)

Other qualifications If applicable. e.g. RSA, legal secretarial diploma, etc.

Computer skills List package and version

Languages Conversational French, etc.

Interests List interests (be specific and professional)

Referees Available on request

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PERSONAL INTERESTS

Be specific. Your interests say something about your personality. Rather than simply saying “Tennis” you could expand and say that you play with a local club and were treasurer for a season. Be prepared to answer questions on your interests; avoid listing things for the sake of it.

REFERENCES

There is no need to include referees on your CV, simply write ‘References available on request’. Should they be asked for, provide references to cover the last five years.

Once you’ve secured the interview, your Advantage consultant will be in touch to arrange a time for a briefing. This will help you prepare by providing extra information on the client, role and what you can expect on the day of the interview. You’re likely to be nervous, which is entirely natural, but plenty of preparation will help overcome your nerves and ensure you are at your best on the day.

IN THE DAYS RUNNING UP TO THE INTERVIEWThis is the time when you want to find out as much as you can about the company and role. In addition to your Advantage briefing, we suggest that you:

RESEARCH THE COMPANYYour first port of call should be the company’s website, which will give you an insight into how your potential employer presents themselves and what the company values are. The press centre will bring you up to date on their latest activities; while documents such as Company Brochures and Annual Reports will further deepen your knowledge of the company’s standing in the marketplace.

In addition, it is worth keeping an eye on industry press and using Google news alerts to see if the company has any major developments in the period running up to your interview.

KNOW THE JOB DESCRIPTIONFamiliarity with the job description will ensure that you are in the best possible position to demonstrate why you are the ideal choice for the role. Running through the job description alongside your CV will help you identify the chief alignments between your experience and the company’s requirements, enabling you to bring these to the fore in your interview.

This familiarity will also help you to prepare for likely questions by emphasising the traits your interviewer will be looking to discover.

Preparing for Interview

VISIT

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OTHER USEFUL TIPS AND TOOLS AT ADVANTAGERESOURCING.CO.UK

ON THE DAY ITSELFWhatever time of day your interview is, make sure you have plenty of time to prepare and are well fed and rested before you start.

PLAN YOUR JOURNEYLondon’s transport network can be temperamental, so allow plenty of time for your journey. You should have clear directions and a route worked out before you leave the house and aim to arrive at your place of interview about ten minutes ahead of your interview time.

DRESS AND ACT APPROPRIATELYCompanies want someone who will represent them smartly and professionally so it is always best to wear a suit for interview, even if the company’s usual dress code is slightly less formal.

Your body language will also leave an impression; a firm handshake as you arrive will show you are assertive and confident, as will regular eye contact throughout your interview. No matter how nervous you are, don’t be afraid to smile, it will help set you at ease and conveys a friendly, enthusiastic personality. Finally, maintaining an open posture, without crossed arms or any other barriers between you and the interviewer, will prevent you appearing nervous.

THE INTERVIEWYou’ve spent all this time preparing – you look good, you’re feeling confident – but what can you expect from the interview itself?

COMPETENCY-BASED INTERVIEWINGThe majority of interviews now are competency-based. This means you will be asked a series of questions which allow you to demonstrate your abilities and skills by providing real-life examples from your previous experience. This type of interview, while seeming odd at first, is vastly in your favour, allowing you to demonstrate and provide proof of required competencies clearly. It is also a lot more objective than traditional interview techniques.

QUESTION TIMEThe interviewer will take the lead for your conversation and it is best to let their behaviour set both the direction and tone. Don’t be rushed through the interview and allow yourself time to think and formulate a clear and concise answer before responding to questions confidently.

Make sure all your answers are based on your own experience or qualifications, as you’re likely to be asked to provide practical examples in a competency-based interview.

LOOKING AHEADYou will inevitably be asked about previous employers. No matter what your previous boss was like, you should not openly criticise them in an interview. It is better to focus on the positives before you by talking about what you hope to achieve in your career and the opportunities you see in the role under discussion.

At the end of the interview, you will be asked if there are any questions. Don’t be afraid to ask, questions show that you have thought about the company and your potential role within it and are engaging with the process. If they haven’t already been addressed in the interview, you may like to enquire about:

How does the department fit into the bigger picture of the company?

What are the personalities of the team or manager? Can you tell me about the company culture? How long have you worked for the company? Why do you think it is a good company to work for?

TAKING LEAVEAs the interview is wrapped up, thank the interviewer for their time. If the role is of interest, make it clear this is the case and ask what they expect the next steps of the process to be. Avoid asking about salary at this stage; if you have any questions around this your consultant will be better placed to advise you.

Once you’re on the way home, don’t forget to call your consultant to provide feedback on the interview process and let them know how you think it went.

QUESTIONS

Competency Based Interviewing (CBI) is an objective interview technique used to fairly assess and compare candidates throughout a recruitment process.

DECISION MAKING & PROBLEM SOLVING

Definition: Able to solve problems by using judgement and show a realistic understanding of issues; able to use reason when dealing with emotional topics, review facts and weigh up options.

Questions:1. Give an example of when you

have spotted something going wrong in your department. a. What did you do?b. How successful were you?

2. Give an example of a time when you had to take quick and decisive action to address a problem. a. What was the problem? b. What was required? c. What did you do? d. What was the outcome?

3. Describe a time when you have seen an opportunity to improve or make a change to your work. a. What did you do?b. Who did you involve and why?c. What was the outcome?

The six key competencies

1RESILIENCE AND TENACITY

Definition: Able to stay with a problem or line of thought until the matter is settled or the objective is no longer attainable. Remains calm and self controlled under pressure, reacts well to change and remains positive.

Questions:1. Describe a situation in

which you had to work under pressure. a. What was the cause of the

pressure?b. How did you feel and react?c. What impact did this have on

your work?

2. Give me a recent example of when you have experienced a setback.a. Describe the situation b. How did you react to the

problem? c. To what extent did others see

how you were feeling? d. What have you learnt from

this experience?

3. Give me an example of a time when you were unfairly criticised. a. Why was this? b. How did you respond? c. What was the outcome? d. What have you learnt from

this?

2PLANNING & ORGANISING

Definition: The drive to reduce uncertainty by making plans and monitoring outcomes. This is expressed in checking work or information, attention to detail and ensuring clarity.

Questions:1. Explain how you go about

scheduling your activities on a day to day basis. a. What plans do you formulate

in order to ensure that you take account of peaks and troughs?

b. What did you do?

2. When faced with a complex project, how much of your time do you spend preparing for it? a. Give an example of a recent

project you have undertaken.b. How did you prepare for it?c. How did you measure the

success of this project?d. What have you learnt?e. Would you do anything

different next time?

3. Give me an example of a time recently when you have been faced with a number of tasks, all of which needed to be completed in a very short period of time. a. How did you tackle these

tasks?b. What was the outcome?

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A set of questions, which invite candidates to provide practical examples of their previous work to demonstrate core competencies, is defined for each vacancy. As the same series of questions is used for each candidate, CBI is the fairest and most consistent way to conduct an interview process.

Employers benefit as CBI answers provide more in-depth evidence of a candidate’s true suitability for a role. As a candidate, you will benefit from a more rigorous interview process which enables you to develop a full picture of the company and its values, ensuring that the role in question is one you wish to pursue. It also provides a fair benchmark against which you, and other candidates, will be judged.

CBI is there to give you the best possible chance of being placed in your perfect role, both professionally and personally, so make the most of it!

CONFIDENCE

Definition: A belief in your own capabilities, together with an awareness and accurate understanding of yourself.

Questions:1. Give examples of a situation in

which you have been required to work without the availability of your boss for reference. a. How confident were you in

your ability to carry out the tasks?

b. What made you feel confident in your ability?

c. What was the end result?

2. Describe a recent situation where you have had to speak up for yourself and your ideas. a. How successful were you? b. What aspects of your style

do you think made you successful?

3. Have you ever been in a situation where you have had to challenge a decision made by your manager/boss? a. What factors and

evidence did you take into consideration before you made the decision to challenge?

b. What was the outcome?

4TEAM WORKING

Definition: The drive and ability to work co-operatively with others to achieve shared goals and optimise the contribution of all members of a team.

Questions:1. Describe a time when you

have been asked to help out others from another team or department. a. What did you do?b. How did you feel about it?

2. Describe a situation where you have had to share your knowledge and skills with others. a. What specifically did you do/say?b. Did you encounter any

problems?c. What was the outcome?d. What did you learn from this

experience?

3. Have there been times when you have noticed a colleague under pressure? a. How did this make you and

your colleagues feel?b. What did you do about it?c. What happened in the end?

5ORGANISATIONAL AWARENESS

Definition: The ability to understand how an organisation works and appreciate key forces in the external environment.

Questions:1. Describe your organisation

structure. a) How does your department fit

into the company structure?b) Tell me more about your role

and responsibilities.c) How does your work impact

on the wider business picture?

2. In the business, what do you do to ensure you are kept up to date with any changes in the business? a) What steps do you take to do

this?b) How does this impact on your

day to day job?

3. Describe a time when you have used the network or grapevine to get things done. a) How did you ensure that you

included the right people and did not tread on others’ toes?

b) What did you do? c) What action did you take?d) What was the outcome of

your actions?

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www.advantageresourcing.co.uk

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