University of Sussex

Thursday, 3rd October 2013

Welcome Izi Gaff

University of Warwick, graduated 2012 (BA English Literature)

First placement HR Fast Stream Sept 2012 – April 2014

DWP – Civil Service Diversity and Equality team

The Civil Service Fast StreamThe Fast Stream is one of the UK’s leading graduate schemes employing a large number of graduates into different professions.

It consists of a 6 different schemes that involve contrasting postings in different departments and different locations.

The Fast Stream is a demanding, varied and exciting programme that  allows you to amass a wide range of experience in a very short time.

The Civil Service Fast StreamThere are 6 Fast Stream Schemes which you can apply for:

Graduate Fast Stream – central departments, diplomatic service, Houses of Parliament, science and engineering

Analytical Fast Stream – economists, statisticians, social researchers and operational researchers

HR Fast Stream

Technology in Business Fast Stream

European Fast Stream

Northern Ireland Fast Stream

The HR Fast Stream The HR Fast Stream is one of the Schemes in the Fast Stream which is aimed at those with an interest in the HR Profession.

It consists of two challenging 18 month placements in different departments and different geographic locations.

The HR Fast Stream allows you to gain a wide range of HR experience in a very short time with the aim of equipping you to become the future HR leaders of the Civil Service.

What is Human Resources?

Workforce

PlanningRecruitment

HR Business

Partners Organisational Design

Staff

Engagement

Employment

Law

People

Management

Equality and Diversity

Learning and

Development

Employee Policy

Talent

Management

Succession

planning

HR in the Civil Service • The Civil Service has the largest variety of HR roles available

within any given organisation.

• Imagine any type of HR role, in any company and you can find it within the Civil Service.

• There are a huge range of broad and specialist opportunities.

• Your role will have a direct impact on society.

• You will have responsibility from day one.

Our Offer • Diverse, challenging and interesting opportunities available across

the country.

• A strong support network.

• Generous Terms and Conditions

• Full support to gain associate membership of the CIPD and a recognised qualification – the Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management.

• A competitive starting salary of £25,000 - £27,000.

Salary entry point & progression SCS

G6 – (circa £53k)

G7 – (circa £43k)

AO – (c.£16k)

AA – (c.£15.5k)

SEO – (circa £30.5k)

HEO(c.£25k – £27k for HRFS)

EO – (c.£21.5k)

Rapid progression to G7 in only 3 years

Bypass the lower grades

Progress quicker with the HR Fast Stream compared to other Fast Streams

What we’re looking for Prospective candidates should:

Hold or expect to achieve at least a 2:2 degree (any discipline)

Have a genuine interest in all areas of the HR profession and in pursuing a career

with Civil Service HR

Be flexible and geographically mobile

During the assessment process we’ll look for:

Inner confidence, strength and resilience

Motivation to learn and develop

The ability to apply analytical thinking and to bring fresh ideas

A keen focus on achieving positive outcomes for the Civil Service

The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively to create a positive impact

The Selection Process

Online Tests: October 2013 - January 2014Consists of verbal reasoning, numerical tests and a competency questionnaire.

Practice tests are available on the Fast Stream website.

Supervised E-Tray Exercise: October 2013 - January 2014Half day exercise at centres nationwide.

There is a practice exercise available on the Fast Stream website.

Assessment Centre: January 2014 - March 2014Full day exercise at our assessment centre in London where you will be given a range of verbal and

written exercises.

Submit your application: 02 Sept - 31 Oct 2013

And finally…

“There is no better place to be an HR professional than in the Civil Service, and HR can, and does, make a difference to the way

the Civil Service does business”

Chris Last

Head of Human Resources

in the Civil Service

Selection Process Workshop

This workshop will give you a flavour of what to expect from the HR Fast Stream selection process.

It will introduce you to the 3 stages of the selection process and the types of questions that you will be asked.

It will also provide you with some hints and tips for success.

Background

Feedback

Practice (Online)

Numerical & Verbal Reasoning (voluntary)

Fast Stream Assessment Centre

Self Assessment (Online)

Stage 3

Stage 2Stage 1

Numerical & Verbal Reasoning 2nd Sifting Stage (Test Centre)

E-tray Job Simulation

Numerical & Verbal Reasoning Retest

1st Sifting Stage (Online)

Numerical & Verbal Reasoning Assessment

Competency Questionnaire

The Selection Process: Overview

Online Tests

Gender segregation is closely tied to the wide differences between male and female earnings. Studies have shown that only about half of the variation in pay can be attributed to lesser skills and training of women; the remainder reflects discriminatory practices – the concentration of women in jobs that attract poor pay because they are defined as low grade.

1. Variation in male and female salaries is not caused by discrimination. – True/False/Can’t tell.

2. Most women are in poorly paid jobs.True/False/Can’t tell

3. Around 50 per cent of all variations in pay are due to women having been given less training and skills.True/False/Can’t tell.

Verbal Reasoning - Example 1

Japanese ascendancy has been attributed to many factors, among them cultural and historical influences. Japan was a feudal society until little more than a hundred years ago and came quickly into the industrialised era. This was thought to provide tight, integrated industrial and financial structures. In particular, the broad cultural factors with which Japanese society seems imbued – the extreme diligence and self-sacrifice of workers (the supposed Japanese ethic of ‘living to work’) and the capacity to identify with common goals at all levels of the organisation – have been regarded as the bedrock of Japan’s phenomenal success.

1. Japan’s industrial ascension took a fraction of the time of the UK’s, in part because of the tightly integrated industrial and financial structures.True/False/ Can’t tell

2. Japanese workers believe they work to live.True/False/Can’t tell

3. Japanese workers’ self-sacrifice has in part allowed Japan to move swiftly into the industrial era.True/False/Can’t tell

Verbal Reasoning – Example 2

1. In which year was the total number of defects per 1,000 televisions the greatest?

a. 2000 b. 2001 c. 2002 d. 2003 e. 2004

2. What was the overall percentage increase in the number of defects per 1,000 televisions in Yorkshire, across the five years?

a. 21.11% b. 22.22% c. 23.33% d. 24.22% e. 25.55%

3. What was the ratio of the number of television defects per 1,000 in Yorkshire to Hampshire in 2001?

a. 1:3 b. 3:4 c. 4:3 d. 3:2 e. 3:1

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Yorkshire

Lancashire

Hampshire

Television defects per 1000 purchased in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Hampshire

Numerical Reasoning – Example 1

COUNTRY DISTANCEATHENS 2400

CAIRO 3500

CHICAGO 6300

MADRID 1200

MEXICO CITY 9000

NEW YORK 5500

RIO DE JANERIO 9200

SYDNEY 17000

Flight distances from major airports from London

1. If it takes 10 hours to fly to Chicago from London, then how many hours would it take to fly to Sydney? (assuming same average speed)

a. 25 b. 26 c. 27 d. 28 e. 29

2. A flight from London to Rio de Janerio is re-routed to Mexico City. In kilometres what is the difference in the flight distance now flown by plane?

a. 200 less b. 100 less c. 100 more d. 200 more e. 500 more

3. Two planes leave London half an hour apart. The first plane arrives in Mexico City 15 hours later at 04.00. If both planes fly at the same speed, when does the second plane arrive in Rio de Janerio?

a. 04.00 b. 04.15 c. 04.20 d. 04.25 e. 04.50

Numerical Reasoning – Example 2

Online assessment portal

Online assessment portal

Online tests: Tips for SuccessFamiliarise yourself with verbal and numerical reasoning;

Make sure you work through the practice assessments which are available on the Fast Stream website;

The assessments are timed – always be aware of how much time you have left;

Consider the questions carefully to ensure you have fully understood what it is they are asking;

Base your answer on the information provided; and

If you are stuck on a particular question it is best not to dwell on it but to move on to the next question.

E-tray Exercise

An E-tray exercise is a type of work sample exercise.

Work sample exercises are used for assessment purposes as they:

Ask people to make judgements and decisions about practical issues

Reflect work-related situations and assess how well people would perform in such situations.

Provide evidence about an individual’s performance against a range of work place competencies which are considered key to a role

Minimise subjectivity, bias, and irrelevance in the selection process

What is an E-tray exercise?

The FS e-tray exercise is a computer-based assessment which requires you to read and respond to a series of messages presented in an e-mail inbox.

You will make decisions on a range of issues presented in a fictional work-related scenario.

These decisions may require you to solve problems or respond to enquiries and requests for information.

All of the information that you need to make these decisions will be made available and no prior knowledge is relating to the scenario is required.

The Fast Stream E-tray exercise

Fast Stream E-tray portal

Fast Stream E-tray portal

E-tray Exercise: Tips for SuccessWork through the practice e-tray exercise and guidance which are available on the Fast Stream website;

Keep track of the time;

Try to work at an even, steady pace;

Read the instructions carefully to ensure that you have fully understood what you need to do;

Base your answers on the information provided (remember to review all background information including any e-mail attachments); and

If you are stuck on a particular question move on to the next question.

Assessment Centre

The Assessment CentreThe Assessment Centre takes place at our testing centre in London and it consists of the following activities:

A written exercise

This written exercise (for which you will use a customised PC) is in two parts which last 15 minutes and 90 minutes respectively. Part one is designed to test your capacity for constructive thinking by asking you to come up with innovative ideas to address a particular challenge or problem. Part two is designed to test your ability to make decisions and communicate with impact.

A group exercise

This oral exercise lasts approximately 45 minutes and is designed to test your ability to build productive relationships, to communicate with impact and your drive for results. You will be given approximately 30 minutes to prepare for the exercise by yourself after which you will come together as a group to discuss the scenario.

Preparing and giving a briefing

You will be asked to present a solution to a fictitious problem and then asked questions about your topic at the end of your presentation. It lasts up to 30 minutes and is designed to test your ability to plan and achieve results, think constructively and communicate with impact.

An interviewThe one-to-one interview will last around 40 minutes. Your assessor will be evaluating your ability to learn and develop and your ability to build productive relationships.

The Assessment Centre

Be confident Demonstrate determination

Speak to people who work in HR

Be yourself

Get plenty of rest

Believe in yourself

Draw on your past

experience

Research online – read

the guide

Show your passion for HR

Show drive

Assessment Centre: Tips for Success

If you’re unsure – ask!

Practice your presentation

skills

How to apply

Apply online from 2nd September 2013:http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/The-Fast-Streams/HR-Fast-Stream/

Applications close 31st October 2013

Find us on Facebook:Civil Service Fast Stream (UK)

Fast Stream Website:http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/Step by Step application process:http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/How-do-I-apply/Step-by-Step-Application-Process/HR Fast Stream brochure:http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/Global/Docs/HR-Fast-Stream.pdfGuidance for online tests:http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/Global/Docs/OnlineTestsAdvice.pdfExample e-tray exercise:http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/How-do-I-apply/Example-e-Tray-Exercise/Assessment Centre guide: http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/Global/Docs/Fast-Stream-Assessment-Centre.pdfSocial Media (search ‘Fast Stream’):

Additional sources of information

Thank you for listeningAny questions?

isabelle.gaff@governmenthroperations.gsi.gov.uk