Soundbites

17-February-2010

James Lock Managing director, Communicate Recruitment Solutions
“We offer both technical and on-the-job training for those interviewing. Our interviews are competency based and training is provided to ensure we measure answers accordingly. This training is provided by senior management and by external consultants who are accredited with such qualifications. A candidate of mine was sent for an interview at Victoria House, London. On arrival, after asking to meet Victoria House, he was then asked to take a seat. It was an hour before anyone realised he had asked to meet the address.”

Phillip Venn Sales director, Liquid Friday
“When we made our first hire for an account manager, the board took the decision that the individual for the job must have more potential than we each have personally. Interview training is given if requested, but our people are all of a high calibre and educated to degree level or higher. My most unusual interview personally was for a major bank, where my reputation had preceded me. The hiring director took me for a coffee before telling me the job was mine without asking a single work/job-related question.”

Sarah Tiltman Director, flair4recruitment
Our consultants are trained to think ’outside the box’ rather than take candidates at face value. Consultants are taught to get to know the candidates inside out. Those interviewing are trained to probe beyond initial questions and find out as many skills as possible. A couple of candidates missed their Flair 4 preparation, resulting in some interesting interview situations. One turned up to an interview wearing pink knee-length fluffy boots and another took their partner in with them to the interview… oh dear!”

Tracy Burrell HR manager, Domestic & General Call Centre, Nottingham
“We don’t let anybody carry out interviews unless they are fully trained themselves. We train staff to see their observation skills and competency for interviewing. Our recruitment process requires all candidates to take part in a phone interview first. We don’t just restrict our interviewers to senior managers; we give anyone who has undergone training the chance to get involved. A familiar-looking guy once turned up for interview. He turned out to be the identical twin of an existing member of staff! We had to validate his identity and felt a bit foolish asking.