Human Resources - Recruitment and Selection Practices - Research Paper Example

Human Resources - Recruitment and Selection Practices Table of contents Human Resources - Recruitment and Selection Practices 1 SMART career plan 2 Recruitment and selection practices 7 Self evaluation 12 Effectiveness of communication style 15 Conclusion 19 Student Application Form 2005 22 Name 22 EDUCATION 22 EMPLOYMENT RECORD 23 Introduction Career decision making and planning is one of the vital aspects of student life that involves a lot of introspection, self-evaluation and assessment of individual skills and interests. Introspection and self evaluation process plays an important role in identifying personal strengths and weaknesses that help in making a career decision. However, this process is not only complex but also demands a focused approach in planning and setting personal objectives. Vocational training and educational background are the primary steps involved in the career planning process. Preparing this portfolio has enabled me to explore myself and identify my strengths and weaknesses that will help me in planning my career. I have compiled this portfolio with the objective of analyzing my skills and interests for framing my career objectives and overcome inherent weaknesses to help me achieve my goals. SMART career plan “Common to all career problems is a gap between the reality that prevails and things we hope for” (Lock, 2004, p2). Career decision can be complex and there are many factors influencing our choice. Individual interests and capabilities are the vital elements guiding our future career plan and vocational training that can help in realizing these plans. One of the pre-requisites for choosing the right career lies in identifying one’s strengths and interests that guide personal goals and objectives. This involves introspection of personal needs, skills, aptitudes and capabilities that help in deciding on a specific field for career. Individual career planning is based on the educational background, physical abilities, skills, competencies, economic situation, awareness of job markets, and circumstances that shape the choice of career (Rothwell, 2009). The choice of career is hence guided by individual capabilities and interests that match his personality traits and meet his financial needs. As part of my initiatives to explore and assess my skills in different categories I undertook three psychometric tests that include abstract reasoning skills, verbal reasoning skills, and numerical reasoning skills. Psychometric tests are structured test formats that can be taken either online or by filling in responses in printed answer sheets. These tests usually consist of multiple choice questions that test the aptitude levels of individuals in different subject contexts. The effectiveness of these tests lies in assessment of individual competencies and skills that can be used to promote specific areas of strength or overcome inherent weaknesses. Employers today use such tests widely to assess the candidate proficiency levels in distinctive areas such as verbal reasoning, numerical aptitude, spatial reasoning or personality tests. The results of the psychometric tests reflected my personal abilities in the specific test area. While my numerical and verbal reasoning skills were average the results indicated scope for further development. My abstract reasoning skills that reflected my capabilities in problem solving and applying new ideas were good. My performance in these tests provided me with clear indications on the potential areas of growth and development that can help me in meeting my career objectives. I have always felt that my interests focused on numbers and figures that drive the financial markets. During my school days I had decided on pursuing my interests in financial studies and this decision guided my future choice of courses in vocational training and higher education. My career aims from the school days focused on pursuing my interests in the area of finance and this guided my choice for doing BA in Finance and Investment Management. I completed my high school graduate with distinction marks of 91.93 percent in the year 2008 and enrolled myself for a diploma program in Banking Studies. I graduated from this program with merit in the year 2010. My quest for learning and gaining more proficiency in Financial Management prompted me to enrol for BA program in Finance and Investment Management. Any profession is guided by the context of knowledge and its application in the defined environmental conditions. Gordon and Howell (1959) have observed in their work Higher Education for Business that professional practice is based on systematic knowledge and the development of personal skill in applying this knowledge to practical situations. I strongly feel that practical situations provide the scope for application of theoretical knowledge and learning in this process becomes more effective. It helps in building an insight into the practical environment and realities that guide the movement of market and economic forces. The knowledge helps in developing individual confidence in their ability to deal with practical situations and move ahead in their chosen career field. In the year 2006 while pursuing my high school studies I got the opportunity to work as a summer trainee in Transworld Computers where I learnt how to assemble a PC and format a computer. The summer job provided me with valuable experience in the field of Information Technology that is so important in any employment sector or commercial activity. The training enabled me to get familiar with PC operations and learn the basics of computer assembly. During the Diploma program in Banking Studies I was given the opportunity to get trained in the Global Markets (Treasury) Department of HSBC Bank. I learnt how to use the Forex Connect and trading practices in foreign exchange currencies. During my training period at HSBC I was responsible for editing the daily market update, dealing in Forex Connect, and exporting the deals records at the end of each day. I strongly feel that this training experience provided me with the exposure to financial markets and its operations in practical life. This has helped greatly in relating my theoretical learning to the practical application. It also helped me in learning about the diverse factors that guide foreign exchange markets and currency performance. My career objectives are strongly guided by my motivation and interest in enhancing my skills through further education and learning. This will help me in building my confidence and capabilities to gain suitable employment in the Banking and Finance sector. After the completion of my training at HSBC I was offered a job but I felt that further education and learning will help me in equipping myself for a better position in this industry. Hence I refused the offer and took the opportunity to enrol myself for the BA program. Based on my interests, educational experience and employment history I have chosen to explore the Banking and Financial sector for my future career plans. I have chosen to develop my skills and capabilities in this area through the BA program in Finance and Investment Management. This is the stepping stone that will guide my future career moves and personal growth plans. My current goals involve gaining employment in a global organization that will help me in developing my skills and exposure to the financial markets and operations, the driving forces in the industry, and the complexities that guide the market performance. I feel that the existing employment opportunities offer vast potentials for candidates who are focused in their career goals and wish to promote individual skills and aptitudes for professional growth and personal development. A career in the financial industry seeks an analytical mind with good project management skills, problem solving skills, strong background in economics, finance and accounting, excellent communication skills and proficiency in using software applications related to finance and accounting. Based on the assessment results of the psychometric tests and my education and training experience I have framed a SMART career plan that is given below: Goal 1 – get employed in a global financial organization Specific Global banking or financial institution Measurable Getting the job Achievable Yes Relevant Yes Time-frame 2 yrs on completion of BA program Goal 2 – get promoted to middle management level Specific Promotion to Manager Operations level Measurable Promotion Achievable Yes Relevant Yes Time-frame 2 yrs after getting the job Goal 3 – setup my own financial consultancy services Specific Starting my own financial consultancy firm Measurable Setting up my business Achievable Yes Relevant Yes Time-frame 6 yrs after getting the job The career plan outlined here illustrates my personal goals and objectives that will drive my individual development and career progression plans. My ultimate goal is to setup my own consultancy services but I am ready to take this step once I have gained the expertise and desired level of proficiency in understanding financial markets, associated risks and investment trends that drive market forces in the financial industry. Recruitment and selection practices My career plan and objectives have provided me with the necessary background to support my subsequent steps and actions that will help me in meeting my goals. I am aware of the tough competition that drives the job markets and hence a deeper understanding of the requirements and procedures of recruitment in the financial industry is important in equipping myself with the necessary skills. Career decisions according to my perception begin at school when the student decides to pursue the subjects of interest in the higher education stages. Career is directly related to educational planning. To choose a career one needs to choose the right education to support the career. If one is opting to be a computer science engineer then he or she needs to do computer science studies as the chosen education path. The students needs to study their subjects in which they want to build their careers. In today’s dynamic and competitive world, the jobs are very specific that requires good technical and interpersonal skills from the candidates. Specialized areas of work need well-groomed candidates in their respective fields. At the same time they need to be good in their interpersonal skills in which, they need to communicate with their clientele and have a pleasing effect on them. The evolving job market is full of opportunities and scope of growth for individuals who are focused in their fields of interest. Companies today focus on the use of different selection and evaluation procedures for the assessment of candidates. The assessment procedures conducted before the final round of interview and selection comprises of informal discussions, presentation sessions, psychometric tests and skills evaluation exercises that help the companies in deciding the eligibility of candidates for the jobs. Based on my career plan and chosen field of interest I have evaluated the desired job profile and competency levels required by employers in this field. I went through a series of online listing of graduate jobs that provided me with the specifics of the skills and competencies required to get employed in the investment management service sector. I came across a job advertisement in the website of Graduate Prospects Ltd that enlisted the candidate eligibility and desired proficiencies of the ideal candidate for the position of Junior Fund Management Assistant at Henderson Global Investors. According to this vacancy advertisement the job profile involved report writing, preparing presentations, marketing support, client support, maintaining spreadsheets, liaising with brokers, assisting in checking of portfolio valuations, office management support and working with fund managers on research projects (Prospects, 2010). The desired skills outlined in the advertisement included degree level education, strong numerical skills, proficiency in using Microsoft Excel, familiarity with PowerPoint, Visual Basic, and Microsoft Outlook. The desired candidate personality profile involved being a strong team player, excellent communication skills, strong work ethics, and ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and work under pressure, proactive behaviour, and keen interest in financial markets. The requirements and skills outlined in the vacancy advertisement led me to explore the different types of assessments and selection procedures adopted by companies while recruiting. The recruitment and selection practices of organizations follow a structured method involving the assessment of skills requirement within the company and selection and short listing of desired candidates through a series of evaluation process. The CIPD website highlights two distinctive processes involved in the recruitment and selection of candidates for job vacancies. These two processes include short listing of candidates with the desired skills and competencies followed by assessment of reported skills in the candidate profile. The applications or CVs (curriculum vitae) sent by eligible candidates for specific job vacancies are screened by organizations to make a list of candidates who have the desired experience, educational background and skill-sets that match the job profile. Once the candidates are short listed they are screened through a series of assessment tests that involve written tests and interviews. This helps the organizations in evaluating the competencies of the candidates. Selections are made on the basis of these evaluations. Most of the organizations today are shifting towards competence based assessment while recruiting candidates for specific positions. The traditional methods of interviewing are being replaced by competency based interviews that uses uniform questioning methods to assess the interviewee reaction and responses to given scenarios. This provides the interviewer with a fair idea of how the individual has dealt with specific scenarios or circumstances in the past. The whole exercise enables the recruiter to collect vital information on the employee behaviour, attitude and methods of dealing with challenging circumstances. One of the primary focuses of human resource departments is to recruit the best of candidates for the organization. Staffing strategies adopted by organizations are geared to meet the challenges of identifying requisite skills of the candidates and planning the manpower requirements for each department and processes. Skills refer to the essential qualities and qualifications inherent within an individual that helps in completing tasks successfully. However, competence is used to refer to a bundle of skills that is indicative of a mixture of skills, knowledge, behaviour, information and experience of the individual or organization as a whole (Hammel and Prahaled, 1994). More and more organizations are focusing their efforts on increasing their core competencies to gain competitive advantage in the market. An organization’s core skills, competencies and capabilities provide it with the distinctive edge to compete with others in the industry. The workforce of the organization leverages the organizational competencies in terms of required skills and capabilities. Core skills are related to individuals that form a team and this contributes to the team capabilities and core competencies. Hence, organizational competencies are determined by the organizational workforce, their skills, experience, and knowledge. The assessment centres used exercises such as ice-breaker sessions for creating a comfortable environment for the interviewee. Prepared presentation is another method that is used to ensure that the participants are well prepared for the final presentation during the interview assessment process. Other methods include role plays, in-tray exercise, and group discussion, meal with selectors, case study, and interviews to prepare the interviewee for the final assessment. Most of the organizations today are shifting towards competence based assessment while recruiting candidates for specific positions. The traditional methods of interviewing are being replaced by competency based interviews that uses uniform questioning methods to assess the interviewee reaction and responses to given scenarios. This provides the interviewer with a fair idea of how the individual has dealt with specific scenarios or circumstances in the past. The whole exercise enables the recruiter to collect vital information on the employee behaviour, attitude and methods of dealing with challenging circumstances. With the globalization of economies financial markets have become highly volatile and susceptible to changes in global markets. This has made a distinctive impact on the desired level of skills and competencies among investment managers. The study of the financial market trends and proficiencies demanded by firms in the industry has provided me with a wide angled perspective on the way recruitment and selection practices are going to shape up in a couple of years from now. Self evaluation Self evaluation plays a significant role in identifying one’s personal strengths and weaknesses, attitude and biases that an individual has developed over the years and affects their sense of perception. My primary goal is to overcome the inherent weaknesses in my attitude and actions at work and work further on my strengths to become more effective in my future career roles. During the learning courses I was introduced to the concept of personal development plans (PDP) that greatly assisted me in identifying my strengths and weaknesses. I used this tool to evaluate myself and found it to be very effective in arriving at the developmental strategies that could help me overcome my weaknesses. Personal Development Plan My objectives Short term objective: Development of personal skills and professional skills required for my role as a junior fund management assistant I am looking for a position that would allow me to implement my studies and will allow me to learn, and gain more skills relevant to my career goals. Required Timeframe: 6 months Long term objective: To promote myself vertically within the organisation; Required Timeframe: two years of this PDP Skills required for the job 1. Excellent communication skills – written, verbal, listening and presentation 2. Ability to understand and interpret numeric data 3. Ability to work under pressure 4. Ability to work independently 5. Demonstrate proactive behaviour 6. Keen interest in financial markets 7. Strong team player 8. Self Driven Areas of strength Planning Monitoring High level of motivation Time management People management Problem solving skills Decision making skills Areas of Development Verbal communication skills and presentation skills Numerical ability skills Listening skills Going through the desired candidate profile in the job advertisement for the position of Junior Fund Management Assistant for Henderson Global Investors, I realize that there are a few things I need to work on to qualify for the job. This process involved a lot of introspection and self analysis. An analysis of personal strengths and weaknesses based on the observations of my professors, peers and self evaluation revealed some aspects that I needed to develop. Among areas of personal development I felt the need to develop my communication skills. Communication skills within the organisation include written communication, verbal, listening, visual, and presentation skills. In this context the verbal communication skills need to be developed along with presentation skills. A vital area of personal development as per the requirements of the Henderson job vacancy advertisement is to promote my team player skills. Teams are an integral part of operational processes and organizations rely extensively on teams to perform strategic functions (Weiss & Legrand, 2009). I have worked in teams earlier but feel that I need to focus more on collaboration and communication strategies that can help me convey my ideas and thoughts to my team members. Among the other areas of development I need to work on my numerical abilities and gain expertise in the use of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. I am aware of the essentials of these applications but I need to further develop my skills in these applications. The weaknesses identified need to be worked on and for this purpose I have outlined a development plan to overcome the specified areas of concern. The development actions required for enhancing communication skills and team working skills are - Enrol for online training modules on effective communication and constructive feedback delivery provided on the company intranet. Attend training workshops for conducting effective one to one meetings and personal development reviews for the team members. Organise regular presentations and group discussions within the team to develop communication and presentation skills. Building my confidence levels in working in Microsoft spreadsheets, PowerPoint and Outlook will require increased interaction with these applications. I plan to take up online tutorials for enhancing my skills in these applications. Effectiveness of communication style “Communication refers to the transmission and/or reception of signals through some channels that humans interpret based on a probabilistic system that is deeply influenced by context” (Clampitt, 2009). All types of communication assumes increased significance in conveying a message to the receiver and effective communication relies heavily on the clarity of thoughts presented by the communicator and the relevance of the words used to present the message. Effective communication entails the use of simple language, clarity of words, eye contact, constructive feedback, checking for comprehension, listening without interruption, and written communiqué to prevent any misunderstandings or mis-interpretation of messages (Guffey, 2008). Communicating with co-workers involves a strong ability to understand the problems and traits of the individuals in the team. It requires good listening skills since people confide in leaders who are willing to listen to their viewpoints. A good leader needs to be a good listener as well. Communication is a two way process that can be enhanced through increased collaborative efforts and ice-breaking sessions (team meets, fun activities, and team outings) to improve understanding between the team members. Gathering the opinion of others in the team helps in assessing the situation in a broader perspective that influences the decision-making ability in a positive way. This requires effective communication skills that involve empathetic listening abilities. I feel that my listening skills are one of the major weaknesses that I face. While interacting with people on a daily basis I find that I am not able to relate closely to their problems or understand their view point owing to my lack of listening skills. Listening involves hearing and interpretation of facts presented by the communicator and a poor listener will not be able to understand or interpret messages accurately. This is one of the reasons why some people fail to relate to other people. Individuals possessing good listening skills are good communicators and earn the confidence of other people too. Communicating and collaborating with team members can be achieved through the development of good interpersonal skills. I am aware of the fact that developing good interpersonal skills will enable improved relations with my team members and other co-workers in future that can help me develop myself as a good team player. My goal relating to working effectively in teams can be successfully met through adopting simple principles that lead to increased collaboration and coordination among team members. Communication is one of the key elements that builds team work and creates a bond between the team members. Understanding self and others helps to develop empathy between the team members and I find in practice that developing my listening skills can assist me in understanding my team members better and develop a bond of trust and mutual respect. I feel that this approach will enable me to find myself more comfortable in associating with my peers and interact to them on any issues or challenges facing the task in hand. My attendance in a formal public meeting in Newcastle that was called for seeking Government support for the Green Bus Fund was a vital learning experience for me since I had the exposure to different communication styles used by the conveners of the meeting. One of the distinguishing aspects of this meet was the use of assertive speech that could be strongly associated with the idea-focused style of communication. Direct communication between the attendees were observed and this was found to be useful in bringing out ideas through exploring of individual ideas and reaching a consensus. People talking during the meet focused their speech and discussion around the central theme of the meeting – the funding for the Green Bus. The experience was effective in teaching me the aspects of communication that focused on finding a solution for the specific problem. There are different approaches taken by individuals while interacting with job interviewers. While some are straightforward or direct, others focus on developing personal relationship with the interviewer. Some interviewees focus on communicating their ideas and critical thinking while some are indirect in approach. I prefer to adopt a direct approach that focuses on answering directly to questions in brief without beating around the bush. I feel that this approach is best suited to project myself as an individual who knows what he is talking about and has clarity of thoughts and objectives. The various tasks and activities that I participated in revealed my strengths in problem solving and decision making skills. I also realized that time management and urge to develop myself are my greatest strengths. My strengths lie in areas of time management and multi-tasking. I use prioritization of tasks to effectively distribute my time across different tasks and achieve my targets in the process. This helps me in meeting my deadlines and completing work within the given time span. The other areas of strength are planning, monitoring, and high levels of motivation, people management and problem solving skills. I always adopt a proactive attitude by taking initiatives in activities going on around me. My teachers have always appreciated my efforts in this aspect. In context of the job needs for interest in financial markets, this is a strong point that I feel makes me eligible for the job. I have pursued a strong interest in the trends of the financial markets and its operations. Conclusion The demand for more creativity and initiative from employees within an organisation has increased over the years; hence learning and personal development are crucial for employees today. There are different kinds of individuals with varied learning capacities. Some people learn from experience while others are not much affected by them. Every individual wants to expand his skills and competency levels and learn from experience but there are very few individuals who reflect on past experiences and challenges that contribute to his learning objectives. A review of these factors and parameters can prove to be effective learning points for all provided a structured approach is taken towards this initiative. The writing of this portfolio has helped me analyse my skills and inherent weaknesses. It has also helped me identify my career goals and objectives based on which I plan to work on my skills and competencies. The portfolio has also helped me in analysing the job market and requirements that can assist me in shaping my future personal development strategies. References 1. CIPD 2010, Selection methods, available from http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/recruitmen/selectn/selection-methods.htm 2. Clampitt, Phillip G. 2009, Communicating for managerial effectiveness – problems, strategies, solutions, Sage Publications Inc. 3. Gordon, R. A., & Howell, J. E. 1959, Higher education for business, New York: Columbia University Press. 4. Guffey, Mary E. 2008, Business Communication – Process & Product, Cengage Learning. 5. Hammel, G., and Prahalad, C.K. 1994, Competing for the future, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press. 6. Lock, R..D. 2004, Taking charge of your career direction, Thomson Learning. 7. Prospects 2010, Interview tests and exercises – Assessment centres, available from http://www.prospects.ac.uk/assessment_centres.htm 8. Prospects 2010, Henderson Global Investors, http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Graduate_jobs/Henderson_Global_Investors/Junior_Fund_Management_Assistant/p!edcaefX?id=SUBONAT-13122010-VACY-26833&filter=sector%2F7867&filter=sector%2F7868&filter=entry_type%2FAll_vacancies&action=showvacancydetails&2waynocompress=1&keyword=&type=Immediate+vacancy&from=P 9. Rothwell, W.J. 2009, The manager’s guide to maximizing employee potential: quick and easy, Amacom Publishers. 10. Weiss, Dr. David and Legrand, C. 2009, Innovative Team Learning – maximizing the value of learning and working together, The Canadian Learning Journal Spring 2009. Appendices – a) An Application Form for a graduate level job/placement opportunity - Student Application Form 2005 Name Address (Term Time) Address (Home) Telephone (Daytime) Telephone (Evening) Email address Date of Birth Preferred role EDUCATION School/College/University From To Qualifications Expected/Actual Grade Al-Falah School 2004 2008 High school graduate with Distinction 91.93% College 2009 2010 Banking Studies Diploma Program (Advanced Diploma) Graduated with Merit University 2010 2012 (BA) Finance and Investment management Graduate with Merit EMPLOYMENT RECORD Name of Employer Job Title Main responsibilities Start date Leave Date HSBC Bank Trainee Editing the daily market update Dealing in Forex Connect Exporting the deals records at the end of each day 28/3/2010 8/5/2010 Transworld Computers Summer job and training Assemble PC Format computer 1/7/2006 1/8/2006 The following questions are designed to provide us with more insight into your skills and competencies and will be used in assessing your application. You can use examples from all aspects of your academic, working or social life to demonstrate your capabilities but we ask that you use a different example for each question. Question 1: Describe a time when you have persevered against the odds and overcome obstacles to achieve a goal. Explain how you approached the situation, what difficulties you were faced with and what the outcome was. Question 2: Give an example of an idea you have had for improving performance or doing something better. Explain how you came up with the idea, how you implemented it and what benefits it has produced. I have always taken a proactive approach in developing my existing skills and capabilities. One such instance involved the organizing of leadership training workshop for youth that was a team effort. I undertook the responsibility of planning the training workshop details, arranging the sessions and enabling participation of members. The workshop provided me with expanded exposure to planning events, chalking out details and teamwork. Question 3: Give an example of when it has been crucial for you to build a strong relationship with members of a wider team. Explain why this relationship was important, what you did to build it and how it helped you achieve your objectives. I have always worked as a part of a team that took initiatives to plan field trips and workshops. I learnt during these experiences that team building was an important part of meeting task objectives and enhancing individual capabilities. Communication and cooperation among team members have often provided the tasks with new ideas and suggestions that have contributed to making the whole task easier and achieve the desired outcomes. Additional Information – please use this section to include any other relevant information which you feel has not been covered elsewhere on this form. I am a fast learner and my interest in developing myself is one of the distinctive positive aspects that help me build my confidence in any situation. The quest for knowledge and seek additional information on any subject matter is one of the driving forces that has guided me in my academic achievements. References – Please supply details of 2 referees. One reference must be from your most recent employer. References will only be sought with your permission. Name Telephone Address Postcode Occupation/ Position Thank you for your time in completing this application form. Please email completed forms along with a covering letter outlining why you want to work for Heinz and what you feel you can bring to the role to recruitment@uk.hjheinz.com The closing date for receipt of all applications is 10th January 2005. Heinz will contact all applicants w/c 17th January to advise whether or not you have been short-listed. It is anticipated that assessments will take place w/c 24th January for successful candidates. b) Reports from 3 psychometric tests – Feedback Report Abstract Reasoning Skills - Level 2 Abdulla Almannaei Your Results This report describes your results on the Abstract Reasoning Skills Test which looks at your ability to identify the patterns and relationships between shapes – skills related to testing out new ideas and problem-solving. On the Abstract Reasoning Skills Test you attempted 75 of the 75 questions in the test, and answered 35 of these correctly. To put your score into context, it is compared to a large group of people who have already taken the test. In this case, your test score has been compared to the following group: Undergraduates (n=10464) Your results are shown graphically below. The small circle indicates the score you obtained on the Abstract Reasoning Skills Test in relation to the comparison group. However, as measurement is never totally accurate the line passing through the small circle shows the range which gives the best estimate of your ability on the test. When compared to the comparison group, your score was at the 58th percentile. This means you scored better than 58 per cent of the comparison group. Possible Reasons for Your Performance This section of the report combines information on how quickly you worked at the test and how accurate your answers were. In the time allowed for the test you attempted an average number of questions and answered an average number of these correctly. This pattern of performance suggests that you: • appear to have understood what the test required you to do. • seem to have achieved a reasonable balance between speed and accuracy, but there is still room for improvement. You may like to consider the following points, some of which may help you to improve your performance if you were to take a test like this again: • To improve your performance on tests like this you would need to improve both your accuracy and speed of working. • Ways to improve your accuracy could include; reading each question more carefully and making sure you understand what you are being asked to do; thinking about how to go about answering the question; making sure that you have read the details in the question accurately. • Ways to improve your speed could include; making sure you focus on the test and that you are not distracted; skipping any questions you get stuck on; spending less time double-checking answers you are pretty sure of and more time on questions you find difficult. • Your approach to the test seemed to be as fast and as accurate as most of the comparison group. To what extent is this characteristic of your working style generally? • Think of some activities you would enjoy or be willing to do in order to practice the kinds of skills needed for the Abstract Reasoning Skills test. • If you were to take the test again, how would you approach it differently? Feedback Report Numerical Reasoning Skills - Level 2 Abdulla Almannaei Your Results This report describes your results on the Numerical Reasoning Skills Test which looks at your ability to use numerical information to solve problems. On the Numerical Reasoning Skills Test you attempted 34 of the 48 questions in the test, and answered 17 of these correctly. To put your score into context, it is compared to a large group of people who have already taken the test. In this case, your test score has been compared to the following group: Undergraduates (n=27,336) Your results are shown graphically below. The small circle indicates the score you obtained on the Numerical Reasoning Skills Test in relation to the comparison group. However, as measurement is never totally accurate the line passing through the small circle shows the range which gives the best estimate of your ability on the test. When compared to the comparison group, your score was at the 47th percentile. This means you scored better than 47 per cent of the comparison group. Possible Reasons for Your Performance This section of the report combines information on how quickly you worked at the test and how accurate your answers were. In the time allowed for the test you gave answers to an average number of questions, but many of the questions you attempted were answered incorrectly. This pattern of performance may have been due to one or more of the following reasons. You may: • be unfamiliar with this type of test - maybe this is the first time you have taken a test like this. • have misunderstood the instructions. • have had a ‘bad day’ - you may have done better if you had taken it on another day or if you take the test again. • have felt anxious or nervous about taking the test. • have been distracted when taking the test or found it difficult to concentrate. • be uninterested in the subject matter of the test. • have felt little motivation to complete the test well - maybe you felt that the test was unimportant or irrelevant to you. • value speed above accuracy and generally prefer to approach things at a fair pace - perhaps during the test you found yourself guessing answers to questions you were not sure of. • prefer not to work under strictly timed conditions but tried to adapt your strategy for this test, possibly working more quickly than you were comfortable with. You may like to consider the following points, some of which may help you to improve your performance if you were to take a test like this again: • To perform better on tests like this you would need to work more accurately. Before beginning any test you should always make sure you are clear about what a test is asking you to do. When taking the test, remember to read each question carefully so that you understand it clearly and do not miss out anything important. • To improve your accuracy you might need to slow down a bit so that you can pay more attention to the question. Then you could aim to improve your speed, whilst maintaining accuracy. • You seemed to approach the test by working at a fair pace, but not that accurately. To what extent is this characteristic of your working style generally? • Think of some activities you would enjoy or be willing to do in order to practice the kinds of skills needed for the Numerical Reasoning Skills test. • If you were to take the test again, how would you approach it differently? Feedback Report Verbal Reasoning Skills - Level 2 Abdulla Almannaei Your Results This report describes your results on the Verbal Reasoning Skills Test which looks at your ability to understand and think logically about written information. On the Verbal Reasoning Skills Test you attempted 54 of the 60 questions in the test, and answered 29 of these correctly. To put your score into context, it is compared to a large group of people who have already taken the test. In this case, your test score has been compared to the following group: Undergraduates (n=17,223) Your results are shown graphically below. The small circle indicates the score you obtained on the Verbal Reasoning Skills Test in relation to the comparison group. However, as measurement is never totally accurate the line passing through the small circle shows the range which gives the best estimate of your ability on the test. When compared to the comparison group, your score was at the 45th percentile. This means you scored better than 45 per cent of the comparison group. Possible Reasons for Your Performance This section of the report combines information on how quickly you worked at the test and how accurate your answers were. In the time allowed for the test you attempted an average number of questions and answered an average number of these correctly. This pattern of performance suggests that you: • appear to have understood what the test required you to do. • seem to have achieved a reasonable balance between speed and accuracy, but there is still room for improvement. You may like to consider the following points, some of which may help you to improve your performance if you were to take a test like this again: • To improve your performance on tests like this you would need to improve both your accuracy and speed of working. • Ways to improve your accuracy could include; reading each question more carefully and making sure you understand what you are being asked to do; thinking about how to go about answering the question; making sure that you have read the details in the question accurately. • Ways to improve your speed could include; making sure you focus on the test and that you are not distracted; skipping any questions you get stuck on; spending less time double-checking answers you are pretty sure of and more time on questions you find difficult. • Your approach to the test seemed to be as fast and as accurate as most of the comparison group. To what extent is this characteristic of your working style generally? • Think of some activities you would enjoy or be willing to do in order to practice the kinds of skills needed for the Verbal Reasoning Skills test. • If you were to take the test again, how would you approach it differently? c) A statement of ten likely and relevant interview questions (at Graduate applicant level) and your appropriate responses, for a graduate level position I have listed ten likely questions that might be asked at the interview for graduate level position. Q1. Tell us about your academic qualification and your reasons for choosing the finance sector. Ans. I have done my BA in Finance and Investment Management after completing a College Diploma in Banking Studies. I have graduated from the University with Merit and have focused on developing my knowledge base to meet existing industry requirements. One of the primary reasons behind the choice of my subject was my interest in banking and financial markets that prompted me pursue my higher studies in this subject. Q2. What are the other areas of interest that you have pursued through your academic years? Ans. Besides my interests in finance and management I have been interested in organizing workshops and training programs, field trips and leadership training for youth. I worked with a few of my friends and colleagues as teams to organize such events and programs for individual development. The experience gained through such activities contributed to building of my confidence levels and abilities to work as a team. Q3. What are your strengths? Ans. I feel that my greatest strength is my determination and my quest for knowledge that urges me seek further knowledge and excel in the chosen field. I have always worked towards my goal through meticulous planning using techniques such as self assessment practices and psychometric tests to evaluate my competencies and identify skill-gaps. This process has always helped me in re-working my goals and taking appropriate measures to fill the existing gaps. My time management skills are excellent since I always organize my work and priorities based on the task requirements. Q4. What are your weaknesses? My greatest weakness was my listening skills and I found that most of the times I did not pay attention to what was being said. This I realized on self evaluation limited my communication skills since I could not relate to the other person who was speaking to me. I had attended a workshop on leadership where I realized that I could improve my communication skills through improving my listening skills. I implemented this in practice and slowly developed my abilities to relate to other people and participate in effective discussions. This was a strong learning point for me. Q5. Why do you want to work for us? Ans. I have always wanted to work with a company that provides its employees with a challenging work environment, scope to learn and grow within the company that caters to a multinational market. I have read a lot about Henderson Global Investors and I know that the company has wide scope of growth and learning possibilities for its employees. Q6. Why do you think that you are qualified for this job? The job profile given in the advertisement listed few skills and competencies that were essential for this position. I reviewed each of the listings and found myself well-equipped to handle the nature of job described. I have a strong academic background and the required experience of having worked in a multinational bank that has exposed me to the practical aspects of the financial markets and its operations. I keep my updated on the financial markets and trends that are driving economic environment. Q7. How do feel about working in teams? Ans. I enjoy working in teams and strongly feel that teamwork can improve the chances of delivering the desired outcomes. A single individual can work with limited ideas and this can restrict the individual’s chances of performing better and adopting new practices for enhanced results. Working in teams enables generation of ideas for more effective performance and results. Q8. How do you work under pressure? Ans. I work well under pressure and I find it challenging to complete my tasks within time limits. However, I try to avoid such situations by planning my schedules in advance and prioritizing activities that enables me to complete the work before time. Q9. Where do you see yourself five years from now? Ans. I always plan my actions well in advance and work towards the desired goal using appropriate planning strategies. According to my career plans, I plan to be in managerial position within this company within the next five years. To achieve this goal I plan to develop myself and skills to be eligible for this role. This involves focusing on achieving excellence in my responsibilities and taking initiatives to contribute to organizational goals. Q10. How have you displayed proactive behavior in your past? I have volunteered to organize workshops, field trips and leadership training programs for youth. Besides, I have volunteered to participate in Arab Leadership Forum, Global Entrepreneurship Week, and Breast Cancer Awareness Week as an effort towards developing my social, managerial and leadership skills. I have also worked as a volunteer Al-Eslah Society Event Officer from 2005 to 2008. d) A reflective statement on your performance in assessment centre activities I feel that my performance in the assessment centre activities was good since I was able to complete all the tasks well within the given time limit. Time management, prioritization of activities and reading the instructions carefully helped in completing my tasks in time. e) Observations from your attendance at a formal public meeting I had attended a formal public meeting in Newcastle that was called for seeking Government support for the Green Bus Fund. The Stagecoach North East approached the Newcastle City Council and Nexus for placing a bid to the Central Government for funding the Green Bus project. This project will entail upgrading the existing bus fleet to greener hybrid electric buses. During the meeting procedure the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder and officers provided a letter of support for funding the bid. The objective of this bid is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and service quality improvements. This would also ensure sustainable development of the transport facility at Newcastle. During the course of discussion it was decided that the bid proposal will be forwarded to the government authorities with full details of financial implications, legal aspects, environmental considerations and community benefits. Read More