centrica
TRANSCRIPT
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Interview Skills
Workshop
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Agenda
• Who are we?
• Introduction to Competencies
• What is the underlying question?
• The STAR Approach
• Preparing for Competency based interviews
• Group Exercise
• Succeeding at assessment centres – top tips!
• What can Centrica offer?
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Sept 09
CentricaEnergy’s Our Business
to be the leading
integrated energy company in
our chosen markets.
Our vision
Centrica is a top
30 FTSE100
company
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We source it…
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We trade it…
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We generate it…
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We supply it…
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We process it…
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We service
it…
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We save it…
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Our brands
Most recognised
brand in the UK
Over 30 million
customers
£7.38 million
donated to
charity
£13 billion
turnoverInnovative
products
8000+ little
blue vans
Every 20 seconds
someone signs on to
British Gas
Relevant news
Got an interview?
Application
formOnline
testing
Telephone
interview
Application
Centre JobMore tests
Competency based
interview
Team work
Presentation
Competency questions are
common on application
forms and at interviews
So what is competency based
questioning?
Looking for evidenceof your skillsthat match business requirements
Don’t just say what
you can offer – give
evidence
Do you fit the
business?
We are looking for self-driven, high-calibre individuals who can grasp complex commercial issues and deliver solutions.“ ”
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Centrica has 8 competencies
• Focusing on solutions
• Manages relationships
• Manages self
• Adapts to change
• Organises and plans ahead
• Learns and shares knowledge
• Focuses on the customer
• Delivers results
"Describe a
situation where
you had to
......"
"Give an
example of
when you ....".
Competency Treasure Hunt
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Competencies Example
Organises and Plans Ahead Has completed/ is doing a dissertation
Learns and Shares Knowledge Is a sports coach
Focuses on the Customer Has worked in a restaurant or bar
Manages Relationships Has held a position on an exec
You already meet our competencies
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Identify the underlying question
Question: Describe a time of complex change when you
were expected to take on new tasks and responsibilities.
What competencies does this help the interviewer
identify?
• Can you adapt to change?
• Can you find solutions?
• Do you have the ability to learn and share knowledge?
Q:How do I answer competency
based interviews?
:AThe same way they
are marked
The STAR approach
Situation
Task
Action
Review
Context
Goals
Your actions
The end result
The environment at Centrica is fast paced and the
ability to work with others is crucial.
Describe a recent experience of working with other
people. What did you contribute and what was the
outcome?
Sample question:
“
”
Describe a recent experience of working with other people.
What did you contribute and what was the outcome?
• Situation – What was the team? What was your role?
• Task – What were the desired outcomes?
• Action – What did you do as part of this team? How did it feed into the bigger outcome?
• Response – Did you achieve your goal? Did the team? Would you do anything differently next time?
The environment at Centrica is evolving and the ability to
adapt to change is crucial. Describe a time of complex
change when you were expected to take on new tasks and
responsibilities.
• Situation – How did this change come about? Why was this change necessary?
• Task – How did this change come about? Why was this chance necessary?
• Action – What did you do respond to this change?
• Response – What was the result of the action taken? Would you do anything differently next time?
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Group Exercise
• You are interviewing for a place on the Centrica graduate
programme.
• These are competency based questions so the interviewee will
need to back up their answers with examples.
• You have 10 mins each
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Remember
• The STAR approach to structure your answer
• Use examples. These don’t have to be work related they
can be anything form playing for your college Hockey
team to organising your college summer ball.
• The interviewer wants to know what you can do. Stress
the I not the We!
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What is the best way to prepare for a competency based interview?
• Research The company
The competencies
Your specialty
The industry
• Brainstorm competency questions STAR them
Have as many examples as possible
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Additional Questions
Why do you want to work for the company?
Why do you want to work in that particular
field/area?
• Prove you have done your homework!
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Nasty questions
• What is you biggest weakness? Answer as a positive
• What are your greatest strengths? Do not be modest!
• Subject related…
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Top Tips to Interview Success
• Research the companies competencies
Prepare examples for each of these
• Do your homework on the company
What do they do?
Have there been any recent developments or changes?
• Listen carefully to the question, and try to give concise answers supported
with relevant examples.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if a question is not clear.
• Take a depth breath before you start to answer a question. Take time to
gather your thoughts.
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Application forms
• ARRRRRGH!
They are long
They take forever
Do not underestimate their importance.
School grades
University grades
Work experience – roles and responsibilities
Leisure and activities
Competency questions
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Questions
• Describe a project that did not go according to plan
• Give details of the best team you have worked in
• Please give a specific example of a time when you
displayed good customer service. What was the
outcome?
• Using an example of a time when you were in a new
environment and had to achieve a task a) how you established and used a network of contacts, and
b) how you set about influencing people, to help you achieve your
task
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What Centrica Offers
Summer
Placement
Programme
(10 weeks)
Graduate
Programmes
(2 – 3 years)
• Marketing
• HR
• Customer Operations
• Analyst
• IS
• Engineering
• Geoscience
• Finance
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Apply Online at:
www.centrica.com/graduates
2011 applications open 4th
October
How could you fit in?
