Apprenticeship participation now stands at a record level. In the 2016-2017 academic year 491,300 apprentices were hired across the UK.
So why are apprenticeships becoming increasingly popular? And what does the hiring process look like?
The first question is easy enough to answer.
An apprenticeship offers hands-on experience and the opportunity to train while you work and earn money!
And with regards to landing an apprenticeship, here’s how we discover future talent.
Our approach to recruiting apprentices
At BPS World we’ve been running our successful Rising Stars apprenticeship programme since 2014.
As explained by our CEO Simon Conington ("Why should your organisation employ apprentices?") our business has always had a strong emphasis on learning and development. We believe ‘people can be more’ and we wanted to provide an opportunity for young individuals to have a bright future in the recruitment industry.
Are you thinking about an apprenticeship in recruitment?
Many who apply to be apprentices with us haven’t had much interview experience with some having none at all.
It can be quite daunting, especially when you throw the words ‘assessment day’ into the mix.
That’s why we wanted to put this blog together. Hopefully it helps put your mind at rest!
So, what can you expect when you apply?
The first stage is an informal telephone conversation with our Internal Recruiter. This is an opportunity to find out more about what we have to offer.
The video call that follows allows us to put a face to your name and get to know you a little better. You’ll also get to meet us and some of your potential colleagues which should make you feel a little more at ease.
Next, the real interview begins…the assessment day! It sounds a lot more daunting than it is and our Internal Recruiter gives you everything you need to prepare. All you need to do is a little research and turn up feeling bright and motivated.
We start the assessment with an introduction from our CEO who’ll provide an overview of the story of BPS World. The day then consists of four 45-minute sections: a structured interview, online tests, a team exercise and an individual practical exercise.
The interview is a more in-depth version of the telephone and video calls, where we get to know you and ensure that a career in recruitment is right for you.
The online tests are used to assess your level and knowledge of areas such as Microsoft Word, which most people have used during their studies.
The practical exercise gives you an opportunity to get a true insight into the role of a recruiter so that you can decide if this is a career path you really do wish to follow.
Finally, there’s the team exercise. As the name suggests, this is where we observe how you work within a team. After all, BPS World are team-focussed, and we’re looking for collaborative individuals to join us.
Assessment days not only allow us to establish your suitability for BPS World but enable you to work out whether we will be your employer of choice.
There are no hidden challenges along the way, we give you all of the information you need up-front so you can’t fail!
We also provide an opportunity for you to speak to some of our current apprentices and ask them any questions you may have.
Sound good?
We’re always on the look-out for exceptional talent. We conduct a number of apprentice intakes throughout the year and offer a wide range of apprenticeships, including Recruitment Resourcing and Business Administration.
If you’re a driven individual and you think you’ve got what it takes to be successful in recruitment, then please contact Kirsty on kirsty.packer@bps-world.com.