Graduate Prospects - April 2, 2008 - (Page 2)

2 PROSPECTS GRADUATE Issue 64 · 2 April 2008 · Fortnightly www.prospects.ac.uk BLOGGERS AT WORK ‘I’m watching daytime television, not starting my new job’ KIRSTIE WRECKS HER LEG ‘I bit the bullet and phoned about my loan repayments’ MATT’S WAKE-UP CALL IN H.R.S HANDS ’ THEIR PART IN YOUR FUTURE All companies have a Human Resources or HR department charged with, among other things, processing our job applications. But they do not all carry out this important task in the same way. In major companies Human Resources is broken down into many different sections so some HR people may deal entirely with staff benefits while another team handles nothing but graduate employment. In smaller companies the few HR staff do it all. They are the people you see to help with disputes, to sort out pay, sick leave, pensions and holidays. They look after the administration of employees within the company, and when you apply for a position, it is more than likely that the HR team will be among the first to see and assess your application. us, keywords like “friendly”, “listens well” and “communicative” are important.’ It is HR that deals with the people side of a business, and will therefore look for candidates who will work well with colleagues. However, in smaller companies it is often the case that this department does not have the final say on selection. That role is instead given to department managers, who will be looking for someone with the required technical skills; someone who fulfils the criteria of the role confidently. This can often lead to a clash of interests between the two parties: HR who looks for a team member and a manager looking for job skills. As it is the department manager who can overrule the suggestions from HR, this can sometimes lead to interesting consequences. After recommending a different candidate, James was overruled despite his objections to the chosen one: ‘I knew he wouldn’t fit in and three weeks later my boss agreed. He eventually left for a higher salary, and now I think my judgement’s trusted more!’ It is a different situation in the larger, nationwide companies. These are always recruiting for their graduate schemes or training programmes. Because of this, the HR department and especially its graduate recruitment officers, know what the company is looking for. They tend to have more of a say in who makes it through, even down to retaining complete control over selection. In smaller, less mainstream companies, positions usually don’t become available as often as in their bigger counterparts; and when one does the role may need to change. Therefore it is held that the manager of that particular department is usually best suited to picking a new candidate whether or not a graduate is required. WHY TRY? So if you’re applying to a smaller company where HR could be overruled in the appointment of a candidate, why should you try to get them on your side? James Burrows compares the department he works for to HR in major blue chip companies, suggesting that ‘although bigger companies’ departments have a better say in who gets the job, we’ve got more chance of changing the role to suit the person. So if we want you, we can suggest ways of adapting the job to fit you.’ The search for a job after graduation can be a difficult one; deciding who and what to apply for and what route you want to follow. But whether it is a major blue chip company DISAGREEMENT James Burrows, Trainee HR or a smaller company you’re aiming an WINNING THEM OVER So what is it that HR Adviser for a small chain of insurance offices, application at, be prepared to impress HR, in smaller companies looks for in a new tells of an instance when he came up against a make sure your application is well presented, employee, and how do you get them on your manager. ‘I sat in through all the interviews thought-out and easy to read. If you can side, fighting your corner? HR professional and spoke to all the candidates. The one my prove that you would be the model employee, Abby Magrs suggests: ‘We always want people boss wanted to employ had all the right skills then they may just fight to make sure you become one. KIRSTIE NICOLS who fit in with the current team well. So for and more – but didn’t he know it.’ JOB-HUNTING INFORMATION www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner QUESTIONS ANSWERED www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careerfaqs TEST YOURSELF www.prospects.ac.uk/links/tests ALL ABOUT APPLICATIONS WHAT JOB SUITS YOU PROSPECTS INTERACTIVE SERVICES GRADUATE FORUM ADVICE AND COACHING CAREERS CHAT LIVE http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Graduate_jobs/p!edcaefX http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/Kirstie_s_job_log__19/p!epkmglc http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2008/Matt_s_job_log__7/p!emlpikc http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Interactive_advice/p!eacXi http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careerfaqs http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/tests

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Graduate Prospects - April 2, 2008

Editorial: In H.R.'s Hands Editorial: Bloggers At Work Adidas Editorial: How Can I Show Motivation? Propeller Training BMRB Material Search and Selection MC2 Compass Management Consulting Ltd RMG Graduate Prospects KUJU Entertainment Ltd London Borough of Brent Council Perriam & Everett Recruitment Aspect Finance Illingworth Partnership Ltd Barkers Advertising Agency Perot Systems LSC Group Norwich Union Editorial: Field of Dreams University of Wolverhampton

Graduate Prospects - April 2, 2008

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