Invest time to prepare

Firstly, set up the interview. Allocate time in your diary to see your shortlisted candidates and invite someone from HR or another member of your team to interview alongside you. Having someone else in the room with you is key from a HR perspective, as well as being able to have two opinions.

Book out a quiet space for your interviews to take place, or if you don’t have this space, arrange to meet in a nearby quiet café. Ensure you build in time for breaks in between each interview so you can jot down any notes discuss the candidate with your colleague, and glance over the next candidate’s application before you meet them.

A useful evaluation tool is a ‘scorecard’. Creating a standardised scoring system comes in handy if interviewing numerous candidates for fair comparison. This doesn’t have to be complicated; you could simply allocate a numerical score for each question/area asked about, e.g. 1 = weak answer, 2 = strong answer, 3 = very strong answer.

Next, turn your attention to arguably the most important element of the interview: the questions.

Questions to ask

You only have a short time to ascertain if a potential employee is the best candidate for the job, so it is vitally important to ask the right questions. The goal of the interview is to find out as much information from your candidate as possible, so ensure all your questions are open and require more than a simple yes or no answer. For example, ask ‘why do you want this job?’ rather than ‘do you want this job?’

Firstly, ask your HR department if they have any standard questions to ask. For example:

• What do you know about the company?
• What attracted you to this job?
• Why are you the best person for this role?

Next, refer to the job advert and specification to help you write down relevant questions. To find out more about how they think, behave and tackle challenges, you can ask behavioural questions such as:

• Tell me about a time where you led a team to success
• Describe a time when you encountered a problem and how you solved it
• What motivates you at work?

If the job requires a set skill level in a certain area, test your candidate’s skill-set with experience questions such as:

• What experience do you have managing a team?
• Tell me about an achievement that indicates you’ll thrive in this role
• How familiar are you with using software such as (insert relevant programmes)?

Top tip: test out your questions by trying to answer them yourself.

During the interview itself, don’t be afraid to go off your script if your candidate mentions something you want to find out more about. Just be mindful to bring the conversation back to your prepared questions so you don’t miss any key information.

Questions to avoid

It’s important to make sure you’re clued up about what you can and can’t ask, as some questions are inappropriate or even illegal. Asking questions about an interviewee’s age, religion, race, marital status, children/future family plans, sexuality, disability or criminal record are illegal and can have serious repercussions for your business. Once you’ve compiled your list of questions, ask someone from your HR department to check them for legality.

Practical Tasks

Depending on your industry and the job role, it might be worth asking your potential candidate to complete a task as part of their interview. For example, the best way to recruit a chef is for them to cook you a meal. Even in more office-based roles, setting a task can be a great way of distinguishing between candidates.

Make a good impression

Don’t forget that the interview process is as much about the candidate deciding whether they want to work for you, as it is about you deciding whether you want to hire them. It is essential that you give your potential employee a good impression of your company, so as much as you’re looking for them to be on time, well-presented and polite, make sure you are too.

On the day

Re-read each candidate’s CV before their interview to refresh your memory. This will help avoiding asking questions their CV may already answer and remind you of any specific questions about their experience you wanted to ask.

When the candidate arrives, put them at ease by greeting them warmly and offering them a glass of water or cup of tea or introducing them to company staff. Having a drink to hand can be useful if they are nervous or taking a sip can give them an opportunity to think about what to say next.

Outline the structure of the interview before you get to ask the questions; running through a description of the company and outlining the job role also helps to put the candidate at ease.

Don’t forget to take down a few notes about the candidate, either during the interview or at the end. This is especially useful if you’re interviewing a number of people.

Next Steps

At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask your candidate if they have any questions for you.

Be prepared for queries such as:

• Is this role new? How has it evolved?
• Are there opportunities for career progression?
• What does a typical day look like?
• What’s it like to work here from your perspective?
• What training opportunities are available?

Don’t forget to let them know how you will follow up the interview procedure and when they can expect to hear from you.

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“I struggled in school and wasn’t given a diagnosis for my learning needs, as the school I attended weren’t willing to have me tested. My mum ended up paying for me to have the test done privately.�� Once I’d been officially diagnosed I found I really enjoyed being around children with similar needs and realised it was what I wanted to do as a profession.”

Ellie knew she would benefit from gaining more hands-on knowledge, so following the suggestion of her college tutor, researched �ڽ����� and their childcare courses. Ellie discovered that she could not only work to gather the experience she wanted in a nursery setting, but she could also gain the qualification she wanted at the same time.

Unfortunately, Ellie faced many hurdles in her search to find a nursery and was openly discriminated against due to her additional learning needs: Autism, Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome. After being turned down from various other settings, Ellie found a placement with Little Tigers. Rated ‘Good’ by Estyn, the nursery based in Rogiet, has been working with �ڽ����� for over 4 years and offers a variety of services including two settings, a wrap-around service and an after-school and holiday club. Ellie began her Level 3 CCLD qualification and found working on the job suited her learning style much more than being in the traditional classroom environment:��

“What I love most about working with �ڽ����� is that I am actually based in a setting learning. Not removed and just sat in a classroom writing. I prefer being hands on much more and actually being with the children.”

Ellie thrived in this setting, and on completing her Level 3 Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) qualification ahead of time, began discussing further learning options with Little Tigers and �ڽ�����. Deciding she wanted to work with older children, Ellie was then encouraged to enrol on a Level 3 Playwork Apprenticeship. Although she initially found aspects of the course challenging, Ellie thoroughly enjoyed the practical work and with regular visits from her assessor felt hugely supported.

“My assessor is so encouraging and gives positive feedback on how well I am progressing, which has really helped me. She always gives constructive feedback and reminds me of all the brilliant things that I’ve done and learnt. She really understands my blocks to learning and it’s so nice to have that one-on-one support, which I respond really well to, rather than having to compete with 30 other people in the classroom.”

With �ڽ�����, Ellie was also able to undertake the Essential Skills Wales Maths and English qualifications as part of her coursework. Having always struggled with maths at school Ellie passed her exams on her first sitting and feels the support �ڽ����� have given her as played an enormous part in her success.

“I really don’t think I’d have done as well as I have if �ڽ����� hadn’t been so open-minded. My assessor totally understands that not one size fits all when it comes to teaching. I wouldn’t have finished any of my courses as quickly as I have if that approach hadn’t been taken and I’m very lucky that I work in a setting that supports that ethos too.”

Ellie has worked so hard to overcome her barriers to learning and in 2017 was successfully awarded . An incredibly proud moment for both herself and Little Tigers:

“A lot of my old school teachers congratulated me and it was interesting because without �ڽ����� I probably wouldn’t have gotten where I am now and been in a position to win an award.”

Having always hated learning because she felt she had no support, Ellie has officially caught the learning bug. Through �ڽ����� and the support from her Assessor, Ellie has discovered that her literacy abilities have improved enormously. Having previously had negative associations with reading, Ellie proudly finished reading her very first book last year:

“That was such an achievement for me because I’d never been able to read or finish a book before because I just couldn’t do it. Now through the studying I had to do for the coursework my levels and abilities have improved a lot and so has my confidence.”��

Ellie continues to excel and take on new responsibilities in her setting, and having now been promoted to a Deputy Manager position, is undertaking her Level 5 CCLD qualification. She is also the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Coordinator for the Little Tigers setting and regularly undertakes IDPs (Interaction with Disabled Person’s Scales) and meetings with professionals to support the children. Ellie feels her qualifications and experience on the job have played an enormous part in her progression to a senior management position:

“The more courses and levels you do, the more in-depth you go into the knowledge of the job and subject area. I know so much more now and feel confident in my understanding. Without the knowledge from the course and gaining the hands-on experience of working with the children, I wouldn’t be able to do the job I’m doing now.”

As well as taking on new responsibilities, Ellie is unstoppable and is already considering which course she will enrol onto next once she’s completed her CCLD Level 5 qualification.

“I’m potentially thinking of doing a university course, something I would never ever have considered before. In my setting I work and specialise with children with additional needs so I think I’d like to study something along those lines. Now I’ve got my Essential Skills qualifications, as well as the courses I’ve successfully completed with �ڽ�����, they are recognised points which can count towards entry to a university course. I’m also keen to boost my qualifications and do another course with �ڽ����� too.”

Ellie is proof that with the right support, anyone can overcome their barriers to learning and achieve their potential. Commenting on her extraordinary learner journey, Ellie comments:

“Anyone can achieve their potential, if they’re given the right support.�� I recommend �ڽ����� to people all the time as without them I probably wouldn’t have gotten where I am now.”

Not only is Darren only 18 years old and unemployed, he also can’t complete his Apprenticeship that he worked so hard to get on to.

It’s now become our mission to find him another employer who will take him under their wing, allowing him to complete his qualification and continue along the childcare career path and reach his full potential.

Darren is an exceptional young man and was a finalist in the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2016 that took place last month. He has so much to offer and would make an excellent addition to any day care nursery.

If you��have room for Darren in your team, get in touch! We’d love to hear from you. ��

Darren’s story:

Darren Watts has turned a natural gift of supporting siblings and younger cousins into a promising career path. In doing so, the 18-year-old has taken the unusual step of moving from a path in the construction industry to childcare, happily breaking the mould in a predominantly female profession.

Darren followed his male peers into successfully completing Engagement Level Traineeship in Construction through provider �ڽ����� Training on the Prince’s Trust Team programme.

But with the support of �ڽ����� and his mum, he took the brave decision to retrain in childcare where he has excelled, completing Level 1 Traineeship in Childcare while on placement with Appletree Day Nursery, Cardiff and moved onto a Level 2 apprenticeship having been recruited by the nursery.

Commenting on his performance, Darren’s former line manager at Appletree, Laura Edwards, said: “Darren has an excellent manner with the children, the parents love him and he’s flexible and reliable. A male in a nursery setting is unusual but he is a positive role model for the boys.”

The career change has seen Darren, who lives in Butetown, Cardiff, shortlisted for the Traineeship Learner of the Year (Level 1) award at this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which took place at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on 20^th October.

Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals, employers and learning providers who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships, Jobs Growth Wales and Apprenticeship programmes. The awards are sponsored by Pearson PLC and supported by media partner, Media Wales.

Darren said: “I would like to thank �ڽ�����, my mum and Appletree. My ambition is to qualify in childcare but long term I would love to open my own nursery.”

Wales’ Minister for Skills and Science Julie James congratulated all award winners and the shortlisted finalists. “We are proud to be delivering one of the most successful apprenticeship programmes in Europe with success rates in Wales remaining well above 80 per cent,” she said.

“Developing skilled people is vital for our economy. We have some truly exceptional apprentices here in Wales and the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru provide a perfect platform for us to celebrate their hard work and achievements. Equally important are the learning providers and employers who go the extra mile to support their apprentices.”

�ڽ����� and advertising agency The Media Angel hired the Beyoncé��lookalike to tie in with Queen B’s��Formation World Tour date at the Principality Stadium. The PR stunt was carried out in a bid to raise awareness amongst young people of the apprenticeship schemes that �ڽ����� has on offer.

Gemma Shaw, who has worked as a Beyoncé��lookalike for three years, travelled around in an �ڽ����� branded taxi and interacted with fans around Cardiff.

Followed by ‘paparazzi’ and accompanied by an entourage, Gemma handed out details of �ڽ�����’s apprenticeship schemes.

The first sighting of��‘Beyoncé’��was on Wednesday evening, when Gemma arrived at the Park Plaza hotel and was photographed having a drink with �ڽ����� brand ambassador and rugby legend, Jonathan Davies.

On the day of the concert, Gemma visited �ڽ����� apprentices in their workplaces, to use their services and help promote apprenticeship schemes. Firstly she got a coffee at The Early Bird��café��in Cathays and then had her hair done at the Vanilla Rooms salon on Brandreth road, Cardiff.

Leah, a hairdressing apprentice at the Vanilla Rooms salon, said: “It was such great fun to be involved in the stunt. Throughout my apprenticeship with �ڽ����� I’ve learned so many great skills to contribute towards my hairdressing qualification. I used these skills in order to re-create a style for Gemma that helped her look even more like��Beyoncé.

“I think it’s a great idea to try and encourage more young people to consider apprenticeships as part of their future.”

Jayne McGill Harris, �ڽ����� Training’s marketing and PR manager said: “The��Beyoncé��lookalike, Gemma, was spotted all over Cardiff and we’ve had a great reaction on social media. We are hoping that the extra attention our channels are receiving will help to raise awareness of the options available for young people to live, learn and earn with apprenticeships.”��

Alison Debono, managing director of The Media Angel, added “This was a great way to engage with youngsters on an interactive and unique level, ensuring that �ڽ�����’s campaign message Live Learn and Earn was seen by as many potential apprentices as possible.”

�ڽ����� Training offers apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships which can help businesses upskill their existing work forces by offering accredited qualifications in over 30 areas including beauty, IT, team leading and management, and professional services.

As part of the stunt, �ڽ����� is offering people the chance to win a £100 St David’s Gift Card. Those who wish to enter are encouraged to tweet a selfie with �ڽ�����’s branded frame and��Beyoncé��lookalike to @acttrainingltd using #BEYanapprentice before midnight on the third of July.��

A round up of the campaign can be found here: ��

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