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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Centrica
Energy’s Our Business

Sept 09
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Our vision

to be the leading
integrated energy company in
our chosen markets.
Centrica is a top
30 FTSE100
company
 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

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 Most recognised 8000+ little
brand in the UK blue vans
£13 billion
turnover
Innovative
Over 30 million products
customers

Every 20 seconds £7.38 million

someone signs on to donated to
British Gas charity
Relevant news
 Got an interview?

Application Online Telephone

form testing interview

More tests
Competency based Application
interview
Team work
Centre Job
Presentation
Competency questions are
common on application
forms and at interviews
So what is competency based
questioning?
Looking for evidence
of your skills
that 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.
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

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 "Describe a
situation where
you had to
......"

"Give an
example of
when you ....".
Competency Treasure
Hunt
You already meet our competencies

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

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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?

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Q: How do I answer competency
based interviews?

The same way they

are marked :A
The STAR approach
Situation
Context

Task
Goals

Action
Your actions

Review
The end result
Sample question:

“ 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?
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?
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
• Marketing
Programme
• HR
(10 weeks) • Customer Operations
• Analyst
• IS
• Engineering
• Geoscience
Graduate • Finance
Programmes

(2 – 3 years)

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How could you fit in?

Apply Online at:

www.centrica.com/graduates

2011 applications open 4th

October

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Any Questions?
Matthew Leopold
Matthew.leopold@centrica.com