Selection, Assessment and Recruitment Accreditation Training
James Mitchell - Selection and Assessment Consultant
Barclays, the international banking group was enjoying a period of rapid growth and required substantial numbers of new branch and office staff, from trainee to management levels. James Mitchell was one of a team of associate recruitment experts selected to help satisfy the requirement. Following initial telephone interviews, selected candidates attended assessment centres that tested them in competency based interviews, role plays, group exercises and presentations (depending on their seniority).
Following the success of this programme, Barclays senior management chose members of the team to provide training, in selection and assessment techniques, to their line managers, to enable them to recruit staff in the longer term, to select candidates for promotion and to address individual training needs.
James Mitchell was one of a team of recruitment experts, working on the selection and recruitment of staff, at all levels, for Barclays, the international banking group. Assessment Centres were held, nationwide. To a great extent, these mirrored the centres held for Boots plc, cited separately. Candidates were assessed honestly and fairly and any who were unsuccessful were offered feedback, to help them improve their technique for future interviews.
The programme was highly successful. However, Barclays senior management saw value in having their line managers carry out their own assessment centres, for the purposes of recruitment, promotion and training needs analysis . Members of the assessment team were selected to provide training. Courses were held over two days and covered:
- Equality and Diversity, to ensure adherence to UK and European law
- Competency based interviewing and
- Observation of: Role plays, Group exercises and Presentations
Delegates were required to show evidence that they had reached the required standard, otherwise they received comprehensive feedback and were invited to attend another training course. Successful delegates were mentored and given ongoing practical experience, by the in-house recruitment team of Barclays, ensuring their complete understanding of the process. These courses were regarded as successful and, in the main, Barclays line managers continue to carry out much of their own recruitment.