When we recruit new co-workers, there are three parts to the process – the application form, the practical assessment and the interview. Here are some tips from our HR department to help you through each stage.
The Application Form
The application form is your first point of contact with the company – your first chance to make a good impression, and the first thing we look at in deciding if you’re the sort of person we are looking for. To give your application the best chance of success:
- Apply online via our website if at all possible – this makes it easier and quicker for us to deal with your application.
- Tell us why you want to work supporting adults with severe learning disabilities. The most important qualifications for this work are compassion and a genuine desire to improve the lives of the people we support. Show us that you care!
- Complete the online application or paper application form in full. We know it’s quite a lengthy form, but we really do need all the information we ask for.
- Tell us about your whole employment history. If there are gaps, tell us why, and don’t forget to include any voluntary work.
- Be honest. We expect you to present the best image of yourself, but please don’t put anything on the form that isn’t true.
- Write clearly, using formal language and correct spelling and punctuation. An important part of your job will be completing records and forms, and a good application form shows us that you will be able to do this.
- Don’t forget to include any relevant qualifications or anything else which will show us that you are the right person for the job.
The Practical Assessment
For the practical assessment, you will be invited to spend up to four hours visiting one of our homes. This gives us an opportunity to see how you respond to the people we support, and how they respond to you. It also gives you the chance to experience our working environment and make sure it’s right for you. To get the most out of your assessment visit:
- Wear comfortable, casual, practical clothes and shoes. Avoid wearing jewellery and if you have long hair keep it tied back.
- Arrive with an open mind. The people we support all have their own unique needs and show these in their own way.
- Listen to the instructions given to you by our co-workers. Small things can make a big difference to the people we support, so help them by doing what you are asked to do.
- Join in with activities as much as you can, guided by our support workers.
- Ask lots of questions.
- Be positive – remember that you are being assessed on the way you interact with your co-workers as well as the people you support.
The Interview
After the assessment visit (normally on the same day) there will be a formal interview. This normally lasts around 45 minutes and will be with a senior member of staff in one of our homes. You will be asked about why you want to work with us, and about specific qualities we are looking for. To succeed at the interview:
- Before the interview, think about why you want this job, and why you want to work for Liaise. Find out as much as you can about who we are and what we do.
- Think about the qualities we are looking for in our support workers, and how things you have done before show that you have these qualities. Prepare some specific examples to tell us about.
- During the interview, listen to the questions, and answer them carefully. The purpose of the questions is to give you the chance to tell us what you can do. If you don’t have work experiences you can tell us, about experiences from family, volunteering, or sports and hobbies.
- Show us that you care. The most important things we are looking for are compassion and the desire to help the people we support live the life they choose, so make sure this comes across in your interview.
- Prepare some questions beforehand to ask us during the interview. Not only does this create a good impression, but if you prepare questions beforehand it helps you not to forget to ask something important because of the pressure of the interview.
If you have any questions about working for us or our recruitment process, email careers@liaise.com or call us on 08450949295.
