How Employable Are You?
Standfirst: With the job market set to go ballistic after the holidays, how prepared are you to knock recruiters dead with your 'placeableness'?
It's silly season - which to recruiters means only one thing: the annual job-hunting frenzy is just around the corner. It's crucial that your consultant has the confidence to recommend you to their top clients and for the best jobs - without fear that they'll be asked for the placement fee back. How impressive are you?
So, your consultant is preparing you to meet his number one client, a prestigious FTSE 100 blue-chip company.
| 1 | He asks what transferable skills you'd offer his client. You say: | |
| a | You once did henna tattoos for your friends at the Big Chill - you were a bit out of it on pills at the time but think you can remember the basics | |
| b | You currently use Excel macros to evaluate sales of various products across a range of locations, so it would just be a case of getting the hang of the terminology | |
| c | You don't hold with new-fangled HR jargon - never mind 'transferable skills': you can do the job, surely that's all they need to know? | |
| d | It can't be that difficult - if need be, you'd read up about their industry in the trade press - provided they make you the offer | |
| 2 | The client likes results-orientated people - you'll probably be asked what you consider your main achievements so far this year. Yours are: | |
| a | Taking part in a corporate team that ran the London Marathon and raised over £50,000 for charity, while still getting the year-ends in on time | |
| b | Spearheading a campaign against excessive executive pay, whose targets included your own MD and FD, embarrassing them into taking cuts | |
| c | Personally identifying over £100,000 of cost-savings via a ruthless internal audit that cracked down on unnecessary travel and hospitality expense claims? | |
| d | Being first in your office to finish the new Harry Potter | |
| 3 | Your consultant recommends asking the client about their corporate social responsibility activities. You suggest: | |
| a | Advancing the view that climate change is just a load of fuss and nonsense, recycling costs more money than it saves and environmentalists must have been unloved in child | |
| b | Researching relevant CSR web pages to figure out how the company's policies might impact on the finance team's work and taking it from there | |
| c | Informing them they'd be a more considerate corporate citizen by implementing even greener policies, and to look sharp about it | |
| d | Calculating the company's carbon footprint and comparing it to its competitors, as you're convinced it's shockingly unfavourable | |
| 4 | Your consultant tells you (nervously) that the company has a range of options for flexible working hours. What do you plan to ask about it? | |
| a | What the company does to promote work-life balance - as your current employer is a stickler for time-keeping | |
| b | How come they don't realise that flexible working is just an excuse for skivers | |
| c | I hear duvet days are on offer - how soon do they kick in after commencing employment? | |
| d | Absolutely nothing | |
| 5 | You're told that part of your training would include a workshop on ethics in finance. Your response - which you plan to share at interview - is: | |
| a | Delight - you've read up on all the famous cases and know your professional body's policies inside out but there's always more to learn | |
| b | Relief - you've never quite got the hang of what's right and wrong in your current job and could do with brushing up | |
| c | Contempt - accountants spend too much time apologising for a few rotten apples; they shouldn't need training in honesty | |
| d | Amazement - surely financial scandals such as Enron and WorldPay equate to nicking from the stationery cupboard, just on a grander scale? You blame the auditors | |
| 6 | You'd be required to work on various projects - what do you tell your consultant about how you're planning to present your credentials? | |
| a | You're so anal about organisation and time schedules that even you wonder how you'd get out the house in the morning without MS Project | |
| b | You're well-used to working with people in other departments on one-off initiatives, and you enjoy seeing things through from start to finish | |
| c | You didn't do group work at uni as you were never there but you still have your A level geography project on farming in Lapland (and you got a B) | |
| d | You've never been assigned to projects before as your boss said he couldn't afford to lose his right-hand man | |
| 7 | The post has three direct reports you'd be supervising; the client has told your recruitment consultant they'll be looking for evidence of people management competencies. You say: | |
| a | You'll soon show them who's boss but what authority would you have for sacking them if they don't whip themselves into shape? | |
| b | You don't like upsetting or controlling people but you'll give it a whirl as long as they give proper management training | |
| c | Surely they'll be able to tell you're a born leader of men? | |
| d | You've already coached some school-leavers in your current job and won favourable comments in your last appraisal; you're now ready for the next step | |
Award yourself the following points, according to your answers:
1. a.0 b.6 c.2 d.4
2. a.6 b.2 c.4 d.0
3. a.2 b.4 c.0 d.6
4. a.2 b.4 c.0 d.6
5. a.6 b.2 c.4 d.0
6. a.4 b.6 c.0 d.2
7. a.0 b.4 c.2 d.6
How did you score?
Here's how our 'virtual recruitment consultant' rates your chances:
42: You're a recruiter's dream - the champagne's already on ice (for me)
32-40: If you don't get this, you'll definitely get more offers; I'll make sure of it
24-30: You'll probably get a second interview - you just need to 'work it' a bit more; don't be so obsessed with saying the right thing, tell them what they want to hear
16-22: Edging dangerously towards loser territory - you probably need to downgrade your expectations; the FTSE's not for you (come to think of it, respectable employment maybe isn't your bag either)
0-14: The accountancy career's not looking good - but you have you considered a job as a recruitment consultant?
