Details

30 mins, 2006

Getting a job is one of life’s big challenges. But how does it look from the employers’ point of view? This documentary looks at how a small business, a hospital, and a supermarket recruit their staff.

SMALL BUSINESS: Small business SNS supplies computer networks to schools and has to work out their job specification for a new position from scratch. They advertise the job by means of word of mouth and look at how well presented the applicants’ letters and CVs are.

HOSPITAL: East Kent and Canterbury hospital is looking to fill a vacancy for an office job with important responsibilities – ensuring cancer patients get their treatment on time. Unlike the small business, the hospital advertises the job both in the local newspaper and internally – and the wording of the ad is a crucial consideration.

SUPERMARKET: Giant supermarket Asda asks its candidates to fill in an application form – except it’s more like a questionnaire designed to weed out people with the wrong personality. Asda also asks candidates to come to a group assessment which involves a form of psychometric testing.

THE INTERVIEW: All three organisations make their final decisions at the interview stage. The small business interviewers mark their candidates under particular headings, such as enthusiasm and leadership. The hospital puts a lot of store by supporting statements. In the supermarket, body language and appearance turn out to be important factors.

DVD EXTRAS include an extra interview, the group assessment, plus: “The Problem with Interviews”.

Key Topics

• Recruitment
• Interviewing
• Careers
• Communication