I applied online. The process took 4 days. I interviewed at Hays (London, England) in Oct 2016
Interview
Applied online with CV, received a phone call following afternoon. Make sure you have fully researched the company when applying because interview questions will be surrounding your background but also what you know on Hays.
Was invited for a face to face interview within the same week. Involved a little role play to see how you how you handle how unpredictable recruitment can be. You're given a few minutes to prepare and a in depth feedback on how you did. Make sure you research into recruitment and what it involves. What drives/motivates you etc. Take on board all feedback because you can implement in next stages. I was told then that I was invited to the assessment center.
Assessment centre was intense and again a lot of role play but this time in front of a group. Role plays included selling yourself as an expert recruitment consultant, business development role play, selling a candidate to a client. Everyone is given feedback so keep taking it on board. They are looking for confidence and a self starter.
Unfortunately I was unsuccessful here due to not showing enough drive. They have asked me to apply again in January as the market is a little slower then. I have since progressed in several interviews with competitors with a big brand. The feedback I received on all stages of the interview at Hays has definitely played a factor in that success.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why hays?
What is recruitment
What is 360 recruitment
First screening call with internal recruiter followed by Round table role play with country head with around 5-6 candidates in total, in person. The purpose would be to test how you handle rejections.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Pretend you are calling a prospective client and they would go through a mock cold call
I had a video interview with HR. After a week, I had an in-person interview with two managers from different teams. The HR told me I got into the final round where I needed to do a role play,
Hays managed recruitment for a big 4 bank, I applied and someone with fake name arranged a phone call interview - which is fine although they don’t even include anyone’s names in the email. Then they called me 2 hours earlier than the time I booked - which is fine because we’re going to have a chat anyway. The guy sounds like no emotion at all - which is also fine because nobody really cares. HOWEVER, when I started talking, there’s a dead silence on the other end, no reactions AT ALL for 3 minutes straight, and then they started to cut me off and throw some questions at you, with no common sense at all. I was explaining myself with some questions that I don’t have to explain to any other recruiter ever, and the guy kept going like I did something wrong. I stayed in manner and professionally this whole time trying to give answers to their questions like ‘but where are you located, why didn’t you say that in your resume’ - no questions were asking those in JD, why am I have to explain myself like a criminal? And the fact that Hays recruiter has no professional manner and basic understanding is just ridiculous! At the end he kept saying ‘we CANNOT help you’ - excuse me, has anyone asked for help??? And they ended the call like I cheated. Hays recruitment is RUDE, ARROGANT, UNPROFESSIONAL, they think they are the centre of the entire universe, just imagine working for them as your contractor. They have NO ETHICS at all!!!