Tips & Advice

• Application

  Don’t forget the basics.

  Make sure your CV is up to date – we’d like to know what you’re doing currently, or what you’ve done recently.

  We want to know about your work experience, of course, but what else have you done?

  Perhaps you’ve taken part in voluntary work, challenging projects, travel, sports or professional development.

  Bear in mind which job you’re applying for and make sure you tell us which skills you have that closely match what we’re looking for.

  This might seem like common sense, but make sure you check for spelling mistakes and other errors too.

• Online Assessment

  Use the practice tests available to familiarise yourself with what’s required of you.

  You’ll find additional practice materials and tips at www.shldirect.com

  Find somewhere quiet that’s free from interruption to complete the tests. That will give you a chance to really show us what you can do.

• Interview

  Good preparation is by far the best way to ensure you get the most out of the interview experience.

  Learn as much as you can about us You’ll find lots of useful information on this site. We’re also on linkedin and facebook and you can follow us there too.

  Research the position and the skills and behaviours required. When preparing for your interview, try think about your own experiences and specific examples that show how you measure up.

  Think about how you would structure an answer to a competency-based question.

  These types of questions usually begin “Give us an example of ……” or “Tell us about a time when …….” You should set the scene by providing a brief background to the situation, describe what you had to achieve, tells us in detail how you achieved it, and then let us know what the outcome was.

  When you answer these questions the assessors are interested in your specific role and actions during a particular situation so make sure you focus on the ‘I’ rather than ‘we’.

• On the day

  Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions.

  If you don’t understand the question don’t be afraid to ask us to repeat or rephrase it. We’ll be happy to.

  Remember the interview is your opportunity to get information from us so come prepared with your questions.

  Finally, remember to be yourself. You’ve got this far and we’ve liked what we’ve seen. We’d just like to see that in more detail.