first direct is all about people and individuality and so we want you to relax and be yourself throughout the recruitment process. Remember, we’re not trying to catch you out, we just need to ensure you have the right skills to deliver the amazing customer service that our customers have come to expect.
Preparation is the key…
Before we have that first conversation together, make sure you’ve done your research. Do the hours available suit your lifestyle? Is transport going to be an issue? Can you see yourself having a career at first direct or are you simply looking for a stop-gap job? Most importantly, is this the kind of role you can see yourself doing for at least 12 months?
We don’t expect you to know every fact and figure about first direct but we are interested in your own personal reasons for joining us. Everything you need to know about us is here on our website.
As we will be asking you some competency based questions, you need to think about your own skills and experiences and how you can transfer them to the role you’ve applied for. We will want you to demonstrate your ability to influence, work within a team and deliver excellent customer service amongst others.
Don’t worry if you have little or no work experience to your name. There are probably other ways you have demonstrated relevant skills. Think about the challenges and achievements you’ve experienced in school or college, in a sports team or at home raising a family. Just ensure you pick out your strongest examples which show you at your best. Remember, we can only go on what you tell us so don’t be shy about singing your own praises and keep your answers clear and concise.
Make sure you’ve brushed up on your best telephone voice as it’s important we see you have a clear and friendly manner whilst maintaining a professional tone. We don’t expect Queens English, but do try your best to avoid slang, jargon and colloquialisms. Your role is likely to involve building rapport so don’t be afraid to build one with us – we promise we won’t bite.
Following your CV application, you will receive a call to complete telephone screening with our friendly recruitment team. Should you be successful, you will be invited to attend a face to face interview at our Leeds or Hamilton office where you get a sneak peak of our fd family and environment. As a fully inclusive business we embrace anyone who needs things doing a little differently, therefore there are opportunities to let us know if you require any adjustments to your interview process as part of the Disability Confidence Scheme.
