I have long ago sent off all the forms and signed my contract. I now have about 6 weeks before my placement is due to start. I am quite excited about starting and just want to get my uni exams over and done with.

Even though 6 weeks sound like a long time, I’m sure it’s going to fly by. In that time, I still need to sort out somewhere to live. Since my placement is nowhere near home (150 miles would be a long commute!) I have got to find somewhere to stay.

I have been keeping an eye on any places in or around Bracknell but it’s quite difficult trying to judge a place based on a few little photos on a website. With the upcoming exams I am not going to have time to take a day out to go and view properties.

So, my “Plan B” is to stay in local Halls of Residence for the first couple of weeks so I can look for properties when I get down there. Failing that I will just have to sleep in my car!

I know what sort of property I want, but there aren’t many out there and the ones I can find are quite expensive. I’m sure I will find somewhere eventually!

However, main priorities now are these uni exams. I suppose I better go and get some revision done!

Craig

Most recruitment processes I have come across over the last 8 months or so seem to be pretty similar with online application, online tests, telephone interview and assessment centre. Of course there are variations but here is my experience of the Fujitsu Services process.

First of all comes the application form. This was online and had all the basics (personal details, education etc) and also a few open answer questions which needed a bit more thought. These questions were trying to establish my motivations for applying, an example of when I had exceeded expectations and influenced someone more senior. A lot of applications have the same sort of questions. I had completed my application in mid-February.

The day after I applied, I got an email saying I was successful at the application stage and asked me to do an online test. Most of the online test I had done before were numerical and verbal but this one was abstract reasoning. It was designed to test logic and involved a series of shapes and patterns and asked me to fill in the missing shape.

Three days later I was asked to complete a telephone interview which was my first interview by phone. This consisted of many typical interview questions, some of which related to the application form.

Another week had passed and I was progressed to the assessment centre stage. Although I would not call myself an assessment centre veteran, I knew roughly what to expect. I was given a schedule in advance of what tasks I would be required to do at the assessment centre. This would consist of an individual interview, presentation, group exercise, verbal and numerical tests and a Q&A session with current graduates.

Unlike the other assessment centres I had been to, this was only half a day (the others were a day). As I arrived, the first task was a written numerical and verbal test. Then it was on to the interview which was one-to-one and lasted about 45 minutes. This was much more in depth than the telephone interview and consisted of “standard” interview questions. The next task was to prepare and give a presentation. The topic was not given in advance but on the day and we were given about half an hour to prepare a presentation (on flip charts – no PowerPoint). This sounded quite daunting but when I got in the room to give my presentation, the audience consisted of one person (who would later become my manager!).

As I entered the room for my presentation with all my flipcharts, paper etc in hand; I dropped it all! Not quite the ice-breaker I was planning. Still, on I went and I gave a ten minute presentation and answered ten minutes of questions relating to it. As many presentations do, this one went much better than anticipated. The last item on my agenda for the day was a group exercise in which the five of us at the assessment centre that day were given a scenario and we had to make recommendations. That was the end of the day.

Then began the worst part – the waiting. After two days I got the phone call and was told that I had got the job. After 6 months of a placement search, I was so excited it was over. From start to finish, the Fujitsu Services placement search was over in just under three weeks.

As I said, many application processes are similar. I hope that gives some insight.

Craig

In hindsight, I can remember the long enduring process which was the process of the dreaded “placement search”. At the start of my second year I remember having numerous lectures and employment visits and help about how to get a placement. At this point, a placement seemed ages away and with the onset of coursework, my placement search slipped towards the bottom of my to-do list.

Up until Christmas, the applications I made were few and far between with limited success. I had my first assessment centre with Intel in December which was an insight in to what is expected at an assessment centre. Although I didn’t get that job I was still hopeful because I had an assessment centre with PSA Peugeot-Citroen the week after so my attention turned to preparing for that. I didn’t get this one either.

I left for Christmas and was focused on revision again but after the January exams the applications started up again in earnest.

It wasn’t until February I had my assessment centre with Fujitsu Services. Receiving the phone call two days later, I was so nervous/excited. When they told me that I had got the job I was ecstatic. I was pleased that my placement search was finally over and I had got a good placement at the end.

If I were to give advice to anyone beginning their search, I would say to keep up a steady stream of applications (but be selective – don’t just apply for any job!) and be positive. It’s too easy to be negative and you don’t want this to show at interview. Finally, there are so many sources of help out there so you can create a good CV, practice interview techniques and application forms.

The placement search did have its tough times (well no one likes being rejected!) but it’s all turned out well in the end.

Craig

Name: Craig Harris

Age: 20

University: Loughborough University

Course: Management Sciences

Company: Fujitsu Services

Job Role: Human Resources

Hi

My name is Craig Harris and I’m currently studying Management Sciences at Loughborough University. I’ve secured a placement at Fujitsu Services working in the HR department in Bracknell. Here I will share my experiences; the good, the bad and the ugly; hopefully more of the first ones though.

Craig