#60: Secrets of the graduate recruitment process with Sophie Milliken

In episode 60 of the Graduate Job Podcast I bring you someone who knows the graduate recruitment business inside out, Sophie Milliken from Smart Resourcing Solutions. Sophie is a former graduate recruiter for John Lewis, the upmarket department store here in the UK, who left their to set up Smart Resourcing Solutions where she now designs and runs graduate recruitment schemes for many of the big high street companies that many of you will be applying to. This insight means that Sophie is ideally placed to spill the beans on exactly what you need to do to get that graduate job. We cover the ins and outs of the graduate recruitment process, looking at why only 3%, yes 3% of people made it through the online application stage at John Lewis, and what you need to do make sure that you are one of them. We cover psychometric testing, assessment centres, job interviews, group exercises, presentations, if it’s involved in the process we cover it, and look at top tips, insider secrets, and what you need to do stand out from the crowd and get the job. If you are going to be applying for a graduate job anytime soon then this is an episode that you aren’t going to want to miss. As always, all links to everything we discuss today with links and a full transcript are available right this very moment in the show notes at www.graduatejobpodcast.com/graduaterecruitment. Before we start a quick request from me, your feedback helps me to create the episodes you want to hear, so I’ve set up a super simple and very quick survey, as I want the show to best serve your needs. It’s got 5 questions and will take you a minute, so please check it out at http://www.graduatejobpodcast.com/survey. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. But in the meantime, let’s crack on with the show.

You can listen to it here, or additionally, you can subscribe via Spotify, iTunes, or Stitcher radio.

MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT:

• Why only 3% of the applicants to the John Lewis graduate scheme made it passed the online application
• The key characteristics you need to succeed at a graduate job assessment centre
• The secrets to standing out as you apply for a graduate job
• Common mistakes that let people down in their online applications
• Why straight A candidates often fall at the first hurdle when applying for a graduate job
• How and why graduate recruitment schemes are developed
• What assessors are really looking for at graduate job assessment centres