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Advice post it note

The secrets of selection

– an iamrhp guide to becoming a successful candidate. We understand that applying for a new job can be daunting, not to mention the nerves that come with getting an interview. Therefore we have put together some handy tips on covering letters, CVs, our application form and how to shine if you come in to meet us.

23/08/2011

Get it covered! – the dos and don’ts of a great covering letter

We don’t ask for a covering letter as standard, however we welcome one if you feel that it will add value, and tells us something that your CV or application does not.

Do:

  • Keep it short and factual – no more than one page!
  • Make sure you quote the job that you’re applying for
  • Show us a bit of personality and why you feel you are RHP!
  • Make sure its specific to the role that you’re applying for
  • Check your spelling and grammar

Don't:

  • Send out standard covering letters for different positions
  • Include irrelevant information
  • Send a covering letter for the sake of it. If it adds nothing to your application then don’t include one

A brilliant CV? - Easy Peasy!

Don’t underestimate the importance of having a good CV. We get a lot of applications for our jobs, so having a brilliant CV will help you stand out from the pack, and will make us want to meet you.

Help us out by making your CV clear, well presented and relevant for the role that you’re applying for. This is your chance to blow your own trumpet so make sure you shout about any of your key achievements!

We are honest and helpful at RHP, and look for the same qualities in anyone that joins us, so please stick to the facts and avoid the temptation to embellish the truth!

We may be stating the obvious, but always include your name, address, phone number and email address. Let us know if you have a preferred method of communication.

It is up to you how you present your CV, but stick to two sides tops, and make sure you include all of the following information:

  • Contact details
  • Work experience
  • Education and Qualifications
  • Relevant skills

The dos and don’ts of writing a brilliant CV:

Do:

  • Make it short and snappy! Two sides max.
  • Use short sentences/ bullet points
  • Concentrate on your most relevant skills and experience and put your most recent job at the top
  • Use clear highlighted headings
  • Keep it simple – fancy fonts and graphics won’t impress us
  • Highlight your achievements and not just your responsibilities.
  • Get the basics right, making sure you include all of your contact details (address, mobile number and email address)

Don't:

  • Make stuff up! We’ll only find out through our interview, assessment or referencing process
  • Let yourself down with bad spelling and grammar
  • Be afraid of stats – use numbers where appropriate, e.g. revenue figures; size of budget; size of teams or volumes of customers handled etc
  • Leave any gaps in your experience. Whatever the reason for the gap, tell us, we’ll probably find it interesting!

A question of service

We want to set the standard for excellent customer service - not just in the housing world but across all service industries. Therefore instead of a traditional application form, we ask candidates applying for any role to complete a set of customer service based questions. Before we even look at a CV we use the answers to these questions as the first filter to see if someone has the potential to say ‘iamrhp’ or not. With this in mind, take time when answering these questions and provide clear, concise answers using specific examples from your personal experience.

Once your foot’s in the door

If we think you look like you could be RHP we will invite you in to meet us. It is incredibly important that we hire someone who is the right fit for us with the skills and experience to be brilliant at the job. We therefore take a lot of care over our selection processes and tailor what we do to each role.

If you are invited in to meet us, you can expect the following selection process for each role:

Manager roles:

Full day assessment centre involving a range of exercises that test the skills required for the role. The day will also involve a 40 minute interview that will focus on your experience. In some cases you will also have a chance to visit one of our sites.

Advisor/ specialist/ admin/ customer service centre roles:

You will be invited in for a few hours and will be asked to carry out 2/3 exercises that test the skills required for the role. The assessment will also involve a 40 minute interview that will focus on your experience.

Caretaker roles:

Caretaker assessments will take place out on one of our sites. There will be some walking and talking and you will be asked to make some observations on what you see. There may be some practical element to the assement and you will have a short interview.

Dos and don’ts of a successful assessment day

Do:

  • Prepare, prepare, prepare! You’ll be giving up some of your precious time to come and meet us so make sure you do your homework and make the most of the opportunity
  • Do your research! Surf our website, read our annual report, google us! Do whatever you can to check out what makes us tick before you get here
  • When answering a question, be clear, specific and concise
  • Come with an open mind and a positive attitude
  • Learn something from the day
  • Listen
  • Have respect for your fellow candidates
  • Make sure that we see your potential
  • Use it as an opportunity to see if we are a right fit for you
  • Be honest

Don’t

  • Be late
  • Come without a clear understanding of what the role is and who we are as a company
  • Moan! We don’t do moaning at RHP so a negative attitude will definitely put us off
  • Be afraid to ask questions
  • Waffle – we love a clear, succinct answer that includes a specific example
  • Pretend that you know everything. We don’t expect people to be perfect, so if you don’t know something, be honest about it

All that remains for us to say is good luck! We hope to meet you soon!