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.
Your face to face interview will be completed remotely using Zoom; a video conferencing application available on the internet via an internet browser or a mobile app store. If you will be using a mobile or tablet device, please download the Zoom app from your app store beforehand. If you will be using a laptop or computer with internet browser, you do not need to download anything beforehand. Whatever device you use, you will be able to access your interview via a link that we will email to you the day before, or the morning of your interview. Please check beforehand that you have a suitable working space with a secure, wired internet connection with a minimum of 10mbps ‘download’ speed.
