Hays Candidate Attraction Solutions
Department for Work and Pensions
Experience working on a competition with a tight deadline
Clinet: Department for Work & Pensions
Requirement: 51 finance personnel at 4 grades (£32,000 - £70,000), across 5 locations (London, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Blackpool)
Timeframe: Go live 13 Nov 2006, interviews scheduled w/c 11 and 18 Dec 2006
The challenge
With Christmas approaching and such a large complex project to complete, the exercise was divided into 2 parts and the methods of attraction carefully targeted to reach the widest relevant audience yet make best use of the time available.
Planning out any large competition is of course the most important part of the exercise, it allows for a seamless and proactive candidate experience, and ensures that all expectations are managed. Whilst the timeframe for DWP was incredibly tight, due to their transformational change and targets to achieve, Hays were able to present an innovative solution and deliver the exercise in two 4 week periods rather than the usual 6 – 8 week timetable.
How was this achieved?
- Split the vacancies into two phases – 1) Qualified vacancies in the £50,000 - £70,000 bracket – 18 posts and 2) Part Qualified and Qualified vacancies in the £32,000 - £45,000 bracket – 33 posts
- Establish specific timetables at the outset, ensuring that Hays, DWP and all prospective applicants are aware of the interview dates and deadlines
- Remove traditional press advertising and combine online advertising through a central ‘mini-site’ on Hays.com using various external jobsites tailored to suit each vacancy, extensive direct mail to the Hays database (postcard and e-shot mailers), and direct contact with suitable applicants registered with Hays in commutable locations
- Sifting applications against key competency based criteria as they were received so that those that passed the benchmark could be invited to their first interview straight away
Timing
Qualified vacancies in the £50,000 - £70,000 bracket – 18 posts
Live date: 13 November 2006
Closing date: 1 December 2006
1st Interviews: 24 November – 5 December 2006
Final Interviews: w/c 11 and 18 December 2006
Part Qualified and Qualified vacancies in the £32,000 - £45,000 bracket – 33 posts
Live date: 22 December 2006
Closing date: 12 January 2007
1st Interviews: 8 – 19 January 2007
Final Interviews: w/c 22 and 29 January 2007
Outcome
Hays achieved over an 80% fill rate in this exercise with some vacancies withdrawn or filled from internal promotion, and some added to a final phase of 43 vacancies that went live Spring 2007.
