4 stage interview process after I had applied for an advertisement I found online. Stage 1 - Short telephone interview asking my current situation, why I have chosen to apply for the role, what skills I have that are relevant to recruitment and what I know about recruitment. Stage 2 - Invited in for a 1:1 interview. Took approx 45-60 mins. Discussed again what I know about recruitment, what do I know about hays and why my skills are relevant for recruitment. Stage 3 - Assessment centre which you may have to travel for. I was in a group of 8 people. We watched a video about hays and had to each in turn stand up and introduce ourselves, where we are applying for and our employment history. We did a few exercises as a group including role plays. Make sure you have a researched Hays because you could be asked a few questions before you get started with the role plays. You are all given a statement about recruitment at random and have to give a small speech on what you know about the sentence you are given I.e explain 360 recruitment. Role plays you have to pretend call a potential business looking to sell yourself as a recruitment consultant for them, just try and secure a time and date to have a meeting face to face. Next you will have to write an advertisement for a job role, and next you will have to pitch a fake candidate to potential employers. You will be made to think on your feet so be prepared for your role play to go in an unexpected direction, you get to use creative freedom so think on your feet and challenge any objections you get. It's not like other role plays at other interviews you may have done where the interview just goes a long with the easiest unrealistic sale, these guys recruit for a living so expect to be tested, but in a good way. You'll then be given a tour of the office. Relax for your assessment centre and be yourself. Stage 4 - interview with a director and senior consultant. Here they want to get to know you personally, your background both academically/employment and your personal life. They want to see what kind of person you are, what motivates you and to see if you suit the team they probably already have in mind for you to join. Be clued up on hays do your research! Make sure you know the core values of hays and be prepared to bring them into your answers. All the staff and interviewers were brilliant and professional throughout my experience interviewing and made me feel at ease. As long as you genuinely want to be there and show enthusiasm to work for such a reputable company I think they will see this in you. Good luck !!

Hiring manager was very helpful - I felt prepared going into the interview. I did feel that by the end of the process I wasn't 100% sure why I wasn't selected.