The Applications Module
Business simulation – group work
Work in groups of three.
You are Fanny David, the personnel officer of an organisation called Make
Poverty History. This organisation aims at improving the conditions of poor
people in Africa. The organisation has employed a small team of liaison
officers to visit schools and colleges in order to explain the work and aims of
the organisation. Recently one of the senior officers handed in her notice
because she found another job with better hours.
It is now your job to arrange an interview to select a replacement for this
member of staff.
1. On the following page you will find a job specification and two CVs.
Look through these pages carefully.
2. Then read the CVs and references on the three candidates.
3. Decide which candidate will be invited for an interview.
4. When you have made a selection, read the Practically Speaking pages.
5. Distribute the roles and act out the interview.
Student 1:
Fanny David
Student 2:
Sheila Craig
(education
officer)
Peter Williams
(southern
region)
Selected
candidate
Student 3:
Student 3:
read the job
and prepare
read the job
and prepare
and employee specification again
questions
and employee specification again
questions
read the job and employee specification again
and prepare questions
Read your CV and references carefully and
prepare answers
1
JOB SPECIFICATION
Position
Schools Liaison Officer (South of England)
Employer
Department of Education, local council
Location
Based at headquarters in Tonbridge, Kent. A lot of travelling will be
required to schools throughout the South.
Responsible to
Sheila Craig, education officer
Aims
o
o
o
o
Responsibilities
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Improve the awareness and understanding of secondary school
students and teachers
Encourage active participation
Fund raising
Putting schools in contact with local organisers
Send out literature to all secondary schools in the South of England
Plan lecture tours of schools both in the area
Follow up queries on the work of MPH by personal visits, e--mail
contacts or mail. Keep a detailed record of schools visited and
contacts
Develop and update local website
Encourage support for local projects by putting interested schools in
touch with local organisers
Research ways of stimulating interest in the work of MPH in schools
Keep up-to-date his/her knowledge of MPH projects and the law
Contacts
The schools Liaison Officer is a member of a team of 5 SLO's who cover all
the secondary schools in Britain. Regular meetings are held between SLO’s.
Reports are written for the Education Officer and weekly meetings are
arranged between the SLO and the Education Officer. SLO’s are
occasionally required to attend other meetings relevant to their work.
Conditions
H.Q. at Tonbridge keeps office hours. The SLO shares an office there and
has secretarial back-up. Most of his/her work will be done to suit the
school timetable. Some evening and weekend work will be necessary, for
which the SLO arranges to take time off in lieu. Holidays should be taken
during school holiday periods.
Payment
Annual salary of £19,000. Possibility of paying slightly more for excellent
applicant. Car and petrol allowance. Pension scheme.
Promotion
prospects
Promotion within the education department is strictly limited but promotion
into other departments of MPH is possible.
2
EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION
Position: Schools Liaison Officer (South of England)
Qualities wanted
Physical
Good health record, smart, if possible aged around 30
Attainments
Education: academic degree or teacher training certificate or equivalent
Experience: evidence of success in secondary or tertiary level teaching or
in PR department of private company or charity.
o If possible evidence of ability to organise own time.
o If possible evidence of some experience of office work and IT-skills
in data filing and Word.
Abilities
Good speaker. Car driver.
Disposition
Confidence. Friendly and persuasive personality. Interest in and awareness
of the work of MPH and other organisations working for the poor. Willing to
work in a team.
o If possible evidence of leadership e.g. at school or college or sports
club.
o If possible evidence of commitment to aims of MPH and similar
charities e.g. voluntary work experience.
Circumstances
Willingness to be away from home overnight from time to time and work
irregular hours. Home in South or willing to move to the area. Home
computer.
Stable family life.
Memo
To
From
Date
Sheila Craig
Fanny David
7th August
Dear Sheila
From the dates you offered me I would prefer the interviews for the selection of the South
of England Schools Liaison Officer to be held on September 30th.
I agree to your suggested interview panel: myself, you and Peter Williams from our
southern region local organisers' committee.
As far as “any other points" are concerned I think we should definitely be careful about
choosing someone who looks good at the interview but who has not got the right family
circumstances to cope with the unsocial hours. However, how one finds out about such
things I just do not know!
3
CANDIDATE 1
Name: Mat Sayers
Age: 34
Address: Woodcock Lane, Wimminge, East Sussex; (after Oct. 1) Teheran Postal Box 95
(I’m staying in Iran 3 months)
Home telephone: 0557-5680621
Work telephone 0557-2385346
Email address: [email protected]
Do you suffer from any recurring illness or disability? If so, give details.
No
Education and professional training
Dates
Institutions attended
Qualifications obtained
2000
Ashford grammar school
A-levels in maths, sciences
2002
London University
chemical engineering
2003
Realchem ltd
Sales training course
History of employment
dates
name and address employer
Main responsibilities
salary
2003-04
Weeland Chemicals
engineering, starting up new
plants
15,000
2004
Weeland Chemicals
Sales manager, visiting clients
16,500
2005
Realchem ltd
Sales manager, training staff in
Iran
18,500
perks
Do you have a current driving licence? yes
Give details of your spare-time activities, include details of any clubs you have belonged to,
any positions of responsibility held, and any voluntary work undertaken since school.
I participated in church activities, worked in a parish youth club. Computers are a hobby.
Why are you applying for this post?
Church became important to me. I have an excellent position at the moment, but feel I
need to improve people’s lives.
Give the names, addresses and occupations of two people who have agreed to give you a
reference for this application.
Rev. Peter Walker, St. Hugh’s,
Mickleborough
Mr Stephen Gaskell, Realchem ltd, Calcott,
Charles street, London SW 2 (manager
overseas operations)
Signature: Mat Sayers
Date: September 10
4
Rev Peter Walker
The Vicarage
St. Hugh’s, Mickleborough
East Sussex KF45 TY4
To Make Poverty History
C/O BOND
Regent's Wharf
8 All Saint's Street
London
N1 9RL
Dear Ms Craig
Mr Sayers has been coming to our church for more than a year now. He is an honest and
trustworthy man who has done much work for St. Hugh’s. I would be pleased to hear that
he could take up a job nearer home, because he has been travelling a lot and would like to
be with his family and do church work more. I am sure he would be a great asset to your
organisation, just as he has proved to be for our church.
Yours sincerely
P. Walker
5
CANDIDATE 2
Name: Patsy Green
Age 29
Address: 34 King Charles Rd, Liminge
Home telephone: Liminge 563268
The school head said that M. was abroad until September 27
Work telephone: intercom
Email address: [email protected]
Do you suffer from any recurring illness or disability? If so, give details. No
Education and professional training
dates
Institutions attended
Qualifications obtained
up to 1998
International schools abroad
5 GCE O-levels 2 A-levels
1998-99
Sorbonne (Paris)
French studies
1999
B&Noble
desktop publishing
History of employment
dates
name and address employer
Main responsibilities
salary
99-00
B&Noble
Following training course on
publishing, worked as a trainee
£11,000
00-01
King’s school, Dover
Teaching 11-15 French
£12,000
01-02
Watson Publishers
Sold advertising space
£13,500
02-05
Aston Boys School
Teaching Physical Education
£16,000
05 -
Make Poverty History
Running fund-raising activities
for MPH in this area
£17,000
Do you have a current driving licence? Yes
Give details of your spare-time activities, include details of any clubs you have belonged to, any
positions of responsibility held, and any voluntary work undertaken since leaving school.
Rugby, sailing, sailing, amateur drama. Have belonged to sports clubs and occasionally held
responsible positions in them. Ran the school play at King’s School.
Why are you applying for this post? I like working for MPH but feel I prefer to work in schools talking
about MPH and I feel confident that I could get pupils organised to support our work.
Give the names, addresses and occupations of two people who have agreed to give you a reference
for this application.
Jeremy Doorhouse, deputy director
MPH, Amersham
R. Shawshank
Aston Boys, Cranballs, Surrey
(head of house, head of P.E.)
Signature Patsy Green
Date: September 7
6
MAKE POVERTY HISTORY
Internal memo
Subject: confidential report on P. Green
Written by: J. Doorhouse
For the attention of: Sheila Craig
Date: Sept15
Department:
Patsy J Green has worked for MPH since August last year. During that time
she had the position of local organiser for the Amersham area. She has
worked hard and well, making many new contacts and developing several
fund-raising projects. She seems honest and reliable and would probably do
the job of Schools Liaison Officer very well indeed, as she has a persuasive,
informal friendly manner and seems to get on well with everyone. However,
my only reservation is that she has only been with us a year and is just
beginning to really build up her area. I would like to see her stay in her
present post for another couple of years and if she is successful, then
perhaps we should offer her some promotion. But that decision is not in my
hands and I would not like to stand in the way of this woman’s
advancement.
7
CANDIDATE 3
Name: Frank Morel
Age: 28
Address: 23 Suffolk Drive, Beaconsfield (Amersham), Bucks.
Home telephone (04768) 536809
Work telephone -
Email address [email protected]
Do you suffer from any recurring illness or disability? If so, give details. I am registered as disabled. I
can get about very well in my wheelchair and have a special disabled person’s car.
Education and professional training
dates
Institutions attended
Qualifications obtained
until 1999
Kilmarnock Grammar School
8 O-levels, 3 A-levels,
99-02
Edinburgh University
BSc Honours in chemistry
02-04
Leicester University
Certificate in education
History of employment
dates
name and address employer
Main responsibilities
salary
04 - now
Beaconsfield Middle school
Teacher of general science
subjects, head of department
since 05
£17,000
Do you have a current driving licence? Yes
Give details of your spare-time activities, include details of any clubs you have belonged to, any
positions of responsibility held, and any voluntary work undertaken since leaving school.
I run a club for disabled teenagers in this area. I also take them camping each summer for a couple of
weeks. In my spare-time I write children’s books based on scientific discoveries or play the baroque
flute.
Why are you applying for this post? I would like to put my understanding of young people, education
and the disadvantaged together to find an interesting job outside the classroom.
Give the names, addresses and occupations of two people who have agreed to give you a reference
for this application.
Mr C Grace
Headmaster
Beaconsfield Middle School
Amersham Rd
Beaconsfield, Bucks
Prof. G. MacDonald
Chemistry dep.
Univ. of Edinburgh
(prof. of chemistry)
Signature F
Frank Morel
Date: 6 September
8
Reference for Mr Frank Morel
As Professor MacDonald had not replied to our letter asking for a written
reference for the above applicant we telephoned him at home and received
this information:
Mr Morel studied under Prof. MacDonald between 1999 and 2002. He was a
capable and extrovert student. He was injured in an accident in his final year
and lost the use of both legs. He took his final examinations in hospital and
did well to get a class degree. He continued to be very outgoing and goodhumoured although he had to give up his captaincy of the university team.
Professor MacDonald felt he would do the job of Schools Liaison Officer very
well if he could overcome the obvious mobility problems. He added that he
felt sure the applicant was honest and reliable.
BEACONSFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Amersham Rd, Beaconsfield, Bucks KLT6 45T
Telephone: (07678) 787854
Headmaster: Charles Grace MA (Oxon)
Make Poverty History
C/O BOND
Regent's Wharf
8 All Saint's Street
London
N1 9RL
14 September
Dear Ms Craig
In answer to your request for a report on one of our teachers, Mr Frank Morel, I can say
that Mr Morel joined my staff as a Scale 1 teacher. He became head of the Science
department in 2005. He now has responsibility for five members of staff. I have no
reservation in telling you that he is a fine teacher and has done a great deal for the
department and, indeed, the school in general. He is hard-working, punctual, enthusiastic
and gets on with both staff and pupils. He is intelligent and a good organizer. As far as his
health record is concerned, his disability has caused the school practically no inconvenience,
although he has to have medical check-ups for his spine, which cause him to be absent
twice a year for a week or so.
Yours sincerely
Charles Grace
9
MAKE POVERTY HISTORY
Wish to appoint
SCHOOLS LIAISON OFFICER
We are looking for an excellent
communicator who wants to help
fight the problem of poverty. He or
she must be able to organize his or
her own timetable, travel
extensively in the South of England,
create interest in the aims of MPH in
secondary schools by visits and
lectures, and liaise with other
Schools Liaison Officers and the
Education Department to draw up
educational policies. We can offer
- A worthwhile career
- A salary of £17,000 p.a.
- A car and petrol allowance
- A 6 weeks holiday per year
If you are between 25 and 40 and
think you have experience to take
on this challenging post, write for
details and application form to:
Make Poverty History C/O BOND
Regent’s Wharf 6, All saint’s Street,
London N1 9RL.
Sunday Times Aug. 30th
10
CONFIDENTIAL. FOR THE INTERVIEWERS ONLY!
On: the job interview
Dear Fanny,
You asked about the job interview of next Thursday and what you need to pay attention to.
These are the topics I wish to go into:
-
-
the candidate’s motivation
it’s evident that the candidate knows what MPH is and what it does. We should
definitely test his knowledge of the actions and objectives of our organisation and
check whether he/she has prepared for this interview.
how much the candidate wants to earn and if that is important for his/her motivation
the candidate’s willingness to co-operate with the others
the reason why he/she quits his/her former job
I also want to watch the way he/she reacts when he/she hears that he/she will have
to work in the evenings and sometimes even during the weekends
Also have an eye for the way the candidate behaves when we ask him/her about
his/her studies, whether the money is important to her/him…
During the interview, offer her/him a cigarette and then we’ll watch whether he/she
will accept it.
Also watch the way the candidate walks in, greets us: very important!
Let’s also find out whether she/he can listen well, has some sense of humour
(always a plus), smiles….
Let’s hope we get some cute guy and not someone with a bad breath!
Sheila
For the candidate:
(adapted from Joni Farthing, Out of the In-Tray)
1. Describe a challenging work issue you had to face, and how you dealt with it?
2. How do you handle conflict?
3. If you were on a merry-go-round, what song would be playing? If you were going to
be an animal on the merry-go-round, what would you be?"
4. In what way do you think you can contribute to our company?
5. Tell me a story.
6. Tell me about a time when you tried and failed.
7. Tell us about your analytical skills.
8. What are some of the things you find difficult to do?
9. What are your short and long term goals?
10. What can you add that should make us want to hire you?
11. What does "customer service" mean to you?
12. What do you wish to gain from our company?
13. What do you know about our company?
14. What do you think the employee's responsibilities are to the company?
15. What is your biggest weakness?
16. What motivates you?
17. What things make a good team member?
18. Why do you feel we should hire you for this position?
19. Why do you want to change jobs?
20. Why do you want to leave this job after only four months?
11