RECRUITING AND TRAINING
SPECIALIST I.T. GRADUATES
CASE STUDY
Read how Jumar assessed, recruited, trained and deployed
graduates for our client’s complex projects involving
both niche and mainstream technology
PERSONAL PROFILES
Read two candidates’ personal journeys from
University, through Jumar’s Academy into their
professional career
`
www.jumar-recruitment.com/graduates
OVERVIEW
Client
Capgemini – a long standing Jumar client
Roles on offer
Graduate Software Developer
Number of roles available
7
Location
West Midlands and other UK locations
SERVICES PROVIDED BY JUMAR
Graduate
Assessment
Events
To assess candidates’
suitability for the role,
their cultural/personality
fit and technical aptitude.
Employed
Consultant
Model
Training
Academy
To upskill successful
candidates to meet
specific requirements of
the role, including niche
technologies.
To flexibly deploy
graduates, following
completion of the Training
Academy, into projects –
while remaining Jumar
employees.
The client needed:
Jumar delivered:
A team of software developers for a number of
projects, skilled in both mainstream Java
development and also the legacy software
development tool CA Gen.
A bespoke academy to deliver a team of
specially selected graduates.
The team would be aligned to Capgemini’s working
practices and company culture and must be able to
‘hit the ground running’.
The selection process involved a series of
assessment events featuring formal skills
testing as well as ‘softer skill’ assessments
including teamworking and problem solving
assessment.
Benefits include:






Removes the client’s headache of identifying, selecting, testing and interviewing candidates for a
number of specific projects
Resources guaranteed to have appropriate skills and be available within an agreed timescale
Low cost of training, due to Jumar’s existing relationships with training providers to supplement
our own training capability
Confidence: Candidates are assessed by proven assessments, and by Jumar’s team of technical
experts
Graduates are carefully managed by Jumar, ensuring a smooth transition into working life
No increase in permanent headcount, as resources are employed by Jumar
RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS FROM AN I.T. COMPANY
Jumar has a long history of close working with Capgemini, having provided resources to many areas of its business, as well as being a
long-term partner in the HMRC outsourcing account (formerly HMRC Aspire) where it provided niche specialists in the technology
CA Gen.
Jumar is, itself, an international IT solutions company, providing application development and modernisation solutions on five
continents. This means we know I.T. like very few other recruitment or resourcing providers.
THE REQUIREMENT
Capgemini’s size and need for agility often requires the provision of resources at short notice, or with specialist skills aligned to a
particular project. To satisfy the need for Java developers with a specialism in the legacy technology CA Gen, Jumar proposed a
combination of three of its innovative resourcing solutions:



Graduate Assessment Events – to source candidates with appropriate skills and mindset
Training Academy – to up-skill the team of successful candidates ready for on-site deployment
Employed Consultant Model – where staff are employed by Jumar and deployed to an end-client
The Assessment Days were held over a three week period, and were
organised by Jumar’s Birmingham-based recruitment team. The days
involved a range of written and practical tasks to assess the ‘whole
person’ and give a strong indication of technical capability and cultural
fit with the Capgemini working dynamic.
This was underpinned by the use of ThomasTM assessments, which gave
a thorough insight into the candidate’s logical reasoning and mental
agility using a range of scientifically proven assessments carried out
under controlled conditions.
Successful candidates were then selected for a more formal interview
process, with 7 being finally enrolled onto at 12 week training academy
organised by Jumar and held at specially designed training premises at
Jumar’s main base in the West Midlands.
Assessing teamwork ethic: Graduates are analysed on
how they solve logic problems as a group.
The Academy followed a syllabus designed by Jumar’s in-house
software development experts, many of whom have worked
directly with Capgemini over the years, ensuring an effective
alignment to the projects and their ultimate aims.
With ongoing quality control over the training and the progress of
the graduates by Jumar’s team of technical experts, the Academy is
designed to provide a team of skilled resources to a pre-agreed
deadline who are able to work at maximum productivity from the
outset.
Achieving goals: Graduates compete to build the tallest
In this case, the graduates remain Jumar employees under our
Employed Consultant Model. This provides them with an excellent
start to their career allowing them to work on large, long-term
projects with Capgemini, and substantial opportunities for further challenging assignments.
paper tower in one of the team challenges.
The client benefits by experiencing no increase in permanent headcount as well as no additional HR overhead or other associated
costs.
HOW DID JUMAR’S CLIENT BENEFIT?
A key aim of the Academy is to prepare the Graduates, not just for the technical role that they
will be undertaking, but for the world of work in general.
The 12 weeks that the Graduates spent on this particular course was deliberately tailored
towards the culture of Capgemini and its workplace ethos. This means that not only were the
attendees technically up to speed on day one, but they were able to fit seamlessly into the
day-to-day life of a large IT provider.
This bespoke level of preparation dramatically simplifies the induction process and
accelerates the time in which they can become truly productive.
Neil Robinson, Capgemini’s Delivery Centre Manager, says “The Academy has added a level of
maturity to the graduates, who were able to start productive work from the minute they
arrived with us. It gave us a huge sense of confidence that our new starters were already
ahead of the curve and could hit the ground running”.
“
The new graduates were
productive from the
minute they arrived and…
could hit the ground
running
Neil Robinson,
Capgemini Delivery
Centre Manager
”
Neil is responsible for the delivery of a range of projects which utilise a range of technologies including the legacy tool CA Gen – a
software development platform which formed a significant part of the Academy’s timetable. Neil adds “The time they spent
learning about CA Gen and model-based development has given them a distinct advantage over graduates following the traditional
route to work. It has enabled them to develop the knowledge and mindset they require BEFORE they started working with us, and
this has freed up a considerable amount of day-to-day management and training time.”
Refresher Courses a natural progression
Following the success of the Academy,
Capgemini is working with Jumar to develop a
series of refresher courses.
These courses would not just be focused on the
team that joined the company through the
process on page 2, but for existing staff working
on both mainstream and niche technologies.
This approach recognises that although a
developer may initially be competent in a range
of technologies, they may not have the
opportunity to exercise all aspects of every
technology. When considering the need to
support future initiatives, maintaining the full
skillset can be just as important as the business
knowledge of a particular system or
organisation.
Refresher courses address this by ensuring that
developers’ technical skills are kept up-to-date
within the important context of relevant
technology and user requirements.
The intention is to hold such courses at least
once a year.
Neil also estimates that the Academy process has accelerated the time in
which the graduates will become fully productive by, in some cases, more
than a year. Such productivity savings are particularly impressive considering
that the Academy was only 12 weeks in duration, and demonstrates the value
of this comparatively short initial investment.
Employed Consultant Model
The use of Jumar’s Employed Consultant Model (ECM) provided Capgemini
with the reassurance that the resources would be on-site for at least twelve
months. Unlike ‘traditional’ IT Contractors, who may only be involved in a
project for – say – three months, the permanent Jumar team are committed
to the projects for longer, thereby gaining and retaining valuable business
knowledge.
This model also means that should there be a requirement to convert to
permanent employment with Capgemini, there are more similarities to
Capgemini’s grades and salary levels than the traditional contracting model.
Benefits of ThomasTM profiling
Jumar has long used this type of personality and aptitude testing when
selecting candidates for roles – especially in large organisations like
Capgemini.
All candidates on this particular Academy underwent a series of such tests
during their Assessment Day with results being provided on the day. It gives
confidence that the individual possesses the level of mental and logical agility
required for this type of role. Neil added “Anything we can do at the outset of
a recruitment process is beneficial, as it allows us to know and understand an
individual’s capabilities and mindset in detail before they start work. This
greatly assists me as a manager and gives me confidence when assigning
people to new tasks and challenges.”
GRADUATE PROFILE
Name
Alex Porter
Home town
Wolverhampton
University career
BSc Physics, University of Warwick
MSc Computer Science, University of Nottingham
Job title
Graduate Software Developer
Client
Capgemini
Alex’s ambition to become a software developer was triggered by his MSc in Computer Science at Nottingham University. He had
always been fascinated by Maths and Science, which initially led him to study Physics at Warwick University before a postgraduate
course in Computer Science at Nottingham. The combination of logical thinking and complex problem solving saw Alex produce a
range of innovative projects while at University. These included customising of a Raspberry Pi computer to analyse the complex
dynamics involved in ten-pin bowling, by using acceleration data from a device strapped to a player’s wrist. This was then used to
study the spin and speed of the ball, and ultimately to analyse a player’s skill and ability.
From University to Java Academy
Having written his dissertation on the use of game engines for mobile gaming (involving Java and JavaScript), a career in Java
development was an obvious career direction for Alex. He was accepted onto Jumar’s series of Graduate Assessment Events in
Autumn 2015 and, along with fellow graduates from across the country, was put through his paces in a variety of problem solving
tasks.
“I much preferred this style of assessment to a standard interview,” commented Alex, “as it allowed everyone in the room to show
off a range of real-life skills, as opposed to just passing an interview”.
“
“I think many of us found it daunting at the start, but everyone soon settled into the day and found it a really effective way of
showing how you could really apply yourself. Plus, on this occasion, there were a number of
vacancies – which meant that there was never any direct competition between us all and
made for a much more constructive assessment.”
The Academy
Everything I’m learning
will actually be used in a
Alex joined 6 other graduates on the Java Academy which was held in a specially designed
real work-place scenario
training room in a building next to Jumar’s main offices. As the successful graduates each
had a slightly different background in Java development, the first week was spent bringing
everyone up to the same level of competency. Alex says “I’d done this style of
programming in some detail before, so it took a week for the level of training to match my
experience, but now that’s happened, I’m really into the swing of things and taking on a range of new challenges which are already
proving very rewarding.”
”
“I knew that everything I was learning will actually be used in a real work-place scenario, and that added an extra dimension to the
experience. Previously at University, you’d learn a number of languages and development techniques, which was great at teaching
you the discipline and mechanics of coding, but you never knew whether it would ever form a day-to-day part of your career. With
the Academy, everything had a context. Plus, it gave you a valuable introduction into the culture and dynamic of the environment
where you’ll eventually be working.”
First impressions
Working at the Capgemini Delivery Centre in Telford is Alex’s first full-time job, and the skills and knowledge gained from the
Academy made the transition into work smooth and seamless.
Alex describes his initial impressions of his new work environment as “friendly and welcoming” and adds that “having a structured
transition from the Academy into a large company like Capgemini, made the whole process simple and stress-free”.
His first assignment has been to work on a large application estate for a major Government Department. Jumar understands that
such a task – even for the most technical competent of individuals – is naturally very daunting. However, a key aim of the Academy
is to ensure that all the graduates are prepared for this type of challenge and they are equipped with the confidence and knowledge
to be productive from ‘day one’.
Putting the theory into practice
The practical application of the skills and techniques learned on the Academy is what Alex finds most rewarding. Even in his first
few weeks, he was working on code that was stringently tested and has already been deployed to a live environment and underpins
systems critical to UK Government. His current project involves enhancing and adding functionality to an application which is
accessible to millions of people across the country.
“
I had the confidence I
could deliver what was
asked of me
”
That said, Alex says that the thought of working on something so critical to the national
infrastructure, wasn’t as intimidating as he’d expected. “Having just completed 12 weeks of
training, I went into my first few months with the confidence I could deliver what was asked of
me. On top of this, when you’re working on such a massive system, you’re only actually
concentrating on a comparatively small part of the application, so making changes and
deploying them into production was a really great introduction”.
The Agile software methodology, which underpinned large parts of the Academy has also
greatly helped with Alex’s transition into the workplace. “An average day involves a daily
scrum (a key element of the Agile process) along with delivery ‘sprints’ lasting approximately
two weeks. This is a way of working which I find highly rewarding, as it means that requirements are delivered on time and that
everyone has clear visibility of what is expected of them. This well-defined workload provides a really good grounding in your first
few months in a new career and gives you chance to develop with confidence.”
Enhancing the ‘soft skills’
It’s not just in technical ability that Alex feels he is making improvements. The course helped to build a number of other key traits
needed when working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, including interpersonal skills, business etiquette, alignment with
company culture and team working.
“It still feels like I’m learning,” Alex says. “But it’s good to know that I’m still learning while gaining valuable experience which I will
go on to use in daily life throughout my career in IT. It’s also good that you have a support network around you – not just from your
new colleagues within Capgemini, but also from those you spent 12 weeks on the course with”.
He goes onto say that the grounding he got from the Academy has provided him with an introduction to working for a company of
Capgemini’s size and shape. “I haven’t really noticed that it’s such a huge organisation, as the team working ethic, and the support
you get from your own close-knit group makes for a good workplace dynamic. It’s definitely been a worthwhile experience, and
something I would recommend to anyone who wants to get into this type of IT role”.
It’s not all work, work, work
The group of graduates who passed through the Jumar Academy all started their career with Capgemini at the same time. They had
undergone the same period of intensive training, and – not surprisingly – formed a close teamworking bond.
This didn’t end just because they started work. There is much crossover between the teams they now work with, and some of them
are working on the same projects. Alex says “We still socialise together, and meet up regularly. As we all know each other’s’
strengths and specialisms, we regularly rely on that knowledge to help us to overcome challenges at work. And to discuss them over
a beer outside work.”
GRADUATE PROFILE
Name
Matt Westbury (Mature student)
Home town
Wombourne, Staffordshire
University career
BSc Computing, University of Wolverhampton
(Previous professional software development experience)
Job title
Graduate Software Developer
Client
Capgemini
Matt’s route onto Jumar’s graduate programme was somewhat different to his peers, as he already had professional experience of
software development, and gained his degree as a mature student. He was inspired into a career in IT by his father, whose stories
of the industry had fascinated Matt from an early age. He’d always wanted to work for a large technology company, so Jumar’s
partnership with Capgemini provided the perfect route into a long-term professional career. Whilst studying for his degree, Matt
produced an educational iPhone app to teach children of nursery school age to recognise different sounds, and to test their ability
to recall them.
Graduate Assessment Day
The opportunity offered by Jumar, to work on major IT projects with Capgemini and others,
immediately resonated with Matt. He says “I know it’s a cliché, but everything in the job
advert was right for me. The thought of a graduate assessment day was rather daunting at
first, but it quickly became apparent that it was the perfect forum in which I could
demonstrate a whole range of skills”.
“
It was the perfect forum in
which I could demonstrate a
whole range of skills
”
The day itself involved a number of recent graduates carrying out a variety of teamworking and individual tasks, allowing them to demonstrate technical, inter-personal and
problem-solving abilities. This was combined with a more formal testing programme using
ThomasTM assessment tests. “When the day was over, it was interesting looking back at all
the skills and abilities that I’d been able to show off. It was a long day, but I felt confident
that Jumar’s assessors had seen a rounded view of everything I could achieve, and that I’d had lots of opportunities to shine.”
Back to the classroom
Matt was accepted onto Jumar’s Java Academy. This involved a 12 week course in Java development combined with techniques
surrounding the legacy tool CA Gen.
He joined six fellow graduates in November 2015 to learn from Jumar’s team of technical experts and carefully-chosen external
training providers. “It’s very hard work, but VERY beneficial” says Matt. “I think it’s fair to say that every single hour in that
classroom is useful – especially when combined with the knowledge that I’m only months away from putting it to real-life use in a
professional environment”.
“It’s not just about the formal syllabus, you get to learn an awful lot from your colleagues. There’s a wide array of IT backgrounds in
the Academy, and there’s a lot you can learn from other peoples’ experiences.”
The knowledge gained by Matt and his colleagues on the course directly benefitted Jumar’s initial end client, Capgemini, when the
graduates were deployed as junior consultants on a range of projects in Spring 2016.
Into the workplace
Matt recalls his first day at Capgemini’s delivery centre in Telford as being a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
He had previously worked for much smaller companies and the transition to Capgemini was initially rather daunting. “It felt like a
really big step” said the mature student. “But, because we’d spent 12 weeks on the Academy, the experience went really smoothly
and was nowhere near as daunting as I thought it would have been”.
The induction took the form of a two day orientation programme, as well as day-to-day
logistical tasks like setting up hardware and software and being introduced to the new
working environment. Following this, the knowledge gained on the Academy allowed the
team to begin productive work and get involved in various projects.
“One of the first things we did was to get involved with a real project to design a Java test
harness. The fact that we had just completed several weeks on a Java course was
invaluable here, and allowed us to get on with the task in hand with a high degree of
confidence.”
“
The experience was
nowhere near as daunting as
I thought it would be
Rapid career development
”
From this initial piece of project work, Matt has become involved in a wide variety of development tasks, supporting an application
portfolio which is mission critical to Capgemini’s client.
Central to this is the Agile development methodology – another of the key elements of the Academy’s syllabus.
This technique ensures that delivery teams meet client expectations in terms of budget, timeframe and scope. Because this
methodology is widely used within Capgemini, the syllabus had been heavily tailored toward this way of working, allowing the team
of graduates to adapt quickly and seamlessly to the ‘real life’ working environment.
“I feel like my career is definitely heading in the right direction and, looking back, this is something that I really wish I had done much
sooner. It can still be challenging – but that’s true of any role. And I thrive on these challenges. It’s a great feeling when you
complete a complex task knowing that you have been instrumental making an improvement or meeting an urgent deadline.”
It’s not just about the job – it’s about the people
“
Matt is still in close contact with the other graduates he worked with during the Academy.
In our experience, the culture of close working provides not only invaluable people skills,
but also provides a valuable network when graduating from the Academy into the
workplace.
The level of support is
excellent. There is always
someone I can contact if I
need to
More information
”
Many of the graduates still socialise together, both outside work and within the many
workplace leisure facilities. As Jumar employees, they maintain regular contact with their
direct manager at Jumar, who is regularly on site to provide technical and personal support
where necessary.
“The level of support we get is excellent” says Matt. “I know that there is always someone I
can contact if I need to. The Delivery Manager at Capgemini is always available, and I
know that support from Jumar is only a phone call or email away. There is also a safety net
within my own team, as I work with some highly experienced developers and architects,
who are only too happy to share their knowledge”.
Jumar Solutions
Jumar House
Coleshill Road
Solihull
B37 7HG
0121 788 4550
[email protected]