Please describe the assessment process for fresh graduate applicants in your organisation.
We welcome all fresh graduates to apply online, and they will go through a screening process where selected candidates will be invited for a day-long assessment centre (AC). In the AC, they will go through interviews, numerical/abstract tests, presentations and group exercises.
What are the soft skills that you look for when you hire fresh graduates?
At Rolls-Royce, we are always on the lookout for well-rounded graduates who not only excel academically but also take a keen interest in personal development. We look for candidates that have interesting internship experiences, exposure to different cultures and may have undertaken leadership roles in their extra-curricular activities.
We rate their ‘soft skills’ as much as the background of their academic qualifications. Professional memberships will let us know the level of interest and commitment they have to a specific area, which is always good to know.
It is also critical that they possess a positive attitude and good work ethics. They must be effective in communication and have confidence in themselves. At the end of the day, these candidates must be passionate about what they do in order to excel in their roles.
Please explain how a prospective job candidate can make a good impression on you during the job interview.
Prospective candidates need to exude passion for our sector and our business - even if they aren’t applying for an engineering discipline, we expect them to have a broad understanding of and be excited about our products and services. We expect them to have done their research! We want to see commitment and motivation and a yearning to grow professionally and personally in whichever field they hope to have a career.
What qualities/skills do you find lacking in fresh graduates today? Why are these important?
At Rolls-Royce, "critical thinking" is an essential skill set. Graduates are responsible for developing alternative solutions for high-profile projects and programmes.
Graduates who can apply and use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to different problems are in good stead. This is something that we look for and do not always find in fresh graduates.
What can fresh graduates do to increase their value at the workplace?
Fresh graduates should bring fresh eyes, ideas and ways of thinking. It is important to bring a solution-minded approach to the workplace as well. It is well and good to highlight problem areas to your boss, management or team, but it is important to suggest a solution or approach as well.
What support does your organisation provide for employees who want to pursue further education?
At Rolls-Royce you’ll be responsible for your own training and encouraged to create your own tailored development programmes. This includes professional accreditation and support with professional memberships wherever appropriate. We’ll try as hard as we can to match your career aspirations with our business needs. If we think you have a lot of potential, we’ll help you gain fast-tracked leadership positions.
In an interview, what is the number one important question that you wish more candidates would ask?
Questions that focus on "passion" for the job, such as “What do you love most about working here?” Asking such questions demonstrates they know how to engage and connect with people, and are eager to learn about our working culture.
