From Skype interviews to online game-based assessments, the way that companies recruit is changing fast. School-leavers and graduates need to keep up – but it can be difficult to know just what’s required of you when you start applying for your first job. That’s where PwC’s new Employability Hub comes in. It’s an online, accessible to all, one-stop shop for employability skills and careers advice, designed to give those in the early stages of their career the skills they need to tackle every stage of the application process.
“We want to make employability upskilling available to all,” says Louise Farrar, PwC’s director of student recruitment. “The hub is designed to educate not just those applying for jobs but also their parents and school career advisers. It shows you what this new world looks like, how you can prepare for it, and the tools you need to navigate it. Employers are moving away from traditional techniques like face-to-face interviews. They’re using new technologies that do the job much better.”
If you’re just starting out, you won’t necessarily have the technical skills to do a job, says Farrar: it’s all about showing employers that you have potential. “Employers will want to see that you can demonstrate the right behaviours and soft skills, such as effective communication, teamwork and managing relationships. Any work experience is good experience – I was a waitress and a packer. That taught me a lot about the world of work, and what I did and didn’t want to do for the rest of my life.”
Knowing how to tell your personal, authentic story is crucial, says Farrar: you might not have a string of glowing extracurricular achievements, but you may have experienced adversity, or particular challenges. “That might have made you resilient and given you good ways to cope in particularly difficult situations. And they’re also looking for people who are inclusive, who are passionate about what they do, and have fun doing it.”
The hub uses a range of digital learning tools to give users that insight, enabling them to prepare and provide examples of where they’ve succeeded or shown particular skills. There are podcasts on technology trends, plus e-learning tutorials on creating a good application, how to succeed at video interviews, and preparing for online assessment tests. And you’ll also find guides to soft skills such as engaging with employers and communicating effectively.
The career-matching tool aims to help users find the best possible opportunity, whatever career you want to pursue. The hub is for everyone, not just those wanting a career with PwC, Farrar emphasises, and choosing a career is about more than just the paycheck. “It gets you thinking about what your work preferences are and what kind of person you are,” she says. “For example, do you want to do a professional qualification? Do you want to travel a lot? Are you keen to be in a big office? All those sorts of things help you think about what you might want to focus on when it comes to career opportunities.”
And some of those tools – such as the video interview – are the ones actually used in PwC assessments, helping to demystify the process and make it more accessible. “We’re not looking to trip anyone up!” says Farrar. “Rather, we want to equip people to be the best they can possibly be and feel confident in that interview situation. Doing a video interview can be quite a daunting process, particularly if it’s your first time. So you’ll find lots of helpful hints and tips, opportunities to play back your answers and get some general feedback.”
It’s hoped that projects like the hub will reach as wide an audience as possible: it’s tailormade for a generation of digital natives. And while its primary purpose is to help prospective candidates prepare, finding the best person for the job is a two-way process. Employers also need to understand what candidates want from a workplace, and what skills they need to focus on. PwC now has a strategic workforce planning capability to enable the firm to do regular scenario planning. This provides sophisticated insights into the types of skills in demand over the short and medium term, and allows the firm to take some educated leaps of faith as to what skills will be needed in the future.
Whether you’re just starting out or have a wealth of experience under your belt, find out more about career opportunities at PwC
