I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at SSE (Coventry, England) in Apr 2017
Interview
Stage 1 - Applied online via SSE questionnaire, no CV required however a very detailed form to fill in (about 1hr). This runs though all the basic questions as well as driving licences and employers. Top tip from what I found out in researching for SSE, do not try to big up your job titles, or "bend the truth" on this form, as SSE are ruthless when it comes to the final stage. Other people have been caught out by this.
if your successful you'll move on to stage 2, the only way you will fail at stage 1 is if the job is withdrawn or your not in 45 minutes drive of the area your applying for..... Or you don't take the time to fill the form in fully.
Stage 2- 4x online assessments. do some practice ones!!! it will help you.
1. a personality test, its the normal type of test all big companies use all about finding out what you would do in a situation. There is no right answer, but that's the point. if you use the SSE CORE VALUES. you wont go wrong
2. A skills test. multiple choice and the questions ranges from "if block A is dropped what happens to block B & C" and if COG A turns clockwise what would COG B do... ect
3. Math & logic test, A little trickier all about reading graphs & charts and extracting information. or doing math questions like work out the percentage of a value.
4. command card test (tip do your research) This is designed to see how you work under pressure. 150 questions with 10 minutes ( you will be good if you do half of it) its about getting them right not the amount you do. you have a ref card with clocks on it, in a 4 x 4 grid.
you have to match each line to a signal line thus giving you an answer
if your score is successful you'll be invited to book a phone interview
Stage 3 - competency based telephone interview that will last about 30-45 min. Remember to use the STAR format the interview manager will like it. Really research SSE, the core values, the company programmes ect. you will get asked how you feel about HSE and following procedures.
stage 4- assessment morning/day. comprising of;
1. role play- remember its all about the customer..... you'll get 15mins prep then its off to go see Mrs smith. there are a few curve balls but as long as you make notes you'll be find.... and STICK TO THE SCRIPT.
2. dexterity test- bend a bit of wire to the diagram. sounds simple but just remember to use PPE... plan your work (make random notes or rough measurement with the pilers) then do the bends, then recheck.
3. vision test..... easy read the numbers.
do not believe them if they say your not in competition with each other. I got told that as long as you pass the assessment day (I did) then they will call you either way to say you've been successful or you failed the assessment day. In my case I got an email saying that there are no positions available for the area I applied for because they have been filled. So they then put you in the talent pool (post assessed) and will call you when the demand of meter installers for your area increases.
step 1 : application, this was easy I only gave a brief desciption of my current role.
Step 2: Online test, these were a little rigorous and you had to think them through
Step 3 telephone interview. Do your research about the company. Read about safety at work.
Step 4: Assessment Centre. This was easy bending a wire using your hands and pliers, while wearing gloves and eye protection glasses
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why is safety important?
What do you know about SSE?
I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at SSE (Portsmouth, South East England, England) in Apr 2018
Interview
Firstly you have to fill out there application process, pretty basic. You then have a online test, this is pretty difficult. I then had a telephone interview which lasts about 15/20 minutes and they ask you basic questions like why did you apply for this role etc. I passed this, they then invited me to an assessment centre with one date available. I couldn’t make the arranged date (2 weeks notice) which they then turned around and said “were put you in our talent pool and let you know when the job comes up again”.
Pretty unfair considering I went through a 2 week application process just to be turned away because I couldn’t make a certain date.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at SSE (Reading, England) in Jan 2018
Interview
Online Process, standard questions asked, mechanical comprehension test. After that there was a telephone interview asking basic questions about why I wanted to work for SSE, what problems might I have.