You get 20 minutes to wire the plug, I'd never done one before but managed within the time

Lord above ! I do find it somewhat worrying that ...

A. You have never wired a plug before

B. They believe 20 minutes is how long it might take (half that surely)

Hi, thanks for your reply. Im so nervous because this is so important to me and finally maybe a career just dont want to mess up lol. Yoh have settled my nerves a lil see the question if your late, its about empathy? I remember apologing when openreach didnt turn up back in the day but is there any wrong answer for that really? Im trying not to over think but i feel i am lol. I better use a timer thanks for the tip its in dundee my assesment im travelling from inverness so a fair travel especially if i do well and i see this yarnfield thats 7 hours away haha oh well.

In reply to a post by DanJC:

Try not worry too much about the assessment day, I was nervous as hell for mine and even as I was there but I passed it still.
One of my interviews was great, the guy was from my local area and was basically giving me a helping hand the whole way through it! The other not so much and he seemed to be acting as to put me off the job but I held strong and persistent!
All I suggest is do as you're doing, get plenty research in off forums and even YouTube videos as to what the engineers do and get some examples in your head of good customer service you've given in the past!
You get 20 minutes to wire the plug, I'd never done one before but managed within the time, they say people have flew through their interviews in the past but had to be knocked back as they didn't wire the plug correctly or within the time limit so even if you're confident at it I'd still have a couple of practices with a timer running.
Where's you're assessment day at?

Hello! ive been given an assessment centre on Thursday and to say im bricking it would be an understatement!
Having served 8 years in the Navy and this being the only job ive ever had with nil interview experience doesn't fill me with confidence. Trying to think of scenarios and answers to every possible question they could throw at me but guess for some of it youve just got to think on your feet!
A slightly weird question but how many people interview you? is it just the one or more of an X factor situation with three of them grilling you?
Would appreciate any feedback, Cheers!

Usually, it's two people interviewing, as it allows one person to ask questions whilst the other takes notes.
It also allows a discussion after the interview rather than just one person's opinion.

The purpose isn't to trip people up, but to find out your thought processes and how you react when being stretched.

It isn't just about technical ability, but also about how you behave, think and work with others - whether colleagues or customers. It's far easier to teach somebody practical skills than it is to change them from a cocky arrogant ass into a courteous representative of the company.
Do you think things through before acting (or opening your mouth)?
Why do do take certain actions? What's the reasoning for doing (or saying) that and not something else?
Do you fall apart when things go wrong? Or do you pause, think and plan?

Most stuff is logical and you probably do it all the time in daily life without realising, so it's just breaking it down into small bites to explain the reasoning. There isn't necessarily a 'right' or 'wrong' answer to many of the questions, but more about the rationale for making that decision. You can make a wrong decision, but for the right reasons!
It's then about showing you can learn from things that went wrong, so they don't happen again.

Simply, if you were the customer, how would you want or expect to be treated?

Research SOARA for typical stucture.

To be honest, it's not something I've ever had to do for any reason.
No point doing it just for the crack lol.

Not quite sure how far that is but I'm from Durham and mine was in Leeds so was an to an hour and a half drive away, yarnfield is about 3-4 hours drive from me but I'll be getting the train which they book for you.
Another bit of advice.... They LOVE the words 'risk assessment' so make sure you mention that as something you'd do when pulling up to a job.
Good luck and I hope it goes well for you!

In my case it was me and the one interviewer in a room but then after that interview I went on to have another with a different bloke. Both times just us two in the room.
Good luck for it and I hope it goes well!

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

I did my first training in Croydon many moons ago.

Any idea how long training is? Is Yarnfield a week? If i am going to Croydon, how many weeks there roughly and is it accommodation? Its quite a drive from me otherwise and would do me in if i had to drive there and back each day!? I have found BT to be great with communication and organisation in the assessment process and onwards and now I have got the job, this part has been a bit thin on the ground when it comes to info. I don't know what is going on but the chap on the phone did say I would be receiving some further information by email which may provide all the answers!

Do you get provided with a fuel card or does it get paid back to you?

I have also seen BT driving around in not only big vans but also small ones doing what looks like engineer work? Any idea what size van I may get doing the network engineer role?

In short, no.

It depends what they are to train you to do, and I cannot help but imagine that the training has changed somewhat since I did it in 1996

There was no accommodation on site back then, me and three others were in a hire car driving up from Reading every day. I suspect if you have to stay on site it would be in a nearby hotel.

If you are given a van from the get go, then it will have an Esso fuel card issued for it. The smaller vans are usually frames staff, planners, PW engineers and the like. Folk who don't need to carry so much gear. Some of the CA only installers run around in Doplo van (yuck) also.

No point doing it just for the crack lol.

Not even to glean some understanding of how it works ??

To me that would imply the wrong kind of aptitude for the job you are applying for.