British Gas Apprenticeship Advice Needed Please!

[cobey321]

Hi guys just looking for some advice from anyone who can give it. I have a phone interview on Wednesday for an apprentice gas installation engineer. The email says:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We are looking forward to speaking with you at the telephone interview. The interview itself will last about 20-30 minutes.

The telephone interview will be broken down into 3 sections.
o In the first section you will be asked specific questions relating to the job you have applied for. This will ascertain your suitability for the role.
o In the second section you will be asked some behavioural questions. These will require you to give examples of situations in the past when you have demonstrated certain behaviours.
o Finally, you will be given some information on the next steps and any other relevant information.

The purpose of the interview is to make sure you are fully clear on all aspects of the Apprentice Gas Installation Engineer - role and to see how well suited you are to dealing with customers over the telephone. The answers you give to the behavioural questions form an important part of our decision making process and provide a way of assessing your suitability for the job, based on your prior behaviour in similar situations. When thinking of relevant examples try and provide the following information;

The SITUATION you were in.
The TASK you were faced with
The ACTION you took
The RESULT of your action[/FONT]

Just wondering if anyone has done this already and can give me any tips atall, anything would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[albatross]

They didn't do this when I joined BG but they won't expect you to have technical knowledge. They are looking for calmness, politeness, no swearing, helpfulness and common sense. Someone that will not cause them complaints. They don't want an idiot that gets a panic on and has to ring someone on every job or is likely to have a punch up with a customer.

 

[Killy Bing]

Thats to work out if you're a fruitcake or someone they can mould

most of us on here are fruitcakes.... Go figure

be calm, polite, answer the questions asked and don't worry about it too much

None will be technical at a guess as you're applying for an apprentice role.

also if u tlk lyk dis bruv
you can kick that habit right now before a telephone interview.

i had a call from a lad a few weeks ago about working as an apprentice.

before i could get a word in i had
you get me, init, brah, you know, "da" "lyk" "coz"

about four times each mixed in with other carp

 

[cobey321]

Thanks for the feedback guys, Im excellent with customer service so that shouldn't be a problem, and i speak normal, well like the average person lol. The bit that it says it will ask specific questions about the job role that i have applied for, what sort of questions do you think this might consist of?

Thanks in advance guys i really do appreciate your feedback

 

[Gray0689]

Thanks for the feedback guys, Im excellent with customer service so that shouldn't be a problem, and i speak normal, well like the average person lol. The bit that it says it will ask specific questions about the job role that i have applied for, what sort of questions do you think this might consist of?

Thanks in advance guys i really do appreciate your feedback

And don't be over confident can come across as cockyness

 

[cobey321]

thanks guys, i have it tomorrow so il let yous know how i get on

 

[TBServices]

Don't use words like yous over the phone.

 

[Gray0689]

Good luck mate

 

[iain85]

Good luck, like stated be calm, any questions take time to think about an answer. Don't blurt out the first thing that's comes into your mouth. Make a point of mentioning thinking of the customer and their property and needs, they love things like that.

 

[PlumbersMate]

Just make say, "erm, I think you're gonna need a new boiler luv"

 

[cobey321]

Hi guys. Just a little update. The phone interview went well. The person i spoke with said it was a good interview and that if it wasnt then you get told then and there that your application cannot be progressed. He said i need to wait a week or two to hear back from them and find out if ive been invited to an official interview so fingers crossed. Thanks guyss

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

well done

 

[turnpin]

Well done cobey thanks for the update hope you do as well at the face to face interview.....regards Turnpinunk:

 

[Gray0689]

Well done mate best of luck

 

[Ajwiggan]

Hi cobey

i had phone interview the same day as you for gas installation in birmingham
it went very well he also said the interview was good (which kinda gave me confidence)

then he started talking about the role itself and about the training location
and if it's possible for me to be at that location for the first year of training

i think he said Leeds or Leicester

then he said the phone interviews will last 1 - 2 weeks then I will hear back from them

 

[cobey321]

Hi cobey

i had phone interview the same day as you for gas installation in birmingham
it went very well he also said the interview was good (which kinda gave me confidence)

then he started talking about the role itself and about the training location
and if it's possible for me to be at that location for the first year of training

i think he said Leeds or Leicester

then he said the phone interviews will last 1 - 2 weeks then I will hear back from them

Thanks guys still waiting to hear back about a face to face interview. Thats great new AJwiggan, they said to me on the phone that it would take around 2 weeks to hear back aswell due to all the phone interviews they were doing. They mentioned to me about an assessment centre thats only about 20 minute drive from my house so its not that bad for me. Fingers crossed we get through to the face to face interview stage have you heard anything back yet?

 

[cobey321]

Thanks guys Thats great AJWiggan the person i spoke with on the phone was very friendly and afterwards says that it went very well and if it didnt they would have told me over the phone that they couldnt take my application any further, so this gave me confidence aswell Fingers crossed we make it to the assessment centre interview Are you ok going away for a year to train? I heard they pay all expenses anyways, My training centre is about 20-30 minute drive from my house so im lucky if i get it. I really wish you the best of luck Have you heard anything yet?

Sorry for the repeated post i forgot that the mod had to review the posts before it appears lol i thought i didnt submit the first one correctly

 

[Ajwiggan]

Hey

I haven't heard back from them yet

I am still waiting

which area did you apply for ?

 

[Ajwiggan]

I would be OK going away for a year it depends where the training centre is because i might be able to drive there and there should be periods where you can go back home.
They do pay for all expenses which is good.

we should hear something by next week

hopefully

 

[cobey321]

I would be OK going away for a year it depends where the training centre is because i might be able to drive there and there should be periods where you can go back home.
They do pay for all expenses which is good.

we should hear something by next week

hopefully

Yeh you can travel back at the weekends, im sure i read that you usually finish early on a friday which allows you to beat rush hour traffic on the way back home. Cant wait to hear back lol, I hate interviews aswell so il need to sort myself out! I emptied my inbox, your only allowed like 3 messages then the inbox is full lol

 

[cobey321]

Still havent heard anything back, they did say they are going to be really busy finishing these phone interviews when i originally spoke to them, They said they would get back to me within around 2 weeks and its just past that now. Do yous think i should give them a call and see whats happining or just wait until the call me? Thanks guys

 

[albatross]

No harm in calling them. It was four months from applying to starting when I joined BG 15 years ago. They don't rush.

 

[cobey321]

Thanks for the comment albatross I tried calling them a few times there was about a 15 minute wait lol they are really busy. I emailed them so hopfully they get back to me soon. Since you still work for BG is there any inside info you can give that will help me with my interview (If i get one) lol Thanks in advance mate.

 

[albatross]

Thanks for the comment albatross I tried calling them a few times there was about a 15 minute wait lol they are really busy. I emailed them so hopfully they get back to me soon. Since you still work for BG is there any inside info you can give that will help me with my interview (If i get one) lol Thanks in advance mate.

I left 10 years ago.

 

[cobey321]

Ah no problem mate lol thanks anyways

 

[cobey321]

Got an email today. I dont think its good news. What do you guys think?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I am writing to update you on your application for the position of Apprentice Gas Installation Engineer for which you recently completed a successful telephone interview. We have now invited candidates who performed particularly well at telephone interview to assessment for this role. However, at present you are in our talent pool as we would potentially like to bring you forward to an assessment centre in the near future.

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] We would like to keep your details on file and whilst we are unable to say if we will be bringing you forward to assessment centre at present time, we will be in a position to update you further by the end of May.

[/FONT]

 

[smitty.tom]

Got an email today. I dont think its good news. What do you guys think?

Chin up mate, I received a similar email but didn't even make it through to a telephone interview.
It's not a solid no you may get a chance in May you just do not know.
I am still on the look out for other apprenticeships if British Gas come through in May then great if they don't we just have to keep trying.

 

[cobey321]

cheers mate, yeh ive applied to a few others aswell thinking of maybe trying to get a start offshore on the riggs

 

[Killy Bing]

cheers mate, yeh ive applied to a few others aswell thinking of maybe trying to get a start offshore on the riggs

You'll need to be pretty damn hardened for that, the pays high for a reason as a qualified engineers.

sod doing it for an apprenticeship.

Hang in there and offer free trials to local companies

 

[cobey321]

Great news guys got a wee phone call today and got invited to the assessment centre next week! Cant believe it :O

 

[cobey321]

Went to the assessment centre the other day, I think i done Good but now im doubting myself, I hate this wait!

 

[Ermintrude]

Nothing quite like the did I didn't I jitters

 

[cobey321]

exactly mate, I hate this wait The interviewer did seem pretty interested, she asked me additional questions to my answers, Also after everything was finished and i was on my way home i got a phone call, they forgot to do a colour blind test on me so called me to ask me to go back and complete it, Im thinking this is a good sign because if i did do **** they wouldnt have botherd calling back, what do you think lolol?

 

[Ermintrude]

Possibly. But to avoid disappointment take a rocket man approach. U failed the world hates u and then when u get the offer it's sooooo much better

 

[cobey321]

lol cheers mate, im in work at the moment with my hands free kit in incase my phone goes, I hate this waiting feeling!!!

 

[cobey321]

Guys got a phone call and the woman said i outperformed everyone at the assessment centre and i done exceptionally well. I got the job!!!! I cannot believe this im the happiest guy right now. A big congrats to Ajwiggan aswell, wer were in contact, his interview was the day before mines and he found out the other day that he got the job position aswell. It must be these forums that gave us goodluck, thanks for all the comments and feedback guys much appreciated.

 

[Ray Stafford]

congratulations!

 

[Masood]

Guys got a phone call and the woman said i outperformed everyone at the assessment centre and i done exceptionally well. I got the job!!!! I cannot believe this im the happiest guy right now. A big congrats to Ajwiggan aswell, wer were in contact, his interview was the day before mines and he found out the other day that he got the job position aswell. It must be these forums that gave us goodluck, thanks for all the comments and feedback guys much appreciated.

Well done Cobey! Best of luck in your new career.

 

[Ermintrude]

Congratulations to u both . Now forget all you have heard on here about servicing. It's a saftey check and everything needs a powerflush and a spyrotec.

 

[Ajwiggan]

Hi guys
thanks ermintrude

it's so cool how we both got in we done very well cobey
cant want to start
its such a great feeling

Can't wait to leave my current job

 

[cobey321]

lol i know mate whats the chances of us both getting it when they were taking on so little apprentices this year. I cant wait either to hand my notice in. I was so surprised as my main experience is customer service and the practical side of painting and decorating. There was mechanics at the interview and people at uni studying engineering, i thought to myself i have no chance. I think its because they are very customer focused and i have over 4 years customer service experience dealing with every customer you can imagine lol but ye cannot wait 98 days to go! but whos counting lol Are you attending a team working thing at the start? did the woman or guy explain that to you ajwiggan?

 

[Masood]

Hi guys
thanks ermintrude

it's so cool how we both got in we done very well cobey
cant want to start
its such a great feeling

Can't wait to leave my current job

Congratulations to you too, and good luck! Keep on the forum and let us know how you get on.

PS - if you can pass on details of every boiler replacement job BG quote on, it'd be much appreciated. We can follow on, quote it cheaper and buy you a Creme Egg out of our profit. Everyone's a winner!

 

[Ajwiggan]

142 days to go



tell me more about the team working thing at the start

 

[Killy Bing]

Well done to you lads, all i can advise is stick on this forum and ask any question you can think of or if you're unsure on something!!

this forum has a wealth of knowledge in it, collectivly thousands of years worth of experiance to call on from regular posters.

i've learned a huge amount from it and i can 100% say i would not have the technical knowledge, practical skills or confidence i do now without it!!

 

[kris]

Congratulations guys well done , At least you will be well trained and theres no such thing as a siily question, Is there ??

 

[Ajwiggan]

Thanks masood.

What really scared me was and hour and half on the way there I discovered I forgot my qualifications and all my id. The only thing I had was my driving licence and that's it.

i felt so silly when the lady came round to collect all the qualifications and ID AND ALL I HAD WAS MY DRIVING LICENCE .

then to make matters worse there was someone who lived really close to me because the other 4 lived far away. What's the chances of someone living right by me.

The team work exercise was different it really gets the best out of you

 

[cobey321]

cheers guys yeh i will remain an active member and update yous on my new job cant wait, i really dont know what to expect but im so excited and happy to have a great secure job in the future. Honestly im still lost for words, i sometimes doubt that the recruitment lady phoned and offered me the position ahahaha

 

[jjmmcc]

Cobey and Ajwiggan

WELL DONE FELLAS,

Good to hear good news.

I can still remember my worries and tribulations at my interviews for SSEB
South of Scotland Electricity Board.
I ended up with them for 35 Years.
Best wishes in your new careers.
:biggrin5::biggrin5::biggrin5::biggrin5:

 

[cobey321]

Thanks jjmmcc cannot wait to get started and be out working myself

 

[Ajwiggan]

Yeah me too
they told me on your own an installation can be 2,3 days long
is this correct ?