Recruiter Advice

Preparing for Interviews

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Preparing for Interviews

Congratulations on securing an interview for your dream role!

Interviews can be a daunting experience and we want you to be able to perform at your best.

I would advise that you do a bit of preparation, research SSE and the business unit you will be joining, what are they doing as part of our netzero strategy and how does this align with your experience

On the job advert you will find some information on the business unit and a hyperlink to the specific business unit website

Next, have a look at the requirements of the role and our values and think of some examples using the star method.

And as interviews are as much about finding out about us as you, I would suggest you have a think about what questions you might ask to ensure the role is right for you such as “If I was successful what would you expect from me within the first 90 days."

The interview

SSE can use a variety of interview formats but most commonly we will use competency/behavioural based and technical interviews. During these we will ask for specific technical knowledge and examples of where you have demonstrated something in the past – for example – “please can you give me an example where you have built a relationship with an external stakeholder and how you did this?”

For some roles we may use assessment centres, personality profiling or online assessment and you’ll see the format in your interview invite. You’ll find the contact details of your recruiter on the job advert and all email communications enabling you to reach out and discuss the interview format in detail

The idea of the interview is to find out as much about you, your skills and experience so don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat or rephrase a question to ensure you understand

After the interview

We’ll let you know the outcome and next steps as soon as reasonably possible

Adjustments

We want everyone to perform their best during the recruitment process and if there is a reasonable adjustment we can make to enable this, then please contact your recruiter, the recruiters details can be found on the job advert and any email communication.

What is a reasonable adjustment?

Reasonable adjustments are changes we can make to remove or reduce a disadvantage related to someone's disability.

How does this work?

Please contact your recruiter who can assist, some examples could include example interview questions, extra time for you to complete your online test/interview, example written questions or putting the questions in the chat function of teams. Everyone’s requirement is different and we will be guided by you.

Why is culture important?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Why is culture important?

At SSE, our core values—Safety, Service, Efficiency, Sustainability, Excellence, and Teamwork (SSE SET)—are at the heart of everything we do.

Demonstrating alignment with these values not only shows that you understand our culture but also reinforces your commitment to being a part of it.

When applying for a role with us, I encourage you to take the time to research our mission and values and tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect these. This will help you stand out and show us how you would contribute to our team.

SSE's Values

Beyond helping you craft a strong application, understanding SSE’s values can benefit you in several ways:

Ensuring SSE is the Right Fit for You – A company’s culture has a big impact on job satisfaction. By exploring our values and workplace ethos, you can assess whether SSE aligns with your own beliefs, work style, and career aspirations. If you thrive in an environment that prioritises safety, teamwork, and sustainability, SSE could be the perfect place for you.

Helping You Prepare Stronger Interview Responses – Our values should shape the examples you choose to discuss during interviews. Thinking ahead about how your past experiences align with SSE’s culture will make it easier to provide compelling, structured answers.

Providing a Framework for Success – If you join SSE, understanding our values will help you settle in quickly and contribute effectively from day one.

It will give you a clear sense of how decisions are made, what is expected of you, and how to build strong relationships within the company.

Using the STAR Technique to Demonstrate Alignment

One of the most effective ways to highlight your alignment with our values is by using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when sharing examples of your experience. This method helps structure your responses clearly and ensures you provide specific, meaningful examples.

For instance, if you’re showcasing teamwork, think of a time when you collaborated effectively with others to achieve a goal. Outline the situation, explain your role, describe the actions you took, and share the positive outcome. Similarly, for safety, you might discuss an instance where you identified and mitigated a risk, ensuring a safer working environment. The key is to provide concrete examples that illustrate how you embody our values in real-world scenarios.

At SSE, safety is our number one priority—"if it's not safe, we don't do it." We are committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and ethical workplace where employees are encouraged to innovate and improve processes. Our values guide our decision-making, shape our relationships, and ensure we always strive to do the right thing.

For a deeper understanding of how to structure your responses effectively using the STAR technique there are lot of resources online, including this guide to STAR interview responses from Indeed.com.

By preparing well and aligning your application with SSE’s core values, you’ll be in a strong position to demonstrate how you can contribute to our team. We look forward to learning more about you!

Find out more about SSE's culture and values

Hannah's Top Tips

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Hannah's Top Interview Tips

Hannah, one of the resourcing consultants at SSE, shares a couple of her top tips when applying for a role with SSE.

Be Authentic!

Be honest and genuine, we are interested in you as an individual. We aren’t looking for a textbook answer, every candidate has a different story to tell.

Take time to reflect on your career history, your motivations and values, and bring these to life, highlighting your unique experiences and achievements. Including a cover letter with your application provides an opportunity to give another layer of detail and tell us more about you, your motivation for applying and what has attracted you to apply for a role with SSE.

At interview, have some pre-prepared examples of your relevant experience to the role and key points to highlight in your career history. It can help to remember, every interviewer has sat in the seat of interviewee.

Think about values

Get to know SSE’s goals and company values, if there are aspects of your background that have a personal connection to the company’s values, highlight these in your application and be prepared to talk about them at interview.

Tailor your CV and application to the role, highlight where your experience and skill set align with the job description and make sure to include any transferable skills and how you see them as relevant to the job.

Showcase your achievements both professionally and personally and tell us why they align with the role you are applying for and SSE as an employer.

If there is something you have seen or read about our business that has sparked your interest in a career with us, tell us about it – we want our employees to be passionate about the company they work for.