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Early Careers: Skills-Based Hiring Explained

At EDF, Success is Personal, and we believe recruitment should be too. That's why we take a skills-based approach to hiring for our Early Careers programmes.

You'll complete a range of interactive tasks that allow you to showcase your potential in different ways. Developed with input from specialist assessment experts and internal early careers programme managers, these tasks are tailored to identify the skills and attributes needed for success in each programme. The qualities assessed will vary depending on the role, but some of the key areas we often look for are:

PERSISTENT EFFORT

The ability to control automatic responses, including attention, behaviour, thoughts, emotions, and to respond appropriately to situations. This helps identify candidates who can:

  • Stay focused and absorb new information.
  • Make quick, appropriate decisions in time-sensitive situations.
  • Remain controlled and focused in challenging situations.
LEARNING AGILITY

The ability to quickly learn, adapt and apply new knowledge and skills in different situations. This helps identify candidates who can:

  • Navigate uncertainty and anticipate how situations might develop.
  • Adjust behaviours and approaches based on new experiences and information.
  • Recognise social patterns to understand and predict interpersonal dynamics.

FOCUSED ATTENTION

The ability to control automatic responses, including attention, behaviour, thoughts, emotions, and to respond appropriately to situations. This helps identify candidates who can:

  • Stay focused and absorb new information.
  • Make quick, appropriate decisions in time-sensitive situations.
  • Remain controlled and focused in challenging situations.


"Write a list of your achievements and keep it to hand, no matter how ordinary they seem. Have faith in the system – there are no tricks and you won’t be expected to know everything."

Rob Carter, Data & Tech Grad

COGNITIVE AGILITY

The ability to adapt to changing demands and quickly shift focus. This helps identify candidates who excel at:

  • Adapting to new or unplanned situations.
  • Switching efficiently between tasks.
  • Analysing new information to inform decisions and strategies.

INDUCTIVE REASONING

The ability to spot patterns, solve problems, and apply knowledge in new situations. This helps identify candidates who can:

  • Solve novel or complex problems.
  • Learn and apply new knowledge in unfamiliar situations.
  • Critically evaluate information to make sound decisions.
  • Recognise trends and make logical choices.

"Do your research on the company, the industry and how you could positively contribute to their goals. Have a good night's sleep and remember to breathe! Enjoy yourself and present the best version of you." 

Sandy Kelly, Commercial Graduate

QUANTITATIVE REASONING

The ability to work with and understand quantitative information (with or without numbers). This helps to identify candidates who are most likely to succeed at:

  • Interpreting data in various formats.
  • Solving problems using mathematical concepts.

Posted byMaria Kolykhalova
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