IFS NCI apprenticeship interview 14/06/16

ryans30

just trying to get an idea of timing here, has anyone heard anything that he'd been told they'd be in contact by the end of July?

denjaa89

I have still not heard anything back from them. Kinda interesting now to get the feedback on the 90 seconds interview

Hoochel

I was in the first assessment in June and still have not heard anything, hopefully this week we will hear something

denjaa89

I assume nobody still have been contacted regarding the result of either being accepted or not?

vg88

Nope nothing

happyguy91

Hi guys, my elevator pitch was back in May. Got an email this morning advising I've been shortlisted for screening and interviews with the companys which will commence in Autumn 2016 (date tbc). Email advises that chosen candidates will commence the apprenticeship in Quarter 1 2017.

Best of luck

vg88

happyguy91 wrote: »

Hi guys, my elevator pitch was back in May. Got an email this morning advising I've been shortlisted for screening and interviews with the companys which will commence in Autumn 2016 (date tbc). Email advises that chosen candidates will commence the apprenticeship in Quarter 1 2017.

Best of luck

Thanks for the update, had mine on the 14th of june. How long did they take to get back?

YellowLead

I also got an email today informing me the same as happyguy91, my pitch was part of the July session. I'm really pleased as I had no idea how I had performed. Best of luck to all.

ryans30

I think the real screening will be with the employers, to be honest.

YellowLead

ryans30 wrote: »

I think the real screening will be with the employers, to be honest.

Definitely. But it's good to get the opportunity to be screened, whatever format that will take. Does anyone know if it is going to be a similar format to the pitches to NCI?

ryans30

Ah it is of course, yes. I don't really know what approach will be taken for employer screening, they might choose certain people from the short list to meet perhaps? Who knows, can only imagine we will be briefed in due course.

Hoochel

I've just got an email now confirming progression to next stage of advanced specialist,

Nuttzz

ryans30 wrote: »

Ah it is of course, yes. I don't really know what approach will be taken for employer screening, they might choose certain people from the short list to meet perhaps? Who knows, can only imagine we will be briefed in due course.

I would reckon you'd be looking at a proper interview at this level, you are going to work for them for 2 years at least. I can imagine it will be pretty competitive at the next stage

YellowLead

Nuttzz wrote: »

I would reckon you'd be looking at a proper interview at this level, you are going to work for them for 2 years at least. I can imagine it will be pretty competitive at the next stage

I have a feeling it wont be straight into interviews with companies. I remember they said something about speed dating with employers so perhaps they will give us all a few minutes with a selection of companies and we move on to the next when the bell is rang. Then based on that the companies select who they want to interview. Although that seems like a bit of a waste of time so companies might not be up for that. I imagine finding a time that suits them all to congregate would be very difficult. I wonder why it was pushed forward until Jan 17, originally it was due to commence in Sept 16. Perhaps they have not secured enough companies to take the numer of candidates the government have proposed funding. It would be great if they told us what will happen at the next stage now so we can prepare, perhaps they have not yet figured it out that far themselves.

Trixie777

I got my e-mail also to say I am on the shortlist but I am disappointed it will not happen until quarter 1 2017 as I was expecting if for September. It was a little bit vague as it's said the next phase of the process is Autumn. Technically it's Autumn now, but it could also be the end of October before we hear anything. Did anyone get more information as I am really hoping for this?

vg88

Still heard nothing, anyone who didn't get it get a rejection email?

YellowLead

Trixie777 wrote: »

I got my e-mail also to say I am on the shortlist but I am disappointed it will not happen until quarter 1 2017 as I was expecting if for September. It was a little bit vague as it's said the next phase of the process is Autumn. Technically it's Autumn now, but it could also be the end of October before we hear anything. Did anyone get more information as I am really hoping for this?

I would say the reason it is a it vague is because the details have not been arranged yet. I would also hazard a guess that they have moved the date of commencement forward because they are having difficulties getting enough companies on board to take the number of apprentices they got approval for funding for. All we can do it wait for the next email - unless anybody who attends/attended NCI has insider information.

YellowLead

moloner4 wrote: »

Still heard nothing, anyone who didn't get it get a rejection email?

Have you tried getting in touch?

EriT

Got the email to say I'm into the next round for advanced specialist , I also got an email to say I'm into the next level for the specialist level for which I have no interest in . But sure will see what happens next. Very unorganised surly 99% of it should have been set up before taking applications

denjaa89

EriT wrote: »

Got the email to say I'm into the next round for advanced specialist , I also got an email to say I'm into the next level for the specialist level for which I have no interest in . But sure will see what happens next. Very unorganised surly 99% of it should have been set up before taking applications

I have also received the two confirmation even though I did not apply for the Specialist Level. Also tried to contact them regarding how the next stage is going to be organised and did not get any response back. Assuming the earliest anyone will hear from them would be end of October or start of November.

YellowLead

I would be dubious about the advanced specialist level going ahead at all. I remember them saying at the screening session that the companies were mostly interested in the two lower levels and far less so for the advanced, almost as if they were trying to put candidates off. Which makes sense tbh, because for the salary companies would be required to pay at that level and the experience required also, they could just hire suitable candidates without the need for apprenticeship. I am probably wrong here, it is just a feeling I have!
Overall I don't think they put enough thought or planning into this process from the beginning, and now they are struggling to figure it all out while time ticks on. Perhaps it is all too good to be true - although they have the government funding secured, so when it comes down to it I am sure they will do their best to push it forward.

denjaa89

It is poorly structured. It seems that everyone that applied for that course have been accepted. People with experience were accepted and as far as I know some people straight after college with no experience were also accepted so I wonder how this course even work.

Anyone tried to contact them and did they get back to ya?

YellowLead

denjaa89 wrote: »

It is poorly structured. It seems that everyone that applied for that course have been accepted. People with experience were accepted and as far as I know some people straight after college with no experience were also accepted so I wonder how this course even work.

Anyone tried to contact them and did they get back to ya?[/quote

No, but I'm going to. As far as people with no experience go, surely that would only be for the lowest level, I can't remember what that was called, and not for specialist/advanced specialist? Surely they wouldn't have let everybody who went to the screening through? If anybody didn't get through, could you let us know?

denjaa89

YellowLead wrote: »

denjaa89 wrote: »

It is poorly structured. It seems that everyone that applied for that course have been accepted. People with experience were accepted and as far as I know some people straight after college with no experience were also accepted so I wonder how this course even work.

Anyone tried to contact them and did they get back to ya?[/quote

No, but I'm going to. As far as people with no experience go, surely that would only be for the lowest level, I can't remember what that was called, and not for specialist/advanced specialist? Surely they wouldn't have let everybody who went to the screening through? If anybody didn't get through, could you let us know?

I know few people that were accepted for Advanced Specialist with no experience so this is where I am wondering how this is going to workout as employers will be looking for experienced people or people who change their career path. Lets see what is going to happen next.
I contacted them last week and still no reply yet. Give us a shout if they reply back to ya

denjaa89

Here is the awnser to everybody's question if they are accepted or not. Just received a reply from NCI.

"Being successful and progressing to the next stage does not mean that you are accepted to the course. You must secure a training contract with an employer and you are also obliged to ensure that you meet the academic entry requirements with NCI."

ryans30

anybody received any further updates yet?

YellowLead

denjaa89 wrote: »

Here is the awnser to everybody's question if they are accepted or not. Just received a reply from NCI.

"Being successful and progressing to the next stage does not mean that you are accepted to the course. You must secure a training contract with an employer and you are also obliged to ensure that you meet the academic entry requirements with NCI."

I knew that progressing to this stage did not mean you were accepted to the course. However I am surprised that they said that we are still obliged to meet the academic entry requirements of NCI. Surely when application forms were shortlisted that was only on the basis the requirements were met. If not then, at least before informing us that we are through to the employer stage. But it is yet another aspect to the whole apprenticeship that is poorly organised. I think they did not plan in advance how they were going to organise this - it could well get pushed out to Sept 17 yet. I haven't heard anything from them since being informed I was through to the employer screening.

Are there any nci students reading this who have connections or access to more information that know more about the next phase?

YellowLead

denjaa89 wrote: »

YellowLead wrote: »

I know few people that were accepted for Advanced Specialist with no experience so this is where I am wondering how this is going to workout as employers will be looking for experienced people or people who change their career path. Lets see what is going to happen next.
I contacted them last week and still no reply yet. Give us a shout if they reply back to ya

That's nuts! It will put employers off participating in future. Candidates must meet the requirements of the jobs so the employers will be annoyed to be sent inexperienced people to screen and they will see this as a joke. Have you gotten any reply yet?

doc11

The salarys seem out of wack 21000-50000 for 3/4 days work? They had similar courses under springboard/skillnet and they'd have trouble finding companys for students to work for FREE. Why commit to two years paying an apprentice and giving training days when you can easily hire a well qualified graduate for near the same wage. Crazy.

YellowLead

doc11 wrote: »

The salarys seem out of wack 21000-50000 for 3/4 days work? They had similar courses under springboard/skillnet and they'd have trouble finding companys for students to work for FREE. Why commit to two years paying an apprentice and giving training days when you can easily hire a well qualified graduate for near the same wage. Crazy.

I think for the 50 salary it was people already experienced within the filed they were after, so a graduate wouldn't do but I can't imagine why anybody experienced would bother or why the company would participate as they can find those people themselves. With the lowest level the salary is very low and they are more guaranteed to keep those people for 2 years, otherwise people on such low salaries tend to move more quickly. As regards the 35k one not sure how attractive they will be to companies unless they are finding there is a skills shortage out there and people skilled in data analytics/fintech are in demand and therefore command a higher salary than 35.