Northumbria University Talent Pool Recruitment
1. What is the Talent Pool?
The Assistant Administrator (Grade 3) and Administrative Assistant (Grade 2) Talent Pool is a group of skill tested candidates who have been assessed as being of the right calibre to be invited for interview for vacancies as they arise.
2. How will the Talent Pool operate?
To be considered for inclusion in the Talent Pool you will need to undertake:
- Pre-test questions
There are two questions you must answer before you can proceed any further.
If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you will be sent the electronic link to the pre-application tests.
- Pre-application tests
These aim to test your skills and knowledge in using Microsoft Word and Excel; undertaking data entry; and your general clerical skills.
The University has set a standard for each. Only if you attain these standards you will be given access to an Application Form.
2.1 Having met the required tests pass levels
You will be provided with electronic links to access the application form and additional documents. You will be required to complete and return the application form by the closing date.
2.2 Having not met the required pass levels for Assistant Administrator, but having attained a score suitable for posts at the grade below for Administrative Assistant
Note: this is currently only applicable to Internal candidates and temporary workers ('temps') on assignment through NRG
You will be contacted to ascertain whether or not you would be interested in being considered for Grade 2 Administrative Assistant posts. If you do wish to be so considered, you will be provided with electronic links to access the application form and additional documents. You will be required to complete and return the application form by the closing date. Your Application Form will be held on file and you will be included in the Talent Pool for Administrative Assistants.
You will also be provided with feedback on those requirements where you need to develop more skill and/or experience before you can be considered for an Assistant Administrator post.
2.3 Having not met the required pass level for Assistant Administrator or Administrative Assistant posts
Regrettably, on this occasion, you will not proceed any further in the application process. You will, however, be given feedback on those areas you need to develop in order to make any future re-application worthwhile
2.4 Making an application
You should complete the Application Form having first read the Guidance notes. Once you have submitted your completed Application Form, the information you have provided will be considered in the context of the requirements of the role.
At that point, you will be assessed as either:
- Having met all of the requirements
- Having met the requirements for the grade level below Assistant Administrator, i.e. Grade 2 Administrative Assistant
- Not having met the requirements for either Assistant Administrator or the grade below posts
2.5 Establishing the final cohort
Once all the Application Forms have been assessed against the requirements for the role, further consideration will be given to establishing the Talent Pool cohort, which provides a realistic number of candidates against the likely number of vacancies that will arise. This further refinement will be based on the scoring system adopted by the shortlisting panel and the establishing of a minimum cut off score.
2.51 Having met all of the requirements and having attained the minimum cut off score
You will be included in the Talent Pool and your Application Form will be held on file. Thereafter, you will be invited for interview as vacancies arise, in accordance with any preferences you have indicated.
Following interview, if you are not appointed you will either:
- Re-join the Talent Pool, where the view of the interview panel is that, while you were unsuccessful for a particular vacancy, you are still considered as potentially appointable on another occasion Or
- Leave the Talent Pool, where the views of two separate interview panels are that there are areas that you need to develop in order to be able to be considered for any further posts. At this stage you will receive written feedback, via the HR Department, on the areas you need to develop before re-applying to join the Talent Pool. Your Application Form will be held on file, outside of the Talent Pool, for a further 3 months, for legislative reasons. After which it will be destroyed, in line with the University’s Data Protection Policy (see the University’s website for further details)
2.52 Having met the requirements, but not attained the minimum cut off score
If you are in this position, it will mean that while you have met the minimum requirements for the post, unfortunately, within the context of the assessment of other applicants, you have not scored as highly.
Feedback will be given to you, with an indication, where possible, of the areas that you need to improve/strengthen in order to potentially make a successful re-application at a later date.
2.53 Not having met the requirements to a sufficient level
In this situation you will not be included in the Talent Pool for the relevant level of post as determined at the pre-application testing stage. You will, however, be given feedback on those areas you need to develop in order to make any future re-application worthwhile.
Your Application Form will be held on file for a further 3 months, for legislative reasons. After which it will be destroyed, in line with the University’s Data Protection Policy (see the University’s website for further details).
3. What happens when I am in the Talent Pool?
Once you are in the Talent Pool you should at some point be invited to attend for interview for a vacant post. In the meantime, you will be contacted, on a regular basis, to keep you updated and, from time to time, you will be asked to confirm your continuing interest in being in the Talent Poll.
4. How long does the Talent Pool last?
The Talent Pool will be refreshed when low numbers in relation to the number of potential vacancies that may arise.
5. Who can apply to join the Administrative Assistant Talent Pool (Grade 2)?
You must meet the minimum eligibility criteria to apply. You must:
- have GCSE/O Level at grade C, or equivalent, in Mathematics and English Language and/or work experience and relevant staff development
AND
- have the right to work in the UK
Information about proof of the right to work in the UK can be found here
The appropriate recruitment path depending on your current status can be found here.
If you have any other questions, please Contact Us