maanantai 4. toukokuuta 2015

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE

During our Human resource management (HRM) course we students had an opportunity to be a part of the spring 2015 entrance examinations. Not everyone made the cut but I got the pleasure of being a part of the Haaga-Helia Porvoo Campus entrance examination process. It was an interesting opportunity to say the least. During our HRM course we planned some questions for the group interviews within a group and then the best alternatives got selected. Our teams puzzle got selected to be solved by the applicants.

There were two types of interviews we could attend. One was a group interview where we had to assess the applicants working inside a group. The other interview was an individual interview where there was approximately three people interweaving one applicant. I was a part of the individual interviews which was actually the one I would have preferred to be in. I don’t really know why I rather attend the individual interviews but somehow it felt a better fit for me. Even though it would have been very interesting to sit quietly and watch a group try and solve a question or problem within an assignment, when the actual point is to observe the applicants personality and way of working.

The reason I wanted to be involved in the process of the entrance examination for my school is because I wanted to know how the system works. I was intrigued and wanted to experience it myself. I applied to Haaga-Helia at the Haaga Campus in Helsinki, so I really had no clue how the entrance examinations worked in HH Porvoo Campus. I also wanted to learn something new and know how it feels to be on the other side of an interview or application process. I’ve always been the “applicant” until this experience so it almost felt powerful to see things in the eyes of someone who is actually “in charge” of someone’s future. We did have the opportunity to fail unsuited applicants which was a scary thought. What if I give points to someone who doesn’t deserve it as much as someone else? What if I don’t fail someone who obviously shouldn’t get in and takes the place of some who should? It might not had been that drastic actually but you get the point, intimidating isn’t it?
The day started like any other. Everyone involved in the entrance examination interviews met in a class. We had some salad for lunch and a brief introduction in what were we getting ourselves into. We split into the people conducting the group interviews and the people conducting the individual interviews. I was an interviewer at the individual interviews so my team consisted of two other interviewers.
After that we met with the team that was assigned to us, who with we should conduct the interviews. I was lucky to have such nice and experienced people to work with. It felt safer to be a little “out” and confused with the situation and even be a little nervous. We had 5 people to interview of which one was a no show. The time passed very quickly and before I knew it, the day was over and I was driving back to Helsinki.
Overall I think that the whole day went well. We had four very successful interviews even though I froze at one of them. I’m glad the people who were interviewing with me were pushing me to ask questions and were patient when I forgot what I was supposed to ask from the applicant. Mostly I did feel I asked good, valid questions and gave the applicants much appreciated insights about the school.
This was a great opportunity for me to learn recruitment skills, because someday I wish to be doing that in some part of my future job. It is so wonderful to meet new people especially when they surprise you in the most positive ways. It was inspiring to see so motivated people do well on their interviews and I was sure to pick out some good points from them for my own job or other interviews for the future. I’m grateful for this opportunity, it was fun and I hope to be a part something like this in the future.

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