Emerging talent

Like most roles, the first step is to complete an application form. The application form asks for your personal information, the most recent copy of your CV, and to answer a few questions. These questions relate to Places for People, the market we operate in, and to understand what you want out of a graduate role.

The next step is a video interview. We’ll send you a link to some questions and ask you to record your answers. We understand that recording yourself for a job interview may be a new experience, however this is a really good way to find out more about you. We ask about your interests, what your motivators are for applying for the role, and why you'd like to work at Places for People.

To help you, we will send the questions out before you record your video so that you have some time to think about your answers or even re-record yourself. Once you have submitted your video, we will review it and if we'd like to know more, we'll invite you to complete the next stage of the process.

Here, you’ll speak with a member of our Early Careers team. It’s an opportunity for you to learn more about the role and Places for People. These phone calls are more informal than the assessment centre (which is the following stage) and give you a chance to ask as many questions as you want. Telephone screening also gives us the chance to tell you more about the role.

Assessment centres give you the opportunity to demonstrate a wide range of skills while completing a number of different activities. Each of our assessment centres are designed with a graduate and the role you want in mind.

At our assessment centres, you will be given the opportunity to meet your potential future line manager and the team you'll be a part of. Each assessment centre takes half a day and they are planned throughout April and May.

Assessment centres may seem daunting, but just remember to be yourself and relax. You won’t only be assessed against the skills needed for the role: the team will be looking to see who will be a great fit for Places for People and who demonstrates our SPIRIT values.

The final part of the assessment centre will include a competency interview. We want each candidate to do well in this style of interview and recommend that everyone coming to meet us should use the STAR method to answer – that stands for, “situation, task, action and result”.

Whether you have made it onto the programme or not, you will hear back from us. Offers will be made throughout May and June so you can enjoy your summer holiday before joining the team and give your current employer plenty of notice.

Before starting your induction, you’ll be asked to complete your preboarding information. This includes submitting references, completing a pension form and health questionnaire, and other admin bits to get you started.

If you are unsuccessful and want feedback, please let us know.

All our successful candidates will be invited to attend a series of summer 'keep in touch' events. You’ll get to meet members of your cohort who you’ll work, socialise and develop with during your time on the programme. You will also be invited to our Leeds office to meet with senior leaders and be shown around.

If you are successful and secure a place on the programme, you will join Places for People in September for your week-long induction in Leeds. The induction is designed for you to get a flavour of the culture here at Places for People. You’ll be starting your development journey networking with our senior leaders and meeting your new colleagues while on visits to our neighbourhoods, leisure centres and sites. You'll also have plenty of opportunity to socialise and build friendships with rest of your cohort.

The Emerging Talent Programme is designed for people with little or no experience in their chosen work field or role. We suggest that our roles are suited to people who have graduated within the last five years.

Applications are also open to People for People colleagues, regardless of how long they have been working for us and their academic history.

Places for People is a People First employer with equality at the heart of everything we do. Because of this, there are no age restrictions with our opportunities.

You can apply to the programme on the Places for People website. The first step is to complete our online application.  

Although Places for People has office locations across England and Scotland, the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a shift in the way we work. Some of our roles either need our colleagues to work safely from an office or work from home - or a combination of both which we call hybrid working.  

Each role will include details of where it is based.  

Not at all. As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer, we accept applications of any degree classification. 

You will join us in September 2022, which is when you will have your induction, but we will stay connected, with several ‘keep in touch’ events planned throughout the summer.  

Throughout your time on the programme, the Early Careers team will work with you and your manager to identify your next step. 

This could include: 

• Progression within your job role. 
• A promotion within your team, with a new title and increased responsibility. 
• Moving to a different team using the knowledge you’ve gained to apply for new roles in the organisation.