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Tips from the Team

Tips from our recruiters on how to get a job with Rentokil Initial

At Rentokil Initial, our application and interview process is designed to get to know you. We’re a people business, and we want to ensure you have everything you need to succeed. Our expert recruiters have shared their insider advice to guide you through the process.

Rentokil Initial Employee

Application Process and CV Tips

  • Be clear and concise: Keep things simple; your CV doesn't need long paragraphs of writing. Provide all requested information accurately and thoroughly.

  • Highlight transferable skills: Make sure to mention any transferable skills that would fit within your new role.

  • Provide dates: Provide clear dates for your experience so recruiters can see your history at a glance.

  • Customise your application: Thoroughly read the job description so you fully understand the requirements, and customise your application to highlight the specific requirements effectively.

  • Proofread: Proofread your application and make sure there are no errors.

Interview Preparation

Being prepared is key to feeling confident. We want to see your personality shine through, and preparation helps take the pressure off.

  • Research us: Look at our website to gain an understanding of our business and its multiple divisions. Take a closer look at the specific division you are applying to and explore the range of products and services they provide. 

  • Know your CV: Be ready to talk through your experience, showing where you've demonstrated customer service skills, driving, or route planning, as these are often key to our roles.

  • Prepare questions: Prepare questions for the interviewer to demonstrate your interest in working for us.

  • Review company culture: Feel free to read our company reviews on Glassdoor to make sure we are a suitable match for you.

Ask Our Recruiters: Tips from the Team

Hear directly from Rachel, Amy and Susan in our recruitment team for their expert insights on what it takes to ace the application and interview process at Rentokil Initial.

Recruiter Amy Mearns of Rentokil Initial

Amy Mearns

  • Key Traits She Seeks: Strong customer service skills and a proactive 'can-do' attitude.

  • Advice to Stand Out: Research the business and know a little bit about the products we offer our customers.

  • Interview Tip: Take your time to fully think about the questions you've been asked; don't rush your answers.

Recruiter Susan Watson of Rentokil Initial

Susan Watson

  • Key Personality Traits: Someone who is outgoing, chatty, and can demonstrate a willingness to learn

  • Advice to Stand Out: Be honest and chatty, we truly want you to succeed.

  • Top Interview Rules: 1. Turn up! 2. Don't swear. 3. Don't be scared to ask questions.

Recruiter Rachel Gilmour of Rentokil Initial

Rachel Gilmour

  • Top CV Tip: Keep your CV simple and concise. Focus on your transferable skills and provide dates so we can see your experience at a glance.

  • Interview Focus: Be yourself, we want to see your personality.

  • Professionalism: Always be honest about leaving a previous role, but focus on what you hope to achieve in the future; don't speak poorly of a previous employer

Competency-Based Questions: The STAR Technique

At Rentokil Initial, we will almost always ask one or more competency-based questions in the interview. This is a great opportunity to show off and highlight your career and strengths.

Competency-based questions require you to provide examples of your experience. They will often start with ‘Tell me about a time when you have…’ or ‘Describe a situation where you…. Following the STAR technique, you can streamline your answer whilst giving the interviewer the information they need.

Situation

You should always open any competency-based question by briefly describing the situation. 

An example of this would be: “When I was working in a newly formed team as Team Leader with…”. This helps set the scene for the interviewer.

Task/Target

Once the background is clear you should then begin to describe what it was you were tasked to do or what you were aiming to achieve.

 For example “I had to resolve a disagreement within the team”.

Action

You should then describe what you did, how you did it, and why you did it. 

This is the most important part of your answer as it is your chance to show your actions and demonstrate your abilities. Remember to talk about what you did not the company or group as a whole. Use “I” not “we”, the interviewer will be interested in you!

Result

What happened? What was the outcome? 

A “result” can be any number of different outcomes from achieving a goal, or hitting a target to getting positive feedback or learning something new. It’s always a good idea to give an example with a positive result!

Ready to put these tips into practice? View our current vacancies and apply today:

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