What Is British Council?
British Council is an international organization that encourages cultural relations and educational opportunities. They help teach the English language across the world and establish understanding between counties. As a public organization, this charity is perfect for people who want to make a difference in the world. British Council’s values are:
>Valuing People— being respectful and understanding of other cultures while also giving everyone a chance to participate.
->Integrity— being reliable.
->Mutuality— having two-way relationships that benefit both parties.
->Creativity— coming up with new and innovative ideas.
->Professionalism— Maintaining high standards.
British Council has the following divisions:
->English Language
->Education and Society
->Arts
British Council welcomes diversity and wants to hire graduates who are passionate about this organization’s work.
What Is British Council’s Hiring Process?
British Council’s hiring process is very straightforward. It has three main steps:
->Application
->Online Testing
->Interviews
Application
After searching for jobs through the job portal, you can fill out an application for the job you want. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted generally within four weeks. Job seekers who do not make the shortlist will not be notified.
Note that while British Council recruits throughout the year, teaching roles are primarily open in the spring and summer for jobs that begin in September and October.
During the application process, you will create an account on British Council’s jobs page and add your personal information. You will also include your educational and employment history. You will be prompted to answer various application questions including how you have acted upon the organization’s values in past experiences. Also, reflect the company’s six behaviours in your application: making it happen, shaping the future, being accountable, working together, and connecting with others.
British Council Online Testing
As part of your pre-employment screening, you may be asked to take various assessment exams to see if you fit the desired qualifications for the job. These tests will be ranked based on the scores of other test-takers. Generally, companies look for scores above the fiftieth percentile.
What tests you take will depend on the location of the job and the job itself, but British Council tends to use certain tests in their recruitment process. The following psychometric tests may be given:
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning tests are meant to show your English language skills. This test is particularly important at this organization because it reflects British Council’s mission of educating people on the English language, so be sure to study for this test. The test can be broken down into these groups:
->Vocabulary
->Grammar
->Comprehension
->Critical Reasoning
The verbal reasoning test also tests how well you can comprehend and analyze text. You will be given short passages and asked questions based on that text. They often use true, false, or cannot be determined based on the passage type questions.
Numerical Reasoning
This test will have around twenty questions, you will have about a minute to complete each question. You will be given graphs, basic equations, tables, which you will use to analyze data. You will answer through a series of multiple-choice answers. This test measures your ability to complete basic math questions and to work under pressure.
Situational Judgement
British Council’s SJT test will ask you to imagine certain workplace situations and tell you to rank the options. These tests show how you will behave in the workplace and your decision-making style. With this information, British Council can see which candidates are most fitting of the desired traits for the job. This test is timed, so you must work speedily while still trying to maintain accuracy.
Logical Reasoning
The logical reasoning test assess your ability to analyze abstract data using various graphics and questions. For example, you may be given shapes and asked to determine patterns. This test will also be timed, so work as efficiently as you can and try to keep calm. When uncertain, try to eliminate answers you know are least likely and think about the problem from there.
Interviews
British Council will do in-person interviews, but they are also open to phone or video interviews to accommodate people who may be far away from their offices. The interview will be around forty-five minutes.
British Council Interview Questions & Tips
During the interview, it is important to make a positive impression and show that you both fit the organization’s mission and that you stand out from other applicants. Some prompts you might be given during an interview are:
->Give an example of a time when you used communication skills with customers.
->In what ways have you worked collaboratively with others in the past?
->How do you use technology in learning?
->What tools would you use for students who are having difficulties?
->How do you encourage student participation?
How to Prepare for British Council’s Assessments?
Online assessments will help recruiters decide if they want to give you a chance at an interview; thus, you must do well on these exams. To prepare for the online assessments, it is best to use practice tests in the various testing areas. Practice tests can show you what you most need to work on and allow you to begin British Council’s testing with more confidence.
Conclusion
British Council is a public organization that strives to educate and spread culture to other countries. Due to the high number of applicants this company receives, it’s critical to make yourself stand out from the other applicants. Accomplish this by making a good impression on your application and during interviews. Additionally, preparation for online assessments is necessary. Take some time to prepare for these exams so that you know what to expect when you begin your online assessment. If you’re looking that prioritizes education and culture, do some more research on British Council’s job page.