HSBC Singapore moves to digital recruitment of graduates through video interviews and online assessments

Following the move to online recruitment for all ongoing general hiring, HSBC has also shifted the hiring and induction of its graduate recruits online this year. 

This entails the following changes for its new wave of graduate recruitment:

• Marketing and recruitment: HSBC will host virtual campus events with HSBC senior management on topics including the future of banking, sustainable investing, fintech / digitalisation and women in banking.
• Interviews and hiring: The interview and hiring process was conducted through video interviews and online assessments. In previous years, HSBC Singapore ran in-person “assessment centres” in the office.

These initiatives are part of HSBC’s larger transformation programme incorporating modern ways of working, also keeping in mind existing social and travel restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bank has made a slew of other digital recruitment changes, some of which include:

1. HR’s e-offer digital capability to accept work contracts has reduced two-three days in onboarding.
2. Hiring managers have the option of giving their new joiners online access to a virtual ‘work desktop’ that they can access on their personal laptops. The other option is to have a bank-issued laptop couriered to their homes, to minimise the need for them to come into office.
3. Flexibility on geography e.g. one intern joined the Singapore five-week internship while in India, as he was not able to travel to Singapore for his internship.
4. Local induction for interns and their five-week internships this year were fully virtual. Global Banking & Markets and Private Banking interns (69% of total intern population) had 3.5 hours of online training every day for five weeks. 

Brandon Coate, Head of Human Resources, HSBC Singapore, said: "As a growth market for HSBC globally, we are focused on investing to attract the best local talent and further developing their skills. To attract these candidates, we need to quickly embrace new ways of working, and we are adapting accordingly.

"Despite the current environment, we are committed to rolling out the same robust recruitment and training programmes that continue to be a key part of our hiring plans. This is not only the right thing to do, but also ensures that our workforce remains agile and nimble enough to surmount the challenges ahead."

Photo / 123RF

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