Guaranteed Interview Scheme

naf123

GIS (Guaranteed Interview Scheme) also known as Two Ticks etc

What is your experiences of the scheme? Have you ever found employment or got an interview under the scheme?

My experience been awful. Never got an interview despite having first class honours masters degree. They always find an excuse not to short list me.

nannytone_2

I applied for a job a couple of years ago that operated this scheme. I decided that I would rather go through the selection process and get an interview on merit, rather than being given a 'free pass'.
it sounds like a good idea on paper, but must lead to people wasting their, and the prospective employers time, by being put through to the interview stage because they have a disability rather than them having any suitability for the job.

I passed the tests but unfortunately didnt get a job offer after the interview.
but i am happy knowing that i 'earned' the interview rather than just going through because i could!

naf123

I personally think its disgraceful. I think it should be banned immediately. It is just a valuable tool to employers to know who is disabled and who is not.

I have only got interviews with employers who don't have the two ticks but did not get the jobs anyway. (either they can see I am obviously disabled and can't be bothered to deal with me or they have genuinely found someone else better!?!)

Still currently unemployed.

nannytone_2

as i said in my previous post ... you DON'T have to use the scheme.
I am registered blind, so classed as disabled, but chose to go through the selection process in the same way as everyone else.

You can't blame employers totally.
you say the ones that know you have a disability bedorehand, won't give you an interview, but for many small companies, employiong a person with significant needs may be too costly, factoring in any adaptations and insurance that may be required.

MrsManda

naf123 wrote: »

My experience been awful. Never got an interview despite having first class honours masters degree. They always find an excuse not to short list me.

Having a 1st class honours masters degree isn't relevant to the scheme unless it's listed as part of the minimum criteria for the role you're applying for.
If you're applying under the scheme you need to make sure you clearly show that you meet each step in the minimum criteria otherwise you're unlikely to get an interview.

I've never used it for a number of reasons, one because like nannytone I prefer to get an interview on merit (though this can be difficult as I have some huge gaps in my work history due to ill health) and secondly because for many of the jobs I apply for I am not sure I can always clearly show on the application form that I meet each of the minimum criteria for the role.

Therefore I prefer to rely on the strength of my work statement and hope the employer is interested enough to want to interview me. Surprisingly (from my point of view given my history) I usually get an interview.

naf123

I do that now. (i.e not tick GIS) because of my bad experiences. What I want is that they really ban it outright to prevent other naive inexperienced disabled people falling into this silly trap called GIS!

moose1982

I think there are arguments for and against the scheme:

FOR - Someone may find it hard to complete the application form because of their illness and so this would give someone the chance to show who they really are in an interview.

AGAINST - May say to the employer that you are not afraid of the using the 'disability discrimination' card if needed in the future.

tomjonesrules

naf123 wrote: »

I do that now. (i.e not tick GIS) because of my bad experiences. What I want is that they really ban it outright to prevent other naive inexperienced disabled people falling into this silly trap called GIS!

I tried to use it for a job a few years ago, more to see what happened than anything. I was declined an interview because there were candidates who were better qualified (and there would have been, I don't doubt that). When I reminded them that an interview should be offered to disabled applicants who met the minimum criteria they did offer me an interview. By this point it was a month after the decline letter had been received, so I made a reasoned judgment that the position had already been filled and they were doing it to shut me up.

There are organisations that do use the scheme as intended. Public sector and voluntary organisations certainly appear better in making adjustments for disabled workers. What is needed is better enforcement and monitoring, someone to report the employer to if you are not treated fairly. Given all the cuts at present, the chances of that happening are very low.

GlasweJen

I used the two ticks once on an application form.

I have a more relevant degree, more up to date experience of working in the field, I'd done all of the stuff the job required before where he hadn't and I was also able to register as a biomedical scientist after my degree (my friends degree wasn't in bio sciences). He got the job as a biomedical scientists assistant, go figure.

kurgon

tomjonesrules wrote: »

There are organisations that do use the scheme as intended. Public sector and voluntary organisations certainly appear better in making adjustments for disabled workers. QUOTE]

Actually they have the worst record in the country. I work for the public sector and would also never use the two tick. Even my own manager has told me how they used to hold two interview dates - one for the two ticks and the 'proper' one for the candidates.

naf123

For all the reasons above, Two ticks should be BANNED!

Write to your MP! Get the matter stirring!