Question

As part of your graduate training scheme with a large energy company you have been undertaking a variety of placements with different departments in the business. You are close to finishing a really successful placement in the Procurement team and will be moving onto the Finance team in a week's time. At lunchtime a colleague from Procurement, who you have become quite close to, takes you aside and warns you that there are a number of people in the Finance team who she has had problems with in the past. She says that there are people in Finance who are not to be trusted in her view and that you would be better off avoiding them if you can. What would you say?
1 point
'What makes you think they can’t be trusted? What advice can you offer about how to work with them?'
'What are you basing that opinion on? Could it be that you misinterpreted their actions or intentions towards you?'
'I don’t think it is appropriate for you to talk about people in this manner and I’m afraid it’s probably best if we end this conversation now.'
'Thanks for flagging that but it’s probably better if I go there with an open mind rather than having preconceptions about my future colleagues.'​

Answer 1

As part of your graduate training scheme with a large energy company you have been undertaking a variety of placements with different departments in the business. You are close to finishing a really successful placement in the Procurement team and will be moving onto the Finance team in a week's time. At lunchtime a colleague from Procurement, who you have become quite close to, takes you aside and warns you that there are a number of people in the Finance team who she has had problems with in the past. She says that there are people in Finance who are not to be trusted in her view and that you would be better off avoiding them if you can. What would you say?

1 point

'What makes you think they can’t be trusted? What advice can you offer about how to work with them?'

'What are you basing that opinion on? Could it be that you misinterpreted their actions or intentions towards you?'

'I don’t think it is appropriate for you to talk about people in this manner and I’m afraid it’s probably best if we end this conversation now.'

'Thanks for flagging that but it’s probably better if I go there with an open mind rather than having preconceptions about my future colleagues.'​