Coca-Cola Icecek, Istanbul, Turkey: CCI Next Talent Program

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Next Talent is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. This Management Trainee program offers part-time opportunities for 4th-year university students, leading to full-time employment post-graduation. Our primary goal here is to provide an exceptional experience while nurturing our emerging talent pool by using our existing workforce.

The Next Talent Program distinguishes itself with a unique evaluation process and robust content. We employ modern evaluation methods during selection and provide significant support to Next Talents through training, introductory meetings, and project involvement. Furthermore, we prioritize diversity and inclusion throughout the program.

Now, let's delve into the evaluation process in detail:

1. CV Screening: We start by evaluating candidates' applications, considering factors such as department quotas, candidates' locations, university, and previous experiences. Our number of applications, which was 2800 last year, increased to 4357 in line with our communication strategies this year.
2. Casebot: Candidates who pass the initial screening move on to the Casebot stage. Here, they undergo an online business simulation, designed to be engaging and differentiated. Candidates receive emails mimicking a real company correspondence and are tasked with solving problems while showcasing effective communication skills. The score system calculating the fitness was integrated in 2022.
3. English Proficiency Test: Successful candidates then continue with an English proficiency exam to ensure they meet the required language level.
4. Online Video Interview: We use the Vireup platform for this stage, where candidates respond to Turkish and English questions integrated in a Natural Language Processing based AI technology. The AI system evaluates their answers according to predefined criteria, and a report is generated. Based on this report and our observations, we invite suitable candidates to the next stage, the Gamified Assessment Center.
5. Gamified Assessment Center: This stage has evolved from an escape room to a board game focusing on assessing competencies like analytical thinking, learning agility, planning, and teamwork. This year, we themed the entire experience around the 1960s. A total of 128 candidates in the groups of 4 played a board game set in a "Carnival of Hope" from the 60s, where they had to overcome various challenges and bring hope back to the nation. Each candidate had a unique task card with different abilities. The objective was to complete the game within an hour while having so much fun! Our evaluation surveys indicate an outstanding 4.86/5 satisfaction rate and an impressive NPS score of 89, highlighting our success in delivering an enjoyable practice. 
   Our jury team, comprised of CCI representatives from various functions, observed and evaluated candidates through a live connection during the game. This enabled us to assess their adaptation to CCI culture, communication skills, empathy, and leadership qualities, all within a unique and enjoyable 60s-themed setting. Smoke and bubbles welcomed candidates for added nostalgia, while our game masters and event team were dressed in 60s attire for a holistic experience.
6. The Day with CCI: We invited selected candidates to our office, where they had the opportunity to learn about CCI's functions directly from our directors. They were also introduced to project topics, group members, and project coaches for the upcoming project phase. Then, they were ready for the final stage: the project presentation.
7. Project Presentation: After a week of preparation, 70 candidates presented projects aimed at popularizing a CCI sales channel application to a jury. Following the presentations, we gathered feedback from the jury and selected 28 Next Talents to receive part-time offers.

Unlike previous years, we also produced a 60s-themed short film with our own employees, shared it on our social media during the application process, and generated interest among our followers. We also conducted a 3-episode live broadcast series to provide detailed program information and address candidate questions, reaching a nationwide audience and featuring past Next Talents' testimonials.