Application process
Your application
First, you need to complete your application form and submit it online, along with your CV. It's important to complete all the required fields and give us the best email address and phone number to contact you on. You'll receive an automated response from the system acknowledging your application.
We'll then consider your application against our selection criteria, and contact you by email to let you know if you've got through to the next stage.
Testing your numeracy
If you successfully pass our selection criteria, we'll invite you to take an online numeracy test. It establishes your ability to collect and interpret numerical data, and means we can compare your results against a large number of graduates.
The test is conducted through a company called SHL and is an industry standard (to see the type of questions you'll be asked and try a practice test, visit www.shl.com). We'll let you know if you pass and make it to the next stage.
Your telephone interview
Pass the numeracy test, and we'll arrange a convenient time to conduct a telephone interview. It'll last 20-30 minutes. As well as being a chance for us to find out more about you, it's your opportunity to ask us questions.
We'd recommend preparing for the interview by researching us and the role in more detail, and thinking of some examples of when you've worked in a team, acted as a leader or developed your skills and abilities.
We'll be particularly interested in your achievements outside of school. So if you're a member of a club, have previous work experience or have travelled, make sure you tell us – and how your skills or knowledge could help you in a work environment.
Testing your verbal reasoning
If you perform well in the telephone interview, we'll invite you to take an online SHL verbal reasoning test. Again, there are practice tests available on www.shl.com. This time, the test will look at how you draw conclusions from written information.
Your assessment centre
The biggest test yet. You'll be invited to one of our Assessment Centres, where you'll meet the top performing graduates across each of the stages for each business area. We are only able to hold one for each sector, so please make sure you can come.
Essentially, the assessment centre involves coming to our offices and meeting our current graduate scheme members, as well as senior managers within our business. It's an opportunity to find out what our company's really like. So take the time to ask questions and get a deeper understand of what the role entails.
During the day, you will take part in a team exercise with other applicants, an individual case study presentation and an interview. You'll receive specific information about the day before you arrive, so you'll have time to prepare and will know roughly what to expect. The assessment centres last for one day and we try to make them as enjoyable as possible.
Offer
If you're not successful, you will be given full and detailed feedback. However, if you do come out on top, we'll make a verbal offer to you soon after the Assessment Centre. During the call, we'll also outline the details of the offer and make any necessary arrangements. After that, we'll send you an offer pack in the post and keep in close contact right up to your start date.