Online Application
For the online application process, you first have to fill out all the necessary information like your email address and phone number; make sure that you keep an eye on emails and phone calls throughout the recruitment process as you don’t want to miss a HireVue invitation. You can pick up to 3 divisions to apply to for the summer analyst program and they can be as random as you like it to be. Towards the end of the application, you are then asked for your updated CV and then you can move on to the cover letter section which has a word limit of 300.
How to respond for success
I knew that recruiters would understand that applicants will not have the most experience in the field so I really tried my best to leverage the skills I picked up in my retail and voluntary history. Knowing how to alchemise your past experiences goes a long way even though you may have not had any related positions. Also, when you apply for more than one division, you are still subjected to the same word count as everyone else regardless so make sure that you are not foregoing depth for the sake of hedging your bets with more applied roles!
Expect a couple weeks to wait before being advanced to the next stage.
HireVue
The HireVue is a pre-recorded video interview that will need to be completed in a certain time frame. I made sure that I could angle my laptop to a height where I could sit comfortably and look directly at my webcam; additionally I think it’s best to memorise your answers in typical interview format (like using the STAR technique) so that you don’t stumble too much under pressure. I think that really helped me.
Example
I remember being asked behavioural/competency questions (Give an example where you showcased …. quality? ) which was in line with what I was expecting. I also got a few questions on why I was applying for this role and division which, again, was what I was expecting.
How to respond for success
My answers stood out as I made sure that in all of my prepared situations, I could say them in a concise and structured manner. I urge students to ensure that they practice speaking by themselves without feeling the time in your head as that is what is likely to distract you in the real thing. Make sure that you are interview ready i.e wear a suit, ensure your background is clear and webcam is at a suitable eye-level.
Expect around a 2-3 week wait before being advanced to the next stage.
Final Interview
The whole process was 1.5 hours, with 3 different rooms containing 2 VPs (over Zoom since it was during the pandemic peak) where they take turns in asking you competency questions. I made sure I did research on some of the technicals for my role since my area was niche and wanted to gain a better understanding before I went in. My practice for the HireVue process was quite vigorous so I knew that all I had to do was bring my charisma and personality along with the knowledge I had already gained.
Example
Expect standard competency based questions along the lines of, 'Tell me a time when' or 'Describe a situation when'.
How to respond for success
The key thing to remember at this stage is that they have picked you! They believe that out of all the thousands that applied, you were one of few to make it to the final round. You have proved that you have what it takes in the previous rounds so you just need to consolidate on that!