How to secure your Spring
Week
Rachel Curry – Graduate
Recruitment
Opportunities for you…
RBS M&IB as well as most other large institutions will offer a series of programs for
students at every stage of their university life, starting from first year, right through to
graduation.
Pre-University
A-Level
Insight Day
1st Year University
Easter Insight
Week
2nd Year University
3rd Year University
Summer Internship
Programme
Graduate
Programme
How can an internship help you get a head start?
An internship is a great way to gain an insight into the world of RBS and work out whether or not the
sector is for you. We offer the following internships within M&IB.
Easter Insights Week
For students in their first year from all academic disciplines
Offers you the chance to gain valuable work experience
Includes technical training, networking events and time spent shadowing senior members of
the team
Gives us the chance to spot talent at an early stage
You could secure a place on our Summer Internship programme for the following year
Summer & Winter Internships
For students in their penultimate year from all academic disciplines
Offers you hands on experience within the business
Internships range from ten weeks to six months across our various business divisions
Opportunity to secure a graduate position - 80% of our interns last year went on to be offered places
on our graduate programmes
Recruitment Process
Online sifting
Stage 1
Online Application
Form
Stage 2
Online Testing
Numerical, Logical
and Inductive
Reasoning Test
Autumn
Face-to-face selection
Stage 3
Assessment
Centre
Stage 4
Final
Interview
Early winter
Early winter
Tips for application forms and online tests
How do I prepare?
Application Forms
• Take your time and don’t rush your answers
• Draw on your experience in all aspects of life
• Consider the skills or competencies you have used to date
• Relate your answers to a specific situation and provide examples
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Types of Test
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Numerical Test – Your ability to evaluate Numerical Data
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Verbal Reasoning – Your ability to assess verbal logic
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Diagrammatic Test - Your sense of logic, visual thinking and organisation skills
Logical reasoning Test – Your ability to think logically and analytically
Online Tests – Top Tips
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Practice as much as possible
Revise by doing simple calculations
Complete some cross words as practice for the verbal reasoning tests
Don’t spend too long on each question – allocate your time
Absorb yourself in the financial press and know the market
When it comes to personality questions – answer with your gut reaction
Assessment Centres
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What are they:
Designed to see how you will perform in day to day exercises for the role you are
applying for.
They are meant to assess behaviours required for the role and not necessarily
technical knowledge.
Structure varies from organisation to organisation but generally will include a form of:
– Group Exercise
– Role Play or Presentation
– Written Exercise or Report Writing
– Competency based Interview
How do I prepare for the day:
Research the company: Know why you want to work in the industry AND for that
specific company
Know the role you are applying for, and what skills they are asking for
Know your key strengths and bring examples of experiences prepared
Dress appropriately – Business Smart (ALWAYS)
Find the address and know where you are going!
Group Exercise
What does it look like generally?
• You will be put in a small group (usually about 6 or so people) and each will be given
a scenario.
• Assessors are in the room to observe you and your behaviour (not to interact or give
direction).
• You review your individual scenario and present important information to group
members.
• You will discuss the individual scenarios and come up with a specified outcome
(which you will be briefed on beforehand).
Group Exercise
What is it meant to assess:
• How you interact in a group/ How you work together
• How you analyse problems and approach issues
• NOT meant to assess: A ‘right’ answer
Top Tips:
• Listen to instructions and do not speak with the assessors in the room
• Draw quiet members into the discussion
• Make sure your body language & eye contact shows you are engaged
• Do not be overly dominant
• Balance making sure you make your point and are heard. However, know when you
need to compromise (its about working together).
• NEVER rely on a group vote
• Take a lead (be a timekeeper, keeping on topic, recapping what has already been
said, etc)
Role Play or Presentation
What does this look like?
• You will be given a business scenario and asked to prepare and present back on your
own solutions.
• This will not require technical knowledge in MOST cases and will be doable even if
you do not have a technical background.
• You will present to an assessor who will be playing a role and will challenge you on
your answers
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Role Play or Presentation
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What it is meant to assess:
Your understanding of issues and how you
How you build rapport and try to understand someone elses point of view.
How you communicate your ideas verbally and can back them up.
How you deal with challenges and react
How you promote ideas, implement them, AND understand their impact.
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Top Tips:
Ensure that you understand the issues presented and take the time allotted to plan your answers
and structure of your presentation
Make sure you cover all the points and information that has been ask
Try to understand the assessors point of view and what they are trying to achieve (remember, they
are playing a role).
Try to find the balance between compromising and giving into demands, and backing up your
ideas and why you think they will work.
Never read your speech or presentation verbatim.
Introduce yourself and thank the assessor for their time.
Use all materials available to you
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Interviews
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What are they?
One to one meeting with an assessor
Using past experiences to explain how you exemplify behaviours (AKA Competencies) that are
required for the role.
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How to prepare?
Prepare examples of experiences that could demonstrate a range of different competencies
(communication, thriving on pressure, commercial awareness, leadership, etc)
Know why the company you are applying for interests you (RESEARCH.. And not just the
website), know why the role interests you, and know why you are good for it.
Make sure these examples come from a variety of sources (Uni, Sports teams, Work Life)
Listen to the whole question, and if you need time to think about your answer… take it.
Build rapport with your interviewer.
Have questions prepared about the role. Do not ask about salary or holiday, etc. This information
comes later.
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Work out your strengths before your interview
What are you good at and what do you enjoy?
Think carefully These are all qualities/traits you may wish to demonstrate:
• Ambition and a strong desire to succeed
• Confidence when dealing with others
• Ability to multitask and juggle different challenging projects
• Fulfilled by being busy
• Developed or keen to develop a network of useful contacts
• Inquisitive and ask the right questions
Also… ensure you demonstrates how your career aspirations fit with the programme
Types of Interviews
– Situational Questions – Hypothetical Situation
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“What would you do…?”
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Capability Questions – Recent Experience
“Tell me about a time when….?”
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Technical Questions
• “What is an IPO?”
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Brain Teasers / Assumption Questions
• “How many tennis balls will fit in a 747?”
Example Interview Question
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How big is the market for light bulbs in the UK each year?
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Take me through how you would calculate this.
Example Answer
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Step One
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- Identify Market Type / Size
Step Two
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- the number of people in the UK;
- the number of households;
- the number of rooms in a house; and
- the number of lights per house and hence number of light bulbs in the UK
• - A candidate will then need to estimate the number / proportion of light bulbs that
need to be replaced each year
Example Two
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If the time is 03:15, how many degrees are between the minute hand and the
hour hand of an analogue clock?
Example Answer
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Step 1. The candidate should start by indicating that on a 12 hour analogue clock,
there are 360 degrees, so one hour would equal 30 degrees (360/12 = 30)
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Steps 2-5. The candidate should then work through the positioning of each hand and
calculate the difference in angles
– Step 2. As the time is 03:15, the hour hand is a quarter way between 3 and 4 o’clock. As
there are 30 degrees between each hour mark, then the hour hand would be at 90
degrees (30 x 3) + 7.5 degrees (1/4 * 30) = 97.5 degrees
– Step 3. As the time is 03:15, the minute hand would be a quarter of the way around the
clock, so would be at a 90 degree angle (30 x (15/60)) = 90 degrees
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Step 4. The difference in angles is 97.5 – 90 = 7.5 degrees
Attributes for success
What do I need to demonstrate to secure a position?
At RBS, we look for the following attributes in potential interns and graduates:
• Strong academic background
• Strong team players
• Positive attitude
• Commitment and drive
• Initiative
• Entrepreneurial spirit and a passion to excel
• Excellent communication skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Ability to manage pressure and multi-task
• Decision making skills
• Analytical skills and problem solving ability
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What does this mean for me after I finish
University?
We offer graduate programmes across four major areas of the business:
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Markets, Banking, Technology and Operations throughout Europe, the Americas and
Asia Pacific
The programmes vary in length but all programmes offer RBS graduates the following:
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Extensive technical and personal development training
A buddy, line manager and mentor
Regular rotations to ensure broad skill development and a diverse experience base
Events to network and meet members within other areas of the business
Top Tips while studying
Visit your Careers Service department in Term One, Year One of your degree
Utilise all that your Careers Service team can offer throughout your studies; advice,
insight, recommendations and support.
Join the relevant vocational Campus Societies e.g. Finance Society,
Get to know the second, third and fourth years in your college
Ask your friends/family for advice
Work out what you are good at and enjoy at University
Attend events and network with the business representatives there – ask questions!
Use the internet to research
Join corporate social networks (i.e. Facebook to gauge the feedback from
other students)
Top Tips during the internship
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Making the best of the transition from University to work is often more challenging
than you think.
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You will need to handle the tricky dichotomies of the corporate setting
Be confident in your ability to perform the job yet demonstrate the fact that you
understand you still have much to learn
• Be Proactive and eager to get involved
• Be clear about how you are being assessed and who impacts your next steps
Top tips during the internship
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Dress
Dress appropriately - always dress in good taste, make sure your clothes are in a presentable
condition
Not always suits, some teams will have dress down Fridays but ALWAYS check and make sure
you are certain you will not have meetings.
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Punctuality
In business time is money, respect other people’s time
Always arrive at work and for meetings on time, if not a little bit early
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Organisation
Be prepared for meetings and always take a pen and pad with you.
Manage your own diary
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Office Gossip
Stay away from office gossip, don’t contribute to it
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Handshake
Yes or No? Whatever you decide do it with confidence
Finally…
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Attention to detail is vital in all roles
Be proactive – if you have nothing to do then ask, enthusiasm is key
Before attending a presentation or networking event have thoughtful questions
prepared
Don’t spend your time surfing the web or on your iphone
Build rapport and be nice with Reception staff, desk assistants, presentation team
Keep an eye on how much you drink at event – your glass will get topped up so don’t
loose track
Enjoy it!