Went through the standard initial screening of CV and questions. Got to the phone interview where it was a competency based interview. Standard questions for you to display your qualities and personality through examples. The next stage was a one on one technical interview in Canary Wharf where you would be given case studies in which you talk and reason your decisions to the accessor. The final stage is the assessment centre. There were about 11 of us half from the IST commercial stream, half from the IST analytics stream. The first segment was a group discussion about a case study and there would be a panel acessing the group dynamics and also the individual performance. The next segment was a one on one business case presentation, that lasts roughly for 45mins. The last segment was the group discussion again.
8
Positive experience
Difficult interview
Application
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at bp (London, England) in Jan 2017
Interview
Had a telephone interview which lasted around half an hour after completing some online testing. I then interviewed in Canary Wharf in London. The day started with a motivational/competency interview lasting around 30 minutes, and then I had a technical interview in the afternoon which was case study based, this lasted around 1 hour.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me a time that you have had to deal with conflict with a team member
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at bp (London, England) in Dec 2016
Interview
1. Telephone interview: basic competencies and motivations. Be prepared for follow up questions on what you learned and challenges you faced.
2. Motivational interview: more motivation and competencies interview (face-to-face) at their office (the focus is on motivation).
3. Technical interview: work on a case study about refineries with 2 assessors who are fairly senior in the business. Prepare to hold your ground and prove yourself as they probe and challenge you. The case study itself is not technical, and you can ask your assessors questions, but do not mess up the maths. Be clear and concise in your communication, and prepare to brainstorm a lot of ideas.
4. AC: although the office is in Canary Wharf, the AC is in Sunbury.
- Negotiation exercise: role play in different teams as different stakeholders in a negotiation. Watch time carefully as you have 45 minutes to meet others, find information, and agree to a contract.
- Group exercise: a market-based case study on selling excess energy. The case itself is not technical. Listen to people's opinions and inputs as each has a different brief. Watch out as new market developments happen, and discuss with team. Come to a conclusion on time.
- Analytical exercise: 1-to-1 case study about pricing and storage (among other things). Some basic maths involved. The assessor can be very quiet or very aggressive. Ask him/her questions as you prepare the case.
Overall, a very thorough process. Such a shame that there has been insufficient feedback about candidates' performance months after the final stage.
I applied online. I interviewed at bp (London, England) in Nov 2014
Interview
Right after the psychometric tests, I was invited for first round telephone interviews which are competency based. I booked the session which was a month away for more preparation, then they said they'd get back to me in a month which makes the process even longer. They said it was just a conversation, but they do some SERIOUS interrogating - you have been warned. Not the easiest of applications if I must admit.
