A very lucky girl (3)

So how did I get in? Days and days of preparation. The structure of interviews for grads was all the same. You'd get competency based questions, a group exercise and a case study. For competency based questions, it's like an open book exam, right? You already knew what competencies they'd be looking for so all you need to do is demonstrate how you possess such competencies. That's easy - I wrote down all the stories I used to back up my competencies, memorised them by the letter, and I was able to "perform" in front of the interviewer. Looking back, it must be quite lame of me to try and pretend that I was a natural, but it worked. You also need to have a little bit of humour. Apparently, one of the criteria for a hiring decision is that, if your boss is stuck with you at an airport with flight being delayed for hours, would they enjoy spending that time with you. You need to be likable and personable. 

During the group exercise you'd be seated at a table along with other candidates and discuss a topic / work out a solution, with the interviewers made up of partners, associates and HR sitting at the back watching. I was always quite shy but on that occasion I remembered to take the lead and speak up. I was actually the first person opening the discussion. When something scares the shit out of you, remember that other people are the same.  

As for the case study, really not much you can prepare as that is a test on your IQ and sharpness and commercial awareness. I don't suppose the bar would be too high, though. 

Oh by the way, I drank a canned cocktail I bought from Tesco on my way to the firm on the assessment day. Alcohol helped me relax 🙂