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.

1st Year University 2nd Year University 3rd Year UniversityPre-University

A-Level Insight Day

Easter Insight Week

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 Face-to-face selection

Stage 1Online Application

Form

Stage 2 Online Testing

Numerical, Logical and Inductive

Reasoning Test

Stage 3Assessment

Centre

Stage 4Final

Interview

Autumn Early winter Early winter

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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

Types of Test

• Numerical Test – Your ability to evaluate Numerical Data

• Logical reasoning Test – Your ability to think logically and analytically

• Verbal Reasoning – Your ability to assess verbal logic

• Diagrammatic Test - Your sense of logic, visual thinking and organisation skills

Online Tests – Top Tips

• 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

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

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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

Role Play or Presentation

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.

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

Interviews

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.

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.

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 “What would you do…?”

Capability Questions – Recent Experience “Tell me about a time when….?”

Technical Questions“What is an IPO?”

Brain Teasers / Assumption Questions“How many tennis balls will fit in a 747?”

Example Interview Question

How big is the market for light bulbs in the UK each year?

Take me through how you would calculate this.

Example Answer

• Step One

- Identify Market Type / Size

• Step Two

- 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

If the time is 03:15, how many degrees are between the minute hand and the hour

hand of an analogue clock?

Example Answer

• 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)

• 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

• Step 4. The difference in angles is 97.5 – 90 = 7.5 degrees

Attributes for success

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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

What does this mean for me after I finish University?

We offer graduate programmes across four major areas of the business:

• 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:

• 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

Making the best of the transition from University to work is often more challenging than you think.

• 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

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.

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

Organisation• Be prepared for meetings and always take a pen and pad with you.• Manage your own diary

Office Gossip• Stay away from office gossip, don’t contribute to it

Handshake• Yes or No? Whatever you decide do it with confidence

Finally…

• 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!