Selection process

"The application process was the best I've been through. It was fast, and I had a single contact to support me through every stage of the process."

Hamish Leiper, IT graduate

We have a belief that every year the ‘best in class’ graduates pick themselves.

Preparation and groundwork are everything when applying for a job at Standard Life. This is our first impression of you so make it count.

At each stage of our recruitment process we will be clear about what to expect and whether any preparatory work is required.

If you have any questions at any stage, please ask us. And if you are unsuccessful at Assessment Centre stage we will offer you some feedback to help you understand our decision.

Online application form

We launch our graduate and intern vacancies on 3 September 2012 so we would advise you to submit your application form as early as possible.

Take your time filling out the application form and remember that the effort you put in at this stage will make a difference. It's important for us to understand why you want to work for Standard Life and why you have chosen to apply for a particular programme so please take some time to research the company and our graduate programmes.

You might want to get someone else to check over your answers before you submit it. If you're still at university you can get help from your careers service at all stages of the application process too.

Your completed application will then be screened and then we'll let you know if we will be progressing your application to the next stage.

Online aptitude tests

Whichever tests you will be sitting, the key thing is to practise them first. This will help you to feel comfortable with the format of the questions so that you have the best chance of doing well. There are several practice sites available, such as those offfered by SHL or Criterion Partnership, and you can ask your careers service for help or search online for some extra practice examples

It is always best to choose a quiet location where you won’t be disturbed.

Telephone interview

The telephone interview lets us further assess your suitability for the role. It also gives you a chance to speak to us and ask questions.

It's important that you've prepared thoroughly beforehand so you can best demonstrate your understanding of your skills, your knowledge of our company and your reasons for wanting to work for us. Below are our top tips for telephone interviews.

Do your research on Standard Life and the specific programme you wish to join, we want to know why you want to work for us
Arrange to take the call where you will not be disturbed
Have a copy of your application form, and the job advert close to hand as you might want to refer to them during the conversation
Think about your answers to the questions as if it was a face-to-face interview
Take your time
Most importantly, be yourself

Assessment centres

The final stage in the process is an Assessment Centre. The number of people taking part will vary, depending on the number of candidates who've made it through to this stage.

We will let you know in advance what the day will consist of and what types of exercises you'll be taking part in. You will probably be involved in a group exercise, case study task and an interview. We'll be looking for you to demonstrate your key skills in a practical setting and to show your understanding of us, and passion for the internship or graduate programme you are applying for. The Assessment Centre also gives you the chance to find out more about us, so you can see if this would be the right place to grow your career.

Below are our top tips for a successful interview:

Remember to focus on what you did, the interviewer will be looking for “I”, even in team-working examples
Listen to the whole question, and answer the question that the interviewer asks, not the question that you wanted them to ask
Before speaking, consider: "Is what I am about to say relevant and will it demonstrate my suitability for the role?"
If you can't answer the question, think about the question, and if you don't understand it or don't know how to answer it, say so, and ask the interviewer to rephrase the question. If you still can't answer, ask to come back to the question at the end, then forget it and focus on the next question you are being asked
If you cannot think of a work related example, you can use an example from your volunteer activities, part time work, university, or within other settings like sports teams to help answer the question

What happens next

We'll phone you as quickly as possible after the Assessment Centre to tell you our decision. If you've been unsuccessful, you can ask us for feedback on how you did and how you could improve your performance for the future.

Shortly after the assessment centre, successful candidates will receive an offer letter which will be subject to satisfactory references and pre-employment screening checks. Once everything is sorted out, we will make sure that we keep in touch with you and introduce you to our wider graduate community

Selection process

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