Applied in mid-October and completed the straightforward online application. I didn't hear back from them again until January, when I was asked to complete their online aptitude tests. I was told I passed these, and my application was being reviewed. I was then invited to attend an assessment centre at the beginning of April. Altogether, it was a very drawn-out process.

The assessment lasted about four hours.

First, there was a short introductory talk and presentation about the company and the scheme.

Next, we were split up for group exercises, which were in a case study format. We were each given different information, along with some communal information sheets, and together had to decide on the best way to spend a budget.

After this, we had our interview and presentation.

The interview was competency/motivational question-based. I found some of the questions a little tricky without having prepared for them specifically, as they seemed to involve quite niche situations, such as a time when I had to adapt my behaviour, or a time when I had to make a big decision without all the necessary information. The HR representative on the interview panel was very helpful and friendly; however, the senior engineer was rather grumpy.

The presentation was on my final year project. We had been given a brief on what it should include the week beforehand. They didn't seem to mind too much about the time limit and didn't ask too many questions afterwards either.

Describe a time you had to make a decision without all the necessary information.