How to prepare for an assessment center?
A typical assessment center includes 5 parts: 1) Numerical and Qualitative Reasoning Assessment, 2) Presentation 3) Group Discussion, 4) Interview and 5) Bank 's specific test.
How to prepare for an assessment center? For most of you, the numerical and qualitative tests are straight forward. You are more likely to concern about what happens next in an assessment center.
Presentation: You can be asked to deliver a presentation on the same day or be given a case study to prepare for a couple of days before presenting your findings to the bank’s staff. There will be 2 types of case studies:
a) Finance case study real examples and tips.
At the J.P. Morgan investment banking assessment center in 2011, the case study was about a golf company seeking to grow through M&A.
Three acquisition targets were given and candidates had to make recommendation on which company to buy. After 45 minutes, they were required to present their recommendation to a J.P. Morgan assessor and answer his follow up questions about the case study.
One common problem here is that many candidates are stuck on the guiding questions, and do not make it clear on which company they actually recommend to buy.
Therefore, you need to make sure that you clarify your answer from the very beginning and back it up for the rest of your presentation. Knowledge on valuation multiples such as EV/EBITDA, EV/Sales and EDITDA margin is also required.
b) Business case study real examples and tips.
At the UBS investment banking assessment center in 2012, the case study was about Amazon‘s Kindle Products.
Candidates had to conduct SWOT analysis of the company and make recommendations on Amazon Kindle’s strategy to defeat Apple Ipad. After 30 minutes of preparation, they were required to present their recommendation to the UBS representatives (from their chosen business division). Key criteria being assessed included business judgment, problem solving skills and logical reasoning.
Apart from this, there were extended questions related to finance, such as what should be the value of Amazon, what can you tell about the investor sentiment that has contributed to the stock market performance of Amazon, etc.
How do I pass graduate assessment centres? (Originally Posted: 02/08/2018)
>find out today I failed ANOTHER graduate assessment centre >it was just an easy interview with an HR roastie, a braindead group exercise, and an easy numerical test >failed due to being an ugly autist with a beta demeanour and non-posh accent >UK interviewers care about nothing other than normieness >still havent really started a career at the age of 27 - have an ok job right now for my CV (that miraculously takes almost no effort) but situation is demoralising - either you're on the prestigious track or you're not >was demoralising going to Bank station just to see all the rich Chads and Staceys and going to an assessment centre filled with UBERnormie candidates >knew I did badly (will be more pissed if I fail another result I am waiting on and I did better) >have another one upcoming for a "prestigious" but low paying job
>tfw aged 27, no friends or social experiences since school, no female attention ever, never been to pub, club, or party, no passion in life >daily life consists of living in tiny flat in London, failing to avoid junk food and coffee everyday while telling myself it's the last time, and doing close to no work
I'll have to throw away all morals and lie more in future interviews. Competency questions are godawful. Somebody who just does the work is at a huge disadvantage. I don't spend every day Giving Feedback In Diverse Teams.
I interview well over the phone now, but in person I get nervous and my voice gets choked up. I know they look at me and see my ugliness and can tell I am not one of them (a posh giganormie clone). But nobody at my workplace or other candidates are inspiring communicators either. I am just no capable of "performing" as an ubernormie in an interview.
I consider getting a part-time retailcuck job in my free time but it is not worth it. I would be taxed at around 32 % and feel like a cuck lacking in initiative.
All this PC propaganda shoved at us and being an ugly beta male is the only thing without a safety net.
Hey itwasalwaysover, I'm the WSO Monkey Bot and I'm here since nobody responded to your thread! Bummer...could just be time of day or unlucky (or the question/topci is too vague or too specific). Maybe one of these topics will help:
Or maybe the following pros can chime in... financeisgold Jew-ish mamavacik
You're welcome.
I feel your pain.I have just received another rejection after an assessment centre despite my best efforts .I believe I am unlucky,I have attended multiple assessment centres to no avail.I am also considering securing a retail job.
IBD AC Prep (Originally Posted: 12/05/2014)
Hey monkeys,
going through the EMEA recruitment process right now and have some upcoming ACs at major BBs.
Was wonderung if any of you have some experiences to share and advice for preparation. Am specifically interested in any case studies you might have gotten during your AC and what hey looked like.
Also one BB told me to prepare for a numerical/logical-test and I'm not quite sure if thats the typical SHL/Kenexa numerical test or something else.
Thanks guys!
Anyone?
Have my first AC on Wednesday and any advice would be much appreciated.
Assessment Centre Advice? (Originally Posted: 03/22/2017)
Attending an Assessment Centre in a couple of weeks, interested to know of any tips to increase my chances of getting the job. From what I know, there are a certain list of competencies or character traits that the company is looking for, but what are the ways in which I can prominently display them in case study or role play/ group exercises?
Also, are Assessment Centres usually a zero sum game? I.e they only pick 1 candidate out of the bunch?
Give more info on the role, company and location? Your initial question is like asking advice on how to ask a girl out.
Sorry didnt mean to be vague. Role is ops risk in a reinsurance company. Was looking more for general advice regarding behaviors or particular things to do from people who have been through assessment centres and hopefully have gotten an offer.
MS IBD/GCM Assessment Centre London (Originally Posted: 01/01/2018)
Hi all,
Does any know how MS run their AC for the IBD/GCM summer analysts?
What I am particularly interested in is the difference interviewing for IBD vs GCM. For example I mentioned in all my interviews that I was more interested in ECM. Does that mean I will only be asked technicals regarding that? Or since the interviews for IBD and GCM are done on the same day, I could be considered by a IBD team and asked M&A questions?
Any input would be helpful!
Hey ZGB, I'm the WSO Monkey Bot and I'm here since nobody responded to your thread! Bummer...could just be time of day or unlucky (or the question/topci is too vague or too specific). Maybe one of these topics will help:
If we're lucky, maybe I can guilt some users to help you out: M_As_In_Mancy nickr ProspectiveWiseMan
If those topics were completely useless, don't blame me, blame my programmers...
UK Assessment Centres (Originally Posted: 11/16/2011)
How many fellow monkeys here have attended Assessment Centres in UK for this year.
Just wanted to have a picture, whether graduate positions are all over OR should i wait for some more time.
Pls do post the bank's name as well.
I went to some and know that these banks are finished. But I also know that other banks are still in the process and there will be some assessment centres until december. However, I think you should have had at least some kind of first round interview by now.
Been to some, you are definitely very late in the process but might as well apply if you havn't already missed the deadlines.
I had applied to most of the banks, however didn't get a call for first round...my MDs tell me that there is hiring freeze..
however just wanted to confirm this here
Been to CS, barcap?
Didn't apply to those banks so cannot really comment. All I know from my own experiences and those of people I know is that all the banks are either finishing or have finished their FT 2012 recruitment. Would not surprise me if many are primarily hiring from internships this year, I believe JPM at least is doing that.
yes from my soures i know:
just wanted to know if any other firm has conducted ACs, so i can strike it off my list :(
Assessment Centres from an Interviewers Point of View? (Originally Posted: 10/28/2014)
Hi,
There's a lot of great topics on here of what to expect in an AC, the one area I've found where there isn't much info on is ACs from the Interviewers point of view. Current IBankers working in London or other cities where ACs are popular would you have any advice on what makes a candidate stand out stand as a particularly strong candidate? I imagine the interviews are pretty much the same with some more in-depth tech questions and a greater focus on fit but during the group exercises would you have any particular comments?
All advice greatly appreciated.
I've taken part in some recruiting. We look for people with knowledge and understanding of the job they want to do, but the most important thing is that they are bright, energetic and seem fun to work with, because we can give them training for the technical skills.
BB AC London (Originally Posted: 11/10/2011)
Hey guys,
soon I will have a final round assessent centre for an off-cycle-internship at a BB in continental Europe. The assessment centre,however, will take place in London. Has anyone of you had experiences with such assessment centres, since I guess they differ slightly from the regular Summer Analyst Assessment Centres?
Any help appreciated!
I am from continental Europe and did a AC for an off-cycle internship in BB london ( long time ago). As far as I know, if you are interviewing for a team-specific assignment, you will meet almost everyone in the team from analyst to perhaps MD. Different from regular summer class, the technical questions you receive might be more concentrated on topics related to the team's business. I'm not sure if it's the case for all banks/divisions.
Assessment Center (London) (Originally Posted: 11/26/2012)
Hi,
I was invited to a final round assessment center at a BB in London for Capital Markets which is scheduled for this week and is the first one to be held.
The problem is that I am not well prepared and feel that I probably would not have a shot if I went to do the assessment center this week.
I know there is going to be a second one next week.
Is it wise to reschedule it for next week or will this decrease my chance of getting an offer (more candidates to benchmark against etc.)?
Prepare harder?
I think you're overestimating the amount of time really needed to prepare. Just study hard and prep as best you can before the AC this week. There's only so much additional marginal benefit for pushing back your AC a week, and I think that doing so would not reflect well.
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