The Application Process - Your step-by-step guide
Applying for a place on our International Graduate Programme will be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding tests you ever undertake.
Whilst the process is in-depth and comprehensive, we want to ensure that it's simple to understand. That's why, in this section you'll find a breakdown of the five stages. And on the page hints and tips for applying successfully you'll find suggestions to help you pass each with flying colours.
Step 1: Online application form
Step 2: Online ability tests and questions
Step 3: First assessment
Step 4: Final interview and assessments
Step 1: Online application form
The first step is to complete an online application form, where you'll need to tell us about yourself:
Personal details
Academic and work experience
Extra-curricular activities
Click here for some tips on how to successfully complete the online application form.
Step 2: Online ability tests
You'll then be asked to complete a series of online ability tests. Each one is a hurdle which you'll need to get past before progressing onto the next stage.
We use three different assessments as part of the graduate recruitment process. They are:
i) The logical reasoning test
This test measures abilities that are important when solving problems. In each of the 24 questions, you'll find a sequence of boxes and your task will be to work out how the sequence should continue.
ii) The numerical reasoning test
This test will measure your numerical reasoning skills in a business context, based around the tables and charts you typically find in reports and the financial press.
Whilst you won't need to know complex mathematical processes, you'll need basic arithmetic skills, such as knowledge of addition, subtraction, division, ratios and percentages.
iii) The talent assessment
This test is designed to assess your natural attributes and help us understand your potential to be successful within our business.
The talent assessment was developed specifically for Standard Chartered by the Gallup Organization - the world-leading provider of management consulting, HR and statistical research services. As with other strengths-based selection tools, the talent assessment is designed to assess an applicant's natural behaviours.
Questions
You'll be notified immediately whether you have been successful in passing on the online tests. If you have, we urge you to keep going. Once you have completed all of the online tests, you'll be asked to complete three essay questions, using up to 250 words for each.
Step 3: First assessment
If you get selected for an interview, you're in the top 20% of candidates, so well done.
If you're successful with the online tests you may be invited to a telephone or face-to-face interview. These normally last for 30 minutes and give us the chance to hear you in action. It also gives you the opportunity to ask us any specific questions about the programme.
At this stage it's vitally important that you present yourself in the best possible way and hopefully leave an impression that makes us believe you have what it takes to thrive on the International Graduate Programme.
Step 4: Final interview and assessments
After the successful completion of your interview you'll enter the final stage of the process.
The format of the day's activity will vary from country to country and you will be told beforehand, but usually includes:
A face-to-face interview
How you react to direct questioning is something that is crucially important to us at Standard Chartered. During this 60-minute interview, you'll need to display your communication skills, as you will be asked more challenging questions about yourself.
Group Debate
During this exercise you'll work in a group to show how you can communicate a specific point of view under pressure.
Presenting
If you're asked to give a presentation you'll receive a topic on the day and all the preparation material you'll need.
