The process started with completing my application in September 2013. From there, I had a telephone comfirmation with Future Board in November, Technical Skype interview with Future Board in December, and finally, Assessment Centre at BT Ipswich in February 2014.
The process is long, however, you have to keep in mind the amount of applications that are processed, therefore, the time scale is expected.
1. At the first stage you can expect the standard filling out application.
2. Online Test
3. Telephone confirmation is just to confirm everything and set a date for Skype interview.
4. Skype interview as 3 parts and asks questions such as...
- What are your interests in BT, Technology, and where you see yourself in 5 years.
- Competency based questions like... Tell me a time when...?
- Technical questions are things like... Describe the 7 layer ISO Model? What is your knowledge of Honeypots, Firewalls, difference between Routers and Switches etc...
5. The Assessment Centre is divided into 4 stages.
- Team Assignment where you will each be given a potential project that BT are looking to work on. You will have 10 minutes to analyse this project and 40 minutes to discuss the pro's and con's of each project with your team. The team must come to an agreement on which project they want to go with.
- Report Assignment is an individual task where you will be given a 6 / 8 page report of a current project. Your task will be to analyse this report and brake it down in terms of a SWOT analysis and present your findings to a BT manager. You will have 10 minutes to present and 5 minutes Q & A.
- Interview with line manager
- Presentation - BT send you a topic that you need to research. I was given the task to look at Technology Trends and apply them to how they can best benefit BT. You'll receive this a few days before the Assessment Centre day. Your task is to put a 10 minute presentation together and present it to a line manager, and prepare for 10 minute Q & A.
This all sounds daunting, but from my experience, it is a fun and interesting day. The tasks can be challenging, but I like that!
Tip: At the team discussion, with deciding what project to choose - If you don't believe your project is the strongest, don't disgard it to quickly, discuss it with the team and allow it to have it's fair share of consideration. The idea that I was given was the weakest out of all the other ideas in the team, I relised this straight away. Instead of allowing the team to discuss it and come to the conclusion that I already had, I suggested that we just left it alone. In my feedback, this came across as weak. I thought is was intelligence and time saving so we could focus on the more attractive projects, but I was wrong. This is about showing your thought process and not just about being right, I guess (I live and learn).
The feedback you get is brilliant! Future Board and BT try to give you real and honest feedback, whether they take you on or not.
I found out about the outcome of the Assessment Centre just two days later.
I do recommend this process, regardless if you get the job, the experience is great and valuable.