Started off with a standard application form which included a CV and cover letter I believe. Then it took a few weeks to hear back from FTI. I heard back from them shortly before midnight one day telling me they wish to interview me over the phone the next day. Incredibly short notice. The interview was fine, standard questions about you and your experience and why you want to join this graduate scheme.
Made it through to the assessment centre which ran from 8:30 to around 16:00. The day kicked off with a welcome breakfast which gave the candidates a chance to mingle with one another and some FTI employees. After this we went into another room where FTI delivered a presentation to us introducing us to the strategic communications segment. This was all the standard stuff, nothing new or groundbreaking was revealed. It was literally just the same stuff you could find on their website.
After this came the interviews. I was interviewed by two people and the questions were not difficult. It was all the standard questions you would expect: why FTI, what are your strengths, tell us about yourself, etc and then an opportunity to ask questions as well. This was fine and it was not challenging and it is not difficult to prepare for this.
After this standard interview came the dreaded interview with the head of director of strategic communications. Honestly don't remember her position. I'll be really honest here, she was not a nice person. I understand that they're the head and they're super important, but honestly, there is no need to be so cold to people who are genuinely interested in working at your company. The questions she asked weren't tricky. She asked me the good old "sell me this stapler" (this was the first and only time I've ever been asked this for a public affairs/comms job) question. It's an easy question to answer, even if you just watched The Wolf of Wall Street and copied Leo word-for-word you'll pass it. It was all just strength questions and more about trying to gauge out your personality and thought processes rather than about your interest in the role.
We were strictly told to not tell other candidates waiting in the waiting area for the next interview which questions were asked. The recruitment adviser was stood in the waiting area snooping around like the Stasi and listening into everyone's conversations. If you leaked anything, the recruitment adviser would make a note of it and I'm guessing your chances would be blown right there.
Then came the written assessments. Around six of us were placed in a room with laptops. These too were pretty straightforward. If I remember correctly we received a bunch of pages involving financial data. I think the task was to write a press release or a series of questions where we had to identify the key information. I found the task quite easy but honestly, its such a ridiculous task. You get given something like half an hour to process all that information, answer a bunch of questions, identify key information. The idea is that this re-creates a typical scenario at FTI (or any other consultancy). I work in public affairs now and I can tell you for a fact that this task did not match reality whatsoever. I have yet to encounter a scenario in my career where I have urgently had to process around 15 pages worth of text within half an hour (or less even considering you need to make notes and whatnot).
Then came lunch with previous FTI grads.
Group tasks next. I think in totally there was maybe 25 candidates and we were all split into groups of 4-6 people. We were presented a scenario, something typical of a communications agency, involving a client launching a new product or something and the task is to create a communications plan. Surprise, surprise, for a task that would sometimes take several days up to a week in a normal real life setting, you are given half an hour. You're supposed to work together as a team and allow everybody an opportunity to speak up. No single person should dominate the conversation. Everyone was intensely competitive and I was quickly reminded why I despise assessment centres. It seemed like they were literally willing to throw each other under the bus. After completing the task the two FTI consultants who were marking us (and recording) literally told us "well done guys for completing this unrealistic task which you will never ever actually have to do in your careers". No kidding? Why bother testing candidates in such a way then? It's just absurd, there is never a situation where you will need half an hour to come up with a communications plan. NEVER.
At the end of the day the hiring manager told us FTI will get back to us next week. The assessment centre took place in March. We heard back in June. It's a disgrace that the majority of us were kept waiting so long. Ghosting is such a disgusting practice and it is way too common in this industry.
