DHL Supply Chain Graduate Program Assessment Center!!!

Hi I have an assessment centre on 24/11 and wondered if anyone has any advice?? Or if anyone else was attending also?

Hi nat110589! When did you apply to DHL? Did you have to wait long before you got a response on whether your application went through to the tests stage? How did the tests go? Who supplies the tests for DHL? How long did you have to wait for the tests' results?

Sorry for the abundance of questions, but will be much appreciated if you could write me back :)

Cheers!

Hi Nagabunda I applied end September/ beginning October. Then heard back about the first online test about 10 days after. I then did the second test, but in tb time waiting to hear back from that test I went to Graduate Recruitment Fair in Birmingham at the NEC and spoke to a women who looks through our applications and she looked at my application then and confirmed that I had got through. So I couldn't give an exact time to it. But they are by far the most effiecent in terms of replying that I have dealt with. I cannot actually remember who supplied the tests, I'm guessing they must have gone ok seeing as though I got through!

Hope that helps. Good look!

Anyone applied for the Finance Grad.Program?

I've applied for operations management.

Hi nat110589! Thanks very much for your reply. Could you explain to me what are these two tests? Their website only tells about online tests without much detail as to their nature. Are these the numerical and verbal ones? Why did you have to take two tests at different times? Did you find them difficult compared to other companies'? Take care and good luck with your AC! :)

One test was a situational one, so you were given a statement and you had to choose the most efficient response. The one after that was a series of patterns and you had to choose the next one in the sequenece. I found this difficult but I always have! I don't know why they were done at different times, I guess the sitaution one was quote important for them rather then the patterns one so do that first. The first one was quite precise to the logistics industry. But I guess it depeds what scheme you apply for.

Operations Management :)

Hi nat110589!

Good news! I got into the AC as well! So surprising, cause the whole process took only 7 days from submitting the application form till the invitation. I booked the one on the 8th December cause I would not be able to preprare properly for the 24th November. Is yours also in Milton Park? I have no idea how to get there from Edinburgh!

Would you be able to give me some tips on the AC once you've done yours? They say they allocate the places on a first come-first serve basis, so no worries that I will "steal your place".

I'm kind of worried cause this is going to be my first AC ever.

Hi Nagabunda

Well done! Yes they are very efficient!! Yeah mine is at Milton Park,I am travelling via train from Birmingham so definitely not as bad as Edinburgh, probably best if you find somewhere to stay for the night before hand.

Yeah once I have gone I will definitely let you know, as fair as I am aware there is a group activity, individual interview and then a presentation. It is my first one also, but I guess if you just stay calm and have your own competencies and such ready and prepared then you should be fine!!

I wonder how many people are on each centre? Anyway, best of luck both at the centre and getting down to Oxford (!)

Well, I kind of have a flat in Watford where I can stay for the night before and the night after. So it's only the issue of re-booking my plane tickets (as I have already booked them for 9th Dec in order to be back home for the Christmas break) and booking tickets from Slough to Didcot.

Do you know how the expenses' reimbursement works? Is the 75 pounds a cap on how much they will give me back?

Oh, and with regard to the presentation - I didn't get any info on what it is going to be about. Does it mean then that I will have to prepare it on the day or will I get the topic soon?

By talking to people who have already done a number of ACs, there are roughly 15-20 people each time. If there is a group exercise for example, then they will split you into smaller groups, probably of 6-8. Also, it does not mean that from each centre at least a number of people will be offered a job. My boyfriend went to an AC with 15 other guys and only he was offered a job eventually.

Fingers crossed for your AC then! Let me know how it went and what the people were like (both assessors and graduates) :):):)

Ah It sounds like a right mission, but hopefully it will be worth it! As fair as I can gather you fill out an expenses form when you are there, I imagine that you need some proof, so train ticket etc. I think £75 is the max yeah.

You get the topic on the day, and prepare for it then.

Yeah I imagined 15-20, plus I can't imagine that they would spend £75 each on any more people per AC to get them there!! Mmm getting a bit nervous now!! Need to spend more some more time researching the company.

Yeah I will do :)

Hi nat110589!

Did you have a good night sleep after a looooong day?? :)

How did it go? Were you happy with your performance? I'm sure you will get a phone call today or tomorrow with the results, unless you already know! What are your impressions after? Any tips on what to focus for each task? How many people were there and how about the assessors?

Sorry for the amount of questions, but I hope you do understand :)

I kept my fingers crossed for you all day! Looking forward to hear from you!

Hi! Yeah it went well I thought. You find out about a week after via email. It was a nice environment and everyone is very helpful. Basically, just prepare based on the information they give you beforehand and you should be fine. There were 16 people altogether, mixture of graduates and students. There were around 12 assessors I think, range of HR, Warehouse, Innovations etc You have a one on one interview: prepare competencies and understand/ show willing for the logistics sector Group task: get involved, let other people speak but make sure you are heard, remember to keep a track on the time as you only have 30 minutes. The task is quite simple, its just how you react to it Presentation, again its not a hard concept just need to be confident in your answer. Obviously I'm not gonna say what the tasks are based on!! Make the most of lunch- networking and ask questions! Good luck :)

Of course, I didn't expect you to tell me exactly what the tasks were based on :) I'm pretty sure they will change some of them anyway just in order not to provide unfair advantage.

I'm happy they are providing lunch, cause there was nothing about it in the files and I was worried that at the end of the day I will starve :D

See, the interview - how long did it last? Was it only a competency-based one or did they ask questions about the company and the role as well?

So, how did it look like - the AC is meant to last around 6 hours, and only 3 exercises - does that mean you had a lot of time in between to talk to people/wait for your turn?

I hope you will go through! :) Cheers :)

Well it is an companies interest to provide lunch really - get a chance to meet people etc! The assessors are there and even though there are not formally assessing you they will still get idea about you when you speak to them.

It lasted 35- 45 mins. All the information for the interview is on the sheets they provide for you to look at beforehand, but yes, competency and knowledge like I mentioned before.

Yeah you get a lot of time to speak to grads on the program now.

Thanks, me too!

Hi nat!

Any news on the result of your ac? I'm quite worried now whether I will even have a chance of getting into the ac if the weather conditions do not improve :/

nothing yet, to be fair to them they did say a week after. I'm sure it will be fine.

I feel like I am eaves dropping on you two, but thank you nat for giving some idea on what it is like. I'm going to the one on the 8th too nagabunda, and it's my first AC, so we can be nervous together if you want! lol. Hope the planes etc. aren't cancelled for you.

Good to know that I'm not the only one on the AC next Wednesday :) So far my plane is ok, but the airport has been closed all day today.

Where are you travelling from? Are you still a student? How do you feel about the AC?

Guys, I applied for DHL SC around 2 weeks ago. got email for OL test. did the first test (talent screener) and now waiting for thm to get back to me. there is no activity on my dhl account nor i received any further communication. I know its been just 2 days I did the test but i m kind ov anxious.

any idea how long and what would be the nature of next test ?

good luck to you all :)

Hi nfs63!

The second test is an inductive reasoning one. I was invited to take mine few hours after I completed the talent screener. I know that sometimes it takes a bit longer, especially now, before Christmas. Just be patient and I hope everything will go well. These tests are not so difficult :)

They are usually very good at getting back to you quickly so don't worry! I had a call yesterday and have been offered a place!! Good luck to you all :)

Congratulations!!! Do you know already where you will be based for your first placement? I'm getting more and more nervous now...

Thanks! No find out next year. Don't be too nervous, just be yourself and that way you will get the most out of it.

I have had problem with the DHL system on the first attempt. as DHL came back to me saying that they could not record my results and asked me to re-attempt it after they've re-set my test. so I am not sure if this is the case again.

I've just emailed thm and lets see what they say.

Thanks nagabunda for confirming. Inductive reasoning is the only one, I am good at... and probably that's why I am in SC... looking forward to that.

Anyone having idea on JPL test? I couldnt find any relevant info on that.

JPL test? What is that?

John Lewis Partnership has asked me to do the online test. the email does not state what kind of test it would be and as I'd have only one chance to attempt it. I would like to know if anyone has done that.

pls provide some info on that.

thnx

Oh, it's only a talent screener, no worries, no counting nor reading :) Later on, though, you will have to answer 6 or 7 questions which are quite demanding not only in terms of their length, but also the information they want you to provide.

Which programme did you apply to? Buying, finance or merchandising? I'm waiting for them to tell me whether I got through to AC or not :)

Good luck!

I'm travelling from South London, so will be driving...hopefully. But it relies on me being allowed by my parents to use their car, in this weather, for my first long distance journey... So I'm not certain what will happen. Will have to see on Tuesday.

I'm not a student. Graduated in July from KCL, and working 2 jobs just now. Am really nervous about the AC as it's my first, and I won't have any time to prepare really as I have crazy working weeks. So you're prob in a better position to be calm! (As long as you can get down! ) You a student? What did you study? You nervous. Oh, and well done Nat! I'm glad someone has got a job. So difficult atm!

Hi itown! 2 jobs is really a lot! What are they? How are you coping anyway?

I was thinking of renting a car, but when I saw what is going on with the weather, I gave up... I'm taking a train instead.

I graduated in law from Aberdeen in July and now I'm doing my masters in Edinburgh. But this does not matter as it is still going to be my first AC ever. Also found out today that I've been invited to a telephone interview with BT a day after AC, so it's ever more nerve wracking :/

Yourself? What did you study?

I applied for merchandising role... well, I'll attempt the test and shall see...

Guys, any tips on preparing SHL tests...

nfs63--SHL tests are difficult... just try and do a couple of excercises first to get you in the mood. And take your time understanding the practice ones so that you can start to see what the questions get at. Keep an eye on SHL though, as loads of companies use them, so you can see the same qs come up. Good luck! I applied for the Waitrose one last year, and didn't get far, so couldn't be bothered this year. I've worked in Waitrose since I was 16, so if JLP didn't give me the time of day then, I can't be arsed! lol. Plus, I get bored of it as it's hit and miss with them. Hope you do well though, as it is a great partnership to work for!!! (At least the Waitrose side) And they are always on the up atm, so good for opportunities!

Nagabunda--I work at Waitrose as a supervisor/cashier two evenings and Saturday a week, and IJS Global as an Accounts Assistant basically full time.The second is a freight forwarding company, so I may get grilled a bit by DHL. lol. Hope not! I know nothing about the sector. I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed for you getting down! Would be nice to have a friendly Scot around! Whereabouts you from in Scotland? (My family is Scottish) I studied War Studies, so have a weird background. How about you? We can be nervous together, so don't worry. Hopefully you can do all your prep for both!

Just quickly reading your comment there I strongly advise that you research DHL thoroughly and the sector (especially the issues facing it) as you WILL get asked on the AC!

Yeah, I know. How much reading did you do? Looked a bit into history so far, and gonna just try and build on things like that. Did you find you got shocked by any qs or anything?

To be honest I did quite alot, there is so much info out there so just make sure you find out the bits you want to, they don't expect you to know everything but if you really want it then you need to demonstrate you know your stuff! If you do your prep you shouldn't be shocked by any question they ask, they are not there to catch you out!!

Well, I'm not Scottish at all, but spent 4 years doing my undergrad in Aberdeen and now doing my masters in Edinburgh :)

Hey nat110589,

this may seem a daft question but is there a reception at the assessment centre or somewhere where i store my overnight bag as im staying over night before and getting the train back as i live ages away !!!! cheers !

Oh, nat110589, one more thing - the presentation on the day - is that a group presentation following the group exercise or a completely separate exercise based on a different set of information, presented indidivually by everyone?

Yes there is a holding room where you can put things. You have a group exercise, and then present back within an alloyed time AND an individual presentation where information is given to you on the day.

Did you find the individual one okay? Although, I assume you did if you got through! lol.

Yeah, again it's not a hard concept at all just have to justify your reasons and keep in the time frame.

Hey Guys Hope today has gone ok for you and you all got there/back safely

Hey Guys Hope today has gone ok for you and you all got there/back safely

Yeah, thanks. Seemed okay... Guess we'll find out next week. I'll always keep a negative view though!

Congrats Nat, that's great!!

Thanks for all the advice so far..can you remember anything about the telephone interview? Is it competency based? Knowledge of DHL and logistics? Got mine on the 16th.

Thanks!

I didn't have a phone interview for operations management, I guess it depends what scheme you've applied for.

Yeah, I was going to say the same... Maybe they decided to be a bit more strict in the selection process for the remaining 2 AC? :)

I imagine that it would follow the same format as other phone interviews by other copmanies: compentency and business knowledge, good luck!

you guys heard any news yet??