rbs telephone interview

thanks for your post noob!

my phone interview is monday.

How was the interviewer?

Were the questions purely of fit and competency types?

How did the interview proceed?

hope we'll both make it through. Keep me posted!

the interviewer was nice! although, half the time she couldn't keep up with what i was saying, and i had to repeat myself. although, i found it hard to remember what i said 2 seconds ago haha. so you might wanna jot some words down while you're talking. there was 5 mins of why rbs, why the division, bla bla. then the competencies. and she says at the end of each- are you happy with your answer or do you wanna add more, which at first i took as a hint that they wanted more, but i don't think that was the case. they just want to make sure you've said what you wanted to. what division did you apply for btw?

yup i'm sure she just wanted to make sure you haven't left out anything :-)

am applying to global markets. you?

Cheers n00b and summers,

How did the interviews go? If you need some help, I may be able to share with you some of the questions they asked.

The interview went smoothly and I am now going to the AC. I applied for Ulster Bank - Corporate Markets. n00b?

.
Sérgio

Cheers guys,

 I am from Paris and i've just applied to RBS as well for the global markets.
 The online application was a nightmare with all these questions in english. ahahaahah

 Anyway, Let us know how things r going 4 u....
 Summers keep us posted with the detail of your phone interview.

Well done sergio!!

damon - how did you find out how to convert your french degree to english? Why do you want to work in UK - or are you also applying for France?!

Cheers!

Damon, Redsuperted and others,

It was a pain-in-the-butt to think about the grades and degree in terms of UK & Ireland standards. However, after I gave them all the details and grade scales, it was pretty straight-forward.

If you're successful at this stage, you'll do a two online tests: competency-based and numerical.

The first one has no time-limit and well, has no right answer either. You simply have to choose whether you prefer to work in a team or be a leader, things like that.

The numerical test (at least mine) consisted on answering 21 questions in 21 minutes. You cannot skip nor go backwards. I didn't think it was that difficult even though I failed to finish the very last question. At the beginning of this test, you can practice a sample exam. Again, nothing out of this world: something like predicting next year's sales after knowing this year's sales and knowing that they increased X%; Those kind of associations.

Cheers all!

How/where did you out how to convert the grades to English grades - is there a site you can link to for advice on this?!..

Redsuperted,

There are websites that convert indeed. The several British council websites ( http://www.britishcouncil.org/ ) can help you with that, but the thing is I did not convert my grades to English grades. I think I saw somewhere that they convert themselves!

Anyway, just send them your grades explaining the scale (1-20, 1-10...) and I think that will be OK!

Damon,

I am Portuguese and did my education over here - minus one semester as an Erasmus student in the Netherlands. I applied to a lot more places, but RBS was the one that replied quicker and in a positive way.

I did not practiced for the numerical test, because I am used to GMAT numerical exercises...the ones at RBS were easier. I guess if you practice the ones from GMAT, you won't have any problems. Just be sure to have calculator, scrap paper around you if you are to do those tests!

Hi guys,

I applied for the Group Manufacturing Leadership Scheme (operations/back office) for RBS, and got through the online tests just fine. I was actually surprised at how similar the tests were for HSBC and RBS were, I would say that they were about 75% identical as the tests are all done by a company called SHL. You can access practice ones for free by signing up on their website, but they are much easier than the actual ones.

The questions are mainly on percentage increases and decreases etc, but they are worded in quite a complicated way i.e.

If the total revenue for year B is to be £X, what is the sales revenue for year A when tax is worth half of what salaries are worth in year B...or something to that effect.

Unfortunately I've just been rejected after the telephone interview (which I thought went exceptionally well), but RBS aren't giving any feedback! Do you guys think maybe to do with their troubles over the weekend?

i didnt pass the telephne interview! i was shocked! :(

What was your telephone interview with Capital One like Damon?

Is the credit crisis as bad in France? Are banks in France slowing down their graduate recruitment too?

The credit crisis is bad everywhere in the world, so banks r struggling everywhere.

I have a telephone interview with RBS this week for Group Human Resources. This is the first job ive got past the application stage for and my first ever telephone interview so im very nervous! Especially after reading here how many people were rejected. If anyone who has already had a telephone interview with rbs could give me any tips or can remember any questions at all please please please post them here!

Hey livi_chic,

I passed the telephone interview, so I guess I can help you out. Don't get nervous just because it is the first one. Make sure though, you prepare yourself and lighten up during the interview. Here are some of the question that were asked (you can find some more by googling "rbs telephone interview")

 - Why do you want to work with Royal Bank of Scotland?
 - What will you bring to the organization?
 - Tell 3 facts about RBS.
 - Why do you want to work in THAT specific area?
 - How do you cope with tight deadlines?
 - How can you connect with an audience? (in terms of past presentations or past work you may have done)
 - Teamwork (Examples on how you behaved within a team) 
 - Innovative solutions you brought in the past?
 - Willigness to relocate? (I guess this will me one of the last questions, just for statistics)

Try to use their STAR approach (Situation -> Task -> Action -> Result) when giving those examples.

Now, try to smile when giving your examples (smile not laugh!). It helps to come out as a more compelling person ;)

Good luck and hope you get it done!

Thanks for all the advice Kesh. Was very useful. I think I will spend the next few days writing up some answers and reviewing experiences so I can organise my thoughts on everything. I'll let you know how it went.

Cheers!

heeeey i applied for group hr too!!! lemme know if you need any more advice! think its all covered so far.

well i haven't receieved anything about my phone interview and that was 2 weeks ago *sigh*

How did u prepare 4 the numerical tests?
Is it something you are familiar with or did you make some revision on special websites?
I think i need to improve my score, my accuracy.
I could deal with the phone interview but i need to go through the numerical tests.
Cheers!

I did a fair bit of practice. My degree was maths and psychology so i was quite comfortable with numbers but its been a while since ive done a lot of the stuff they test.

I found the biggest problem when practicing was the time limit, you will prob find you know how to do the questions but its difficult to get it done quickly. Thats where practicing helps! With every practice test I did I found I got a little bit faster.

SHL are the company that run the test for rbs and they have a practice test you can try:

http://www.shl.com/SHL/en-int/Products/TestTrials.aspx

Trouble with it is that it is slightly easier than the one you will do with RBS. You also have to do a verbal reasoning test in order to do the numerical one. It might be handy for other jobs though.

Another good site is Kent University Careers Service:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm

They have 2 practice numerical tests. They give you all the answers as well as full explanations for how to work out the solutions. Therefore if you are struggling with accuracy as well as time it can be useful to see what you are supposed to do.

Finally this site has three tests with an answer booklet at the end to see how you get the right answers:

http://students.efinancialcareers.co.uk/numerical_test.htm

Hope all this helps!

Noob, hope you hear something soon. Who knows we might both end up on the same scheme together lol. Did they ask you anything about the credit crisis and how you think it will affect rbs or anything about the problems they have been having?

Thanks Livi,
My degree was maths as well... but i did it in french so......
How much do u hav to get to go through the next stage? Let's say there are 21 questions for example, if u get 16/21 do u think it good enough?
Anyway thanks for your advice.

Hey Everyone

Noob, I haven't heard from RBS as well. Almost 2 weeks now as well.

Kesh, how long after your interview did they tell you you've passed?

Livi, my questions that are different from the ones already mentioned here:
Tell me about a time when your sole contribution made a signification to the success of a project. (something like that!

Tell me about a time you had to deal with an uncooperative member of a team.

Tell me about a time you led an efficient team.

Everyone, here's another website with quite a lot of links to tons of practise. Click on 'more practice tests':
http://www.derby.ac.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs/psychometric-tests

Good luck everyone!

Hi Damon again,

I tell you the following, I didn't do the last one (just run out of time), but I was pretty sure I got at least 19 of the other 20 right.

I am not sure whether you DID the test or not as you mention you still have to improve on your accuracy...

Noob,

Are you waiting for a telephone interview? If you are, here's a "tip" or kind of. I contacted them as I didn't see any slots at the time, and the told me I should check regularly as the booking slots were quickly taken. So that's what I did and I managed to find a slot two days later.

I've already had my interview and am waiting for the outcome. guess they've put a pause on things.

Summers,

I am now waiting for the dates of the Assessment Centre. They told me they were arranging the dates and that it would take a few weeks!
After the interview, IF I'm not mistaken they told me I would receive ANY feedback within 3 working days. And indeed, after 3 days, I actually received a good outcome.

However, like n00b said, if they are taking that long to give an answer (and since they have not contacted me in 2-3 weeks), I'd say that are ensuring the whole process is not affected by the economic crisis.

Hi KeSh,

I have had my telephone interview a week ago, but I received only an e-mail (automated) the day after the interview, saying that they are currently reviewing the results and that they will contact me shortly regarding the status of the application. Did you receive the invite for the AC by email or by a direct calling to you?

n00b, did you receive any email, such as the automated email sent to me or nothing?

Stay tuned guys!

Hi Ennio,

I received an email three days after my telephone interview if I am not mistaken! Now, because of the crisis, I assume they are now taking longer to give you your reply. Nevertheless, I assume they'll tell you an answer whether you have passed or not!

Cheers!

yeah, i got that automated email. i emailed them saying that its been a while and i havent recieved an outcome, so they emailed the same email again. ok, i never wanna type the word email again!.!!!!!!

Any tips for the telephone interview, how long does it last? anything important which i need to know! thanks

Hi Guys,

I also did my telephone interview a week ago for Private Banking, I havent heard a thing apart from the automated message that they are 'reviewing' my application.

Oh well, got an interview with Deloitte on Wed

acrewe89,

Check above for the most frequent questions asked in that interview! As for the duration, it took me 45 minutes!

katherynfielden,

Don't they say it takes 3 working days to give an answer? Well, they told me that and it took them indeed that time. Anyway, service lines are different and I suggest you use the Message Centre. Got pretty swift replies there!

Cheers,

Sérgio Santos

Thank you,

I will use the message centre...I dont want to sound too desperate though. I have used the message centre before and it is pretty good.

Ahah me too...I am waiting for the dates of the AC! Just a few more days and I'll be knocking on their door ;)

Good luck!

KeSh

Just got the e-mail from RBS:
"We are writing to inform you that you have passed your telephone interview and we shall contact you in due course to let you know if you have been invited to the next stage in the process."

It said that I "passed" the phone interview, but it seems to me that I simply completed the phone interview and still have to wait for the outcome of it. How did your e-mail phrase your success on the phone interview? Thanks.

By the way, I applied for the position in Global Markets, Hong Kong. The earliest AC will be arranged in the late November.

Jun

Hey Jun,

Hmmm it seems the process is different according to the programme. Here it is what I have received.

"We have reviewed the answers you provided and have found that your profile matches the selection criteria for the business area to which you have applied - congratulations. We would therefore like to invite you to the next stage of our selection process, an Assessment Centre.

However, we are still to finalise dates for our Assessment Centres but we will be in contact with you in the next few weeks to arrange an assessment centre booking."

I'm still waiting though!

Now, I'd recommend you to contact them via the Message Centre.

Cheers!

Jun,

I had exactly the same e-mail as you do and I am applying for Hong Kong as well. So it probably differs from location to location.

To those still waiting for responses, be patient. It usually takes more than 10 days for them to respond.

I do felt that the interviewer was trying to get a sense whether or not you will fit into the corporate culture instead of your competency. Does anyone else agree?

Cheers!

Has anyone received this sort of mail from RBS? This came yesterday:
"We are writing to inform you that there have been changes to the recruitment process and we no longer require you to complete a telephone interview at this stage. We will be in touch as soon as possible with more information for you."
I was invited for the telephone interview, and had been waiting for valid time slots to appear.

Cheers

Hey KC,

Does that mean you are automically invited to the Assessment Centre? What does that mean?

I was predicting some changes due to the crisis...I mean, they say on their website they will recruit 600 graduates overall! Either they'll reduce the number or speed up the process and avoid the costs of analyzing so many people! I may contact them next week, as it has been a month and I haven't had any news from them about the dates of the Assessment Centre!

Cheers

That's what I too would like to know :) . I have absolutely no idea what that means. I will contact them on Monday and wanted to see if others have received similar mails or not. I think it could mean 2 things: a) they have put a hold on recruitment right now, and will decide later whether to go ahead with recruitment for 2009 or not, b) they have decided to stop recruitment for 2009. This might apply only to certain divisions though. I applied to Global Markets.

well i know some people have been invited to their offices for a first round interview. perhaps things are looking up for them :P

I think Monday they'll be flooded with calls/emails from curious candidates! Well, they told me I would go to an AC....hope they do not go back on their word!

Nevertheless, I see here many people applying for Global Markets! I am the only one to try Ulster Bank (RBS in Ireland)?

noob, did these people apply to global markets?