IBM Global Business Services Interview Questions

IBM GBS Graduate Application and Interview Process

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The application and interview process for IBM graduate jobs in consulting is as follows:

• Online application
• Online aptitude test
• First round interview/assessment day
• Second round interview/assessment day

Online application

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The first part of the online application involves filling out various personal details and answer several long questions that require 500 word responses. These include:

• Why do you want to join IBM?
• Why do you want to be a consultant?
• List your academic achievements
• List your previous work experience
• Discuss any extra curricular interests and activities.

Once you have submitted your initial application you will be contacted almost immediately if successful, by IBM. You will now be required to sit an online aptitude test.

Aptitude test

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The IBM online aptitude test is similar to an IQ test, and aims to accurately measure your logic and analytical abilities. There is no real preparation you can do for aptitude tests apart from to sit practice papers before the real test.

First round interview/assessment day

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This consists of:

• One hour competency based interview
• Two group exercises
• Short aptitude test

If you successfully pass the online aptitude test you will be invited to an assessment centre. This lasts for half a day and consists of one hour long interview and two group exercises. You will also be required to sit a shorter version of the online aptitude test, which is repeated to authenticate the results of the online test.

Competency based interview

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Your interview will be with a consultant with five or more year's experience. The interview will be competency based and your interviewer will ask you about your experiences, strengths and weaknesses. You will be asked to give examples of situations which illustrate your capabilities. IBM are particularly interested in finding evidence of your team working and leadership skills. Make sure you have considered examples to provide at interview if you are asked on these topics.

Previous candidate's questions have included:

• Give me an example of a time when you have demonstrated strong leadership skills
• Tell me about a time when you successfully worked as part of a team

Group exercise

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Your group exercises will be based around solving a problem, in a group of about five candidates.

One group exercise will be a logic problem, and you will have to use clues to piece together a situation in order to make conclusions and find answers.

The other group exercise will be shorter. Your group will have to work together to decide a list of important items to take into space. The answer is not important, but you will be assessed on individual communication skills, team work and leadership.

Second round interview/assessment day

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The final assessment centre will consists of:

• First interview
• Second interview
• Communication exercise
  • Written exercise
  • Verbal exercise
• Final group exercise.

First interview

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Your first interview will be with a partner from the consulting business, although not necessarily aligned to the particular sector of consulting that you have applied to are being considered for.

Your interviewer will be testing your understanding of IBM as a firm and consulting as an industry as well as your passion for IBM and level of enthusiasm for working at the company.

You may be asked:

• Give an example of something IBM has done recently which has impressed you.
• Why do you think you should be hired for IBM?

You may also be asked further competency based questions such as:

• Give examples from your own experiences which show your leadership and initiative skills.

At this stage you will also be asked questions relating to issues that may arise if you were to get a job at the firm, such as:

• How do you feel about having a job which requires you to travel frequently?
• How do you feel about having a job that requires you to spend a lot of time away from home?

Second interview

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This final interview will be conducted by someone from the graduate programme. It should be more relaxed than previous interviews and will feature questions about your hobbies and interests. This interview is effectively a chance for you to meet a potential future colleague, and a chance for them to find out if you are someone they would be able to get along with. Relax, be friendly and outgoing and most importantly, for this interview just be yourself.

Communication exercise

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The communications exercise involves writing a short email to a mock boss (this is the written exercise) and then presenting a sales pitch to a mock
client (verbal exercise) about a certain service or product.

Final group exercise

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The final group exercise is another problem solving exercise. Each candidate will be given clues individually, but you will have to work together to find the answers to your given questions. You will be allowed to use a white board, flip chart and post it notes.

You will be assessed on your contributions to the discussion, leadership skills, teamworking skills and ideas. If at all possible, try to be the group member who ties people's ideas in together, writes ideas on the white board, analyses other people's ideas and compiles all information into one tight conclusion, towards the end of the discussion.