Early Careers: Guide to your Assessment Centre and Interview

Here’s what you can expect: 

• Graduates and Apprentices: You’ll attend an assessment centre, which may be virtual or face-to-face and these will usually last 5-6 hours. You’ll be sent all the details you need the day before as well as login details for the virtual platform.
  
  For virtual assessment centres, we use a platform called Topscore, which hosts the exercises and interviews via Microsoft Teams. Before you attend, please ensure you have a good Wi-Fi connection, you’re able to access Microsoft Teams, have run a test to check your microphone and webcam are working and have your device plugged in / fully charged.
• Industrial Placements: You’ll attend an interview, which may also be virtual or face-to-face. This will be a scenario-based interview that dives into your skills, behaviours, motivations and values. For some programmes, you may also be asked some more technical questions relevant to that programme. The questions don’t require you to have specific work experience to draw on, so you can use examples when needed from any experience you have had at school, through hobbies etc.
  
  Our focus is on how you apply your skills, strengths and behaviours, along with your potential to grow and succeed in the role - because we want to get to know the real you. Remember, these interviews are a two-way process. It's an opportunity for you to understand the role and the company, as well as an opportunity for us to get to know you.

As part of the assessment centre, you’ll be invited to a Welcome Session and you’ll have the opportunity to attend Q&A sessions with existing Early Careers employees throughout the day. The assessment centre is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your skills in different scenarios. As well as a scenario-based / technical interview, a typical day will also include: 

• A group exercise - you’ll be set a task that you need to complete as a group, and you’ll be asked to present your conclusions back to the assessors at the end of the exercise. The topic of EDF’s group exercise is focused on sustainability at EDF and EDF’s commitment to help Britain achieve net zero. The group exercise will last up to one hour and there will be a maximum of 6 candidates in each group with one assessor scoring each candidate. You’ll be provided with all information you need before the exercise to allow you time to read through everything before the exercise begins.
• A shorter one-to-one micro-exercise with an assessor. This exercise will focus on why life at EDF is for you and how you’ll do your best work in the role. You’ll be given time to review the material, write your answers/responses and then present back to the assessor. The exercise will last 30 minutes and will be made up of three parts.
• You may also be asked to deliver a presentation as part of the interview. If this applies to your assessment, we’ll provide all the details well in advance so you can prepare with confidence.

TOP TIPS:

• We are looking for everyone to make a contribution to the group exercise and the presentation at the end 

• You need to ensure that you listen and don't interrupt. In a group exercise being done virtually, there are functions to help with this, i.e. the 'raise a hand' function or similar 

• In all exercises, ensure you speak clearly and are aware of what others in the group are contributing

• For the group exercise, you’ll need to ensure you have a notetaker and timekeeper in the group - this can be; but doesn’t have to be, the same person for both roles. If you do take on either of these roles in the task, please remember that you still need to contribute to the discussions and presentation 

• In all exercises, keep an eye on the time and stay focused on the overall objective

• Ensure you read all of the candidate instructions thoroughly, so you know what is expected in the exercise • Make use of the resources available to you 

• Remember that you are not being assessed on whether you reach the 'right' answer (often there isn't one), but on the strengths being assessed in the exercise 

• Dress in the same smart and professional attire, whether you are doing a virtual or face to face interview and if it is virtual, ensure you can find a quiet place where distractions and interruptions are unlikely. 

• Remember, your body language holds its significance in virtual interviews, just like it does in person. 

• Preparation is key. Do your company research and spend time thinking about what you enjoy doing and can do well. 

• Relax, take your time, and try to answer the questions naturally and honestly. Also think about what questions you'd like to ask us. 

• Put simply, we want you to be yourself! Try not to second guess what you think the right answer might be, we want to hear your honest, natural responses - this is the best way to show your potential and ability.

We’re here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any adjustments or additional support for the interview, please let us know when you confirm your attendance, so we have time to put this in place. If you’re doing a virtual interview and have any technical difficulties on the day, please speak to your interviewers directly or contact the recruitment team. If you have any questions at all, please contact the recruitment team on: yourfuture@edfenergy.com.