IT Solutions Management
Interview process
The first step I took was to apply online, after that I got an email asking me if I would to attend an assessment centre at the HQ in Leeds. I booked the assessment day online using the link that the Asda Graduate team provided. There were no personality questionnaires or online tests during the process, just apply online and invited to assessment centre also know as Asda Reality.
The day comprised of the following (which I will discuss in more detail later on):
· Group discussions - these can involve the whole candidate group or smaller sub-groups who must work together to meet an Asda challenge
· One-to-one meetings - You will work with another candidate to come up with some solutions to a range of issues
· Interview - You will spend some time with an Asda manager to explore your application in greater depth
IMPORTANT (the attachment below is what was provided to me before the day. Pre-work)
http://adeel718.com/docs/Graduate%20Reality%20Pre%20Work.pdf
The penny-wise scenario is important and the exercises carried out on the day was based on this scenario.
Group Exercise 1 - A handful of pennies was provided to us, there were many challenges and as a group we had to figure out a strategy on how the challenges could be met, i.e. work as a group but complete as many challenges as possible within 5 mins, or work individually but have more time to complete as many challenges in 15 mins, or work in a sub-group with time limit of 10 mins. After the strategy was decided (as a team), the team decided to work as a group, the list of challenges was given to us from which we could complete as many challenges in which ever order. 1st challenge, line up the pennies in 1 row with 8 pennies, now stack the pennies so that they are in groups of two's (you can only move the pennies in one direction). 2nd challenge, you have a total of £1.20 with 2 coins, one of them is not a £1 coin, what are the 2 coins?. 3rd challenge, create a rectangle with the pennies (4x5 rows) now create a square by only removing 6 of the pennies.
The other exercises were related to team decision making and showing that you are a leader, a quick example if that every team member is given a different option or decision Asda can make based on a Scenario that is given to you at the assessment centre, You have to pick out the advantages and disadvantages of each option on how this could impact Asda etc and discuss the findings with the rest of the team. The scenario I had was on how Asda could meets its challenge of bringing more to the community, more jobs, less waste etc. The option I had was giving more money to diary farmers who produce the milk. Some other member had the option of setting up a web-cam so that shoppers can see live chicks in farms, which would in return create IT jobs (maintaining the web cams) etc.
The last exercise was again based on your leaderships skills, each member was given a scenario and a range of options/ actions that I could take depending on what I seemed best fit for the business and its customers. The scenario I had was on the Grants that Asda gives to individual charities, The amount of applicants for the grants has fallen over the past few years and it is my duty to increase the number of charities that apply for the grant, the options are: advertise the grant to increase awareness, create a web-site, decrease the value of the grant, increase the value of the grant. Since you are the project manager it is your decision on what option should be taken.
Lastly the interview. The type of questions that were asked at the interview were things like, 'how did you find about this role?' , 'how did you find the activities and how well do you think you have done?'. More questions about the skills that I have and what I can bring to Asda, things like 'Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision?'' and 'Tell me about a time when you had to handle the costs of something?', 'Tell me about a time when you had to remain confident'.
The interview lasted around 45 mins and we were given a tour around Asda House.
Tips:
Remain confident, and show the assessors that you are prepared and are driven to becoming a leader, they want to see your leadership skills and how you can make an impact to the business. Please remember to consider the customers when making decisions or answering questions.
The day comprised of the following (which I will discuss in more detail later on):
· Group discussions - these can involve the whole candidate group or smaller sub-groups who must work together to meet an Asda challenge
· One-to-one meetings - You will work with another candidate to come up with some solutions to a range of issues
· Interview - You will spend some time with an Asda manager to explore your application in greater depth
IMPORTANT (the attachment below is what was provided to me before the day. Pre-work)
http://adeel718.com/docs/Graduate%20Reality%20Pre%20Work.pdf
The penny-wise scenario is important and the exercises carried out on the day was based on this scenario.
Group Exercise 1 - A handful of pennies was provided to us, there were many challenges and as a group we had to figure out a strategy on how the challenges could be met, i.e. work as a group but complete as many challenges as possible within 5 mins, or work individually but have more time to complete as many challenges in 15 mins, or work in a sub-group with time limit of 10 mins. After the strategy was decided (as a team), the team decided to work as a group, the list of challenges was given to us from which we could complete as many challenges in which ever order. 1st challenge, line up the pennies in 1 row with 8 pennies, now stack the pennies so that they are in groups of two's (you can only move the pennies in one direction). 2nd challenge, you have a total of £1.20 with 2 coins, one of them is not a £1 coin, what are the 2 coins?. 3rd challenge, create a rectangle with the pennies (4x5 rows) now create a square by only removing 6 of the pennies.
The other exercises were related to team decision making and showing that you are a leader, a quick example if that every team member is given a different option or decision Asda can make based on a Scenario that is given to you at the assessment centre, You have to pick out the advantages and disadvantages of each option on how this could impact Asda etc and discuss the findings with the rest of the team. The scenario I had was on how Asda could meets its challenge of bringing more to the community, more jobs, less waste etc. The option I had was giving more money to diary farmers who produce the milk. Some other member had the option of setting up a web-cam so that shoppers can see live chicks in farms, which would in return create IT jobs (maintaining the web cams) etc.
The last exercise was again based on your leaderships skills, each member was given a scenario and a range of options/ actions that I could take depending on what I seemed best fit for the business and its customers. The scenario I had was on the Grants that Asda gives to individual charities, The amount of applicants for the grants has fallen over the past few years and it is my duty to increase the number of charities that apply for the grant, the options are: advertise the grant to increase awareness, create a web-site, decrease the value of the grant, increase the value of the grant. Since you are the project manager it is your decision on what option should be taken.
Lastly the interview. The type of questions that were asked at the interview were things like, 'how did you find about this role?' , 'how did you find the activities and how well do you think you have done?'. More questions about the skills that I have and what I can bring to Asda, things like 'Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision?'' and 'Tell me about a time when you had to handle the costs of something?', 'Tell me about a time when you had to remain confident'.
The interview lasted around 45 mins and we were given a tour around Asda House.
Tips:
Remain confident, and show the assessors that you are prepared and are driven to becoming a leader, they want to see your leadership skills and how you can make an impact to the business. Please remember to consider the customers when making decisions or answering questions.
Most difficult question
Describe a time when you had to manage the costs of something, for example when you were given the responsibility to manage costs.
Interview tips
Be confident. Show you leadership side and make sure you remember the customers when making decisions.
Experiences at the assessment centre
There were 5 people in the team and occasionally we were split in to one group of 2 and one group of three during the exercises but then had to come back together as a team to discuss our ideas etc. During the exercises we sometimes had to write down our ideas on paper or the flip-board.
The assessors were very friendly. Over all the day lasted approximately 5 hours.
The assessors were very friendly. Over all the day lasted approximately 5 hours.
Interview steps
Interviews:
- Phone
- 1:1
- Group / Panel
- Senior Management
- Video
Tests:
- Numerical
- Personality
- Verbal reasoning
- Psychometric
Other:
- Assessment centre
- Group exercise
- Background check
- Presentation
- Competency based questions