Application hints and tips

Your application: give yourself the best chance of success

Your application to join Xchanging could be the first step in a lifelong career. So you want to give yourself every opportunity to shine. And we want you to succeed as well. With that in mind, here’s our guide to ‘best practice’ at every stage of the application process. Remember, you may only apply once – so make the most of your opportunity.


Stage 1: Submit a compelling application

Your application is an opportunity to sell your skills and convince us that we need to have you as part of the team. Treat it as such: make a case for yourself giving specific, detailed examples and answering key questions such as what you’ve achieved, why you did it, how you approached it.

If you have already submitted a copy of your CV we’ll keep this on file for consideration together with your online application. If you have yet to do so, please submit it by email.

We’re headquartered at Leadenhall Street in London but our graduate placements could be at any of our locations in the UK, so some flexibility on your behalf would be beneficial.

Before you submit your application, please proof read it carefully.

The business needs confident, literate professionals with good attention to detail. So sloppy English will hinder your chances from the start. Use plain English 
and pay particular attention to grammar and spelling.

 
Stage 2: Impress at the assessment centre

Following your initial application, you may be invited to attend our assessment centre.

This will give you the opportunity to display your capabilities in a series of written exercises, one-to-one exercises and group exercises.

Making the most of your day at the assessment centre starts with dressing smartly and being punctual.

You should participate at all times, make a contribution to all the group exercises and generally be assertive without becoming overbearing.

Be yourself. It shows confidence.


a) Convince in the interview

The interview takes you one step further by giving you an opportunity to show your individual calibre.

You can prepare by:

  • Reading the company website and especially the graduate pages
  • Noting the skills and competencies required
  • Noting down any examples you can think of when you have put these competencies into practice
  • Preparing questions to ask the interviewer


The interview itself will be competency based.Going into the interview, start with a firm handshake and friendly smile. Similarly, remember that your body language will say a lot about you too – so make sure you’re always projecting a positive impression.
 

That means you’ll be asked for examples of things you have done in the past or situations you have been in. Examples could come from vacation or part-time work, University clubs and societies, voluntary work, study at school or university, holidays and travel or personal and family experiences.
 

Use the STAR framework to structure your answers:

  • Describe the Situation in which you found yourself 
  • Describe the Task you set out to achieve
  • Describe the specific Action you took 
  • Describe the Result of your action


b) Persuade in the presentation

You will be asked to make a formal presentation.

Preparation is all-important for this task.

You will need to write an outline for your presentation and put plenty of notes in the sidebars. You may need to refer to your outline throughout your presentation so it's best if you have your notes and other information ready at a quick glance.

If you’re including charts and graphs, try to present them in colour and make sure the information is large enough for your audience to see clearly

Rehearse the presentation at home or in front of your friends or family.

When it comes to delivery, have a strong introduction and conclusion, speak clearly and make good eye contact with your audience.
 

c) Engage in the written assessment

You will also need to complete a written assessment.

Start by carefully reading the question. You can’t engage your readers with a well-written answer unless you understand exactly what they need to know. Make sure you address all the issues: it may help to think of secondary questions that shed light on the main one.

Structure your answer clearly and logically, using sub-headings if they help readers follow your argument.

You may be asked to work with numbers as part of this exercise – so your maths will need to be up to speed as well as your spelling and grammar.
 

3. Consider your offer

If you’ve received an offer of employment, congratulations!

Take some time to think about the offer and begin your decision-making process.

Keep the following things in mind:

  • Return calls promptly
  • Clarify any questions about the job that you may have
  • Accept or decline offers promptly
  • Inform all recruiters of your final decision and be prepared to discuss the decision factors
  • Provide useful feedback to recruiters
  • If you decline an offer, be positive about your experience and maintain good relations with the firm.