Hints & tips

Your application for the Standard Chartered Banking Associate Programme includes an online form, two online assessments and one selection programme (the Banking Essential Programme).

To give yourself the best chance of success, take a look at the hints and tips we've put together on each stage of the application process.

Application form
How to avoid basic mistakes when you're completing the online application form.
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Online assessments
Do yourself justice in the talent assessment and numerical reasoning test.
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Banking Essentials Programme
The Programme will be used as a selection tool.  You are invited to a 1-day Programme.  It will take the form of group work, individual presentations, case studies and experiential learning activities.  The format of the day will be communicated to you before you attend.
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The application form

Here are some tips for when you're completing the online application form:

• Print out the application instructions - and refer to them while you're completing the form to make sure you understand the questions.
• Prepare your answers offline - draft them in a Word document, then paste them into your online application once you've made sure you have answered each question properly.
• Do your research - use our website and other published materials to tailor your answers to Standard Chartered and the position you're applying for.
• Give us all the information we need - don't leave out any important details about yourself. List all your qualifications and set out your skills and achievements clearly.
• Read each question carefully - and consider why we are asking it. List when you have demonstrated the skills that apply to each question, and explain what you learnt from the experience, such as communication or teamwork. Vary the examples you use to respond to the different questions.
• Answer every question with equal thought and care - don't focus on some and ignore others.
• Be honest and truthful in your answers - don't make assumptions about how you should respond. There is no right or wrong answer.
• Check your answers - take a break and return to what you have written later with a fresh pair of eyes.
• Check your spelling and grammar - avoid basic mistakes. Don't use bullet points or abbreviations.
• Use capital letters correctly - don't use them throughout but remember to use them at the start of names, weekdays and months.
• Print out a hard copy of your completed application - and review it before your interview.

The online assessments

What is an online assessment?
Online assessments are a way of assessing a person's ability or talent in an objective, measured and structured way. At Standard Chartered we use online assessments in our graduate recruitment process to help us recruit the right people with the right mix of abilities, talents and skills to set them up for success.

These online assessments are not general knowledge tests. They are designed to evaluate your talent or your ability to reason in a logical manner. All the assessments we use have been validated statistically, and continuous revalidation exercises are undertaken.

Why do we use online assessments?
Three principles underpin Standard Chartered's approach to people management:

1. Focus on managing talent by identifying, rewarding and retaining talented individuals.
2. Build a strengths-based approach by providing the skills to develop individuals and teams, focusing on people's personal strengths.
3. Drive employee engagement through the development of exceptional managers with the skills to identify and build talent.

These principles are reflected in our recruitment process - and the online assessments help us to select graduates based on their talent. Once they are on board we set them up for success and provide them with opportunities to excel.

What kind of assessments does Standard Chartered use?
We use two different assessments as part of the graduate recruitment process - the Gallup talent assessment and the SHL numerical reasoning test.

The talent assessment
The talent assessment was developed specifically for Standard Chartered by Gallup Organisation in 2005. As with other strengths-based selection tools, the talent assessment is designed to assess an applicant's innate behaviours, and help us understand their potential to succeed.

Before you take the talent assessment:

• Read the instructions carefully - don't skim read them as it's important you know how to answer the questions.
• Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Remember, you only get one attempt so make sure you choose a time and place that lets you perform at your best.
• Be honest - when asked about yourself, choose the option that best describes you.

The SHL numerical reasoning test
Excellent analytical skills are required for all graduate positions at Standard Chartered, so we use an online assessment to measure these. The SHL numerical reasoning test is used to assess an applicant's analytical ability in relation to numerical data. The test measures numerical reasoning skills in a business context, based around the tables and charts you typically find in business reports and the financial press.

You don't need to know how to do mathematical processes such as algebra or trigonometry, but you will have to use basic arithmetic - addition, subtraction, division, ratios and percentages.

Before you take the numerical reasoning test:

• Read the instructions carefully - don't skim read them as it is important to be clear about how to answer the questions.
• Always complete the practice questions at the start of any assessment. You can find more practice questions on the SHL website. You can also do your own research into ability tests and, if you're interested in trying out more, the SHL website has other exercises such as brain teasers and mathematical puzzles.
• Practise your mental arithmetic - long division, multiplication etc.
• If you're planning to use a calculator, make sure you know how it works out percentages etc.

Plan your time to answer as many questions as possible.

Don't spend too long on a single question.

When you're faced with a difficult multiple-choice question, start by ruling out the options that are least likely to be correct.

If in doubt, give your best estimate.

Be honest.

Banking Essentials Programme

Objectives of the Programme
The Banking Essential Programme is a recruitment programme for selecting local management trainees. You are invited to a day of learning with Standard Chartered China. The day will take the form of group work, individual presentations, case studies and experiential learning activities, with a focus on Standard Chartered’s products, sales, service, risk management, processes and culture.  Through this day of learning, you’ll discover whether Standard Chartered is the right bank in which to start your banking career.

Before coming to the Programme
Make sure you have all the details, including the location, date, time and who you are going to meet.

Familiarise yourself with Standard Chartered Bank in general.

Prepare some questions of your own - this is your chance to ask our business leaders whether the Banking Associate Programme is the right option for you.

During the Programme
You will be with a group of other learners to participate in the different learning activities, observed by our business leaders.

Actively participate in each of the learning activities.

Don’t be over concerned if you don’t understand the learning activities.  Be yourself and enjoy the learning process.

Our business leaders will be available to answer your questions during the breaks.

What next?
We will try to contact you as soon as possible after you attend the Banking Essential Programme to tell you about the next steps.