Application process

• Application form
• Online ability testing
• Telephone interview
• Fast tracking
• Assessment
• Offers
• Pre-induction

Application form

Applying is easy, but that doesn't mean you should dash off the application like you would an email to a friend. Remember - more candidates get rejected at the application stage than at any other part of the recruitment process.

You will be asked a number of competency-based questions designed to find out how you have actually tackled problems in the past. This will help us identify if you have the skills we are looking for in our graduates. Questions often start with 'Describe a situation where you had to...' or 'Give an example of when you...'.

Don't just say what you can offer. An assessor will need to be convinced with evidence of what you did, but more importantly how you went about it and what was the result of your actions.

At this stage we also really want to know why you want to join us and, more importantly, why you've chosen your particular scheme.

Hints and tips

• When answering competency questions, make sure you give a wide variety of examples from work, study or personal life and a different example to answer each question
• Make sure the answers and examples you use are the most relevant to the questions asked, rather than the most impressive or elaborate
• Don't make your answers up. Your interviewer will find this very easy to spot
• Don't talk in broad terms about how you would generally tackle those sorts of situations. Find a specific example of when you have dealt with that particular type of situation
• Tell us about the actions and decisions that you made, rather than your group/team. That way, we can get a better understanding of your particular skills
• The most effective way to answer competency questions is to use the 'STAR' technique:
  
  
  • Situation - briefly describe the background to the situation
  • Task - specifically describe your responsibility
  • Action - describe what you did but more importantly how you went about this
  • Result - describe the outcome of your actions
• There's a word limit for each question, so don't go into too much background detail. Keep to the point but offer enough detail to show that you have the relevant core competency and can use it effectively
• The prompt questions underneath each competency question are a guide to the information we are looking for
• The online form does not contain a spell-checker, so make sure you have read through your application before submitting it. Poor spelling and bad grammar can create a bad impression
• Avoid using technical terms or at least explain what these mean so that a non-expert can understand your example

Online ability testing

If your application is successful, we will send you a link to a website where you will be asked to complete one or more ability tests. The numerical ability test is required for all schemes - some schemes will also require an inductive reasoning test.

Numerical tests measure your ability to make correct decisions or inferences from numerical or statistical data. We want to see if you can work with numerical data in a realistic workplace context.

Inductive reasoning tests test your ability to draw inferences and understand the relationships between various concepts independent of acquired knowledge. Inductive reasoning tests are also sometimes known as abstract reasoning tests or diagrammatic style tests.

You will have five days to complete each test, but once you've started you will need to complete them within the time given.

Before you start the test you will have an opportunity to familiarise yourself with what's required by looking at and completing some sample questions.

• Visit the SHL website where you can complete a full length practice test
  

* Please note: We may ask you to complete further tests at later stages in the selection process to ensure the validity of your online test results.

Hints and tips

• We recommend that you complete the practice test on the SHL website, before you complete the actual test. This should help you relax and perform better when it comes to taking the real test
• Complete the actual test in a quiet room where you won't be disturbed. You will only have one chance to complete the test and any distractions may cost you valuable seconds
• If you can't complete the tests before the deadline, get in contact with us as soon as possible and we might be able to give you an extension. Details of how to contact us will be provided in the invite email

Telephone interview

We will always send you an invite ahead of the interview date so you can prepare. Some schemes may have a second telephone interview stage.

• Similar to the application form, the TfL interviewer will ask you to provide specific examples from your past work, university experiences or outside interests. These questions will be competency based, with a focus on when you have dealt with certain situations in the past, specifically what you did and your rationale for dealing with it in that way
• Along with competency based questions you may be asked questions that cover the technical and specialist aspects of the scheme you have applied for, so prepare for this.

Hints and tips

• Do some research. Knowing about the organisation and business area you're applying to can help you immensely during an interview
• It's important to spend time before the interview thinking about various situations where you have demonstrated different skills. Examples could come from holidays, part-time work, university clubs and societies, voluntary work, study, or personal and family experiences
• For each situation think about what happened, your responsibility, what you did in that situation, how you went about it and the outcome of that particular example. Use the STAR approach (discussed in 'Application form hints and tips') to help structure your example
• Ensure that at the time of the interview you are in quiet area where you will not be disturbed
• If you have provided your mobile as your primary contact number, make sure that it is fully charged and you are in an area with good reception
• Before the interviewer asks you any questions, they will  tell you what competency they are looking at and give you a brief description of what this competency means to TfL. Listen carefully to the competency description and the question being asked to ensure that your example provides the best fit
• Your responses need to be relevant and sufficiently detailed for the interviewers to understand what you did and achieved. Avoid talking in broad terms about how you generally tackle those sorts of situations
• Talk about actions and decisions that you made, rather than your group/team. That way, we can get a better understanding of your particular skills
• The interviewer may ask you some further questions to get a better understanding of the situation and your role. Again, ensure you listen to the question and answer the question asked

Fast tracking

If you have worked for TfL on a student placement and you are applying for a graduate scheme you may be eligible to fast track your application.

Fast tracking means you will bypass the initial stages of the application process and go straight through to the final stage which is the graduate assessment centre. 

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

• You apply for a graduate scheme in the same discipline and mode as your student placement (although we would welcome your application to a different discipline and mode, you may not be fast tracked)
• You meet the minimum criteria to apply for a graduate position (eg correct grades, eligibility to work and demonstrate how you meet the minimum criteria in your application form)
• You apply for the graduate scheme within two years of having finished the placement
• You have successfully passed your student placement

If you think you are eligible and want to find out if your application will be fast tracked, contact us on:

Tel: 0844 543 9739
Email: enquiry@tfl-graduates.co.uk

Assessment

The final stage of our selection process will be held in London.

You will complete a presentation and a competency-based interview with business managers from the area where your scheme is based.

Other exercises you may need to take part in include:

• A group exercise
• An ability test
• A written exercise

The exercises you take part in depend on the scheme you applied for. You will be given further information about the exercises when we invite you to the assessment centre.

Offers

We aim to give verbal offers as soon as possible after the assessment centres.

Once you accept the offer your contract and paperwork will be sent out within two weeks.

We ask that you sign and get these back to us within ten days of receiving them.

Hints and tips

We know that you may be interested in a variety of available graduate schemes.

Application to these will in no way prejudice your application for a place on our Graduate Programme.

However, we ask that if you decide to accept an offer of a position with us or another organisation, that you tell all the other potential interested parties as soon as possible.

Pre-induction

Following your acceptance of our offer we will ensure that everything is done to make your joining us as smooth as possible.

We will arrange Occupational Health appointments for those who will be doing operational placements.

We may invite you to an 'insight day' before you start. This will give you an opportunity to meet some of your colleagues and get a better understanding of the business.

Your first three days are spent on an intensive induction programme before moving to your business area and first placement. Induction is designed to:

• Introduce you to your peers, and people at all levels across TfL
• Help you understand TfL's structure, its history and the objectives the organisation is working to deliver
• Explain how you will be supported during your time with a scheme and details of how the schemes work
• Introduce you to the 'sites and sounds' of TfL by visiting and experiencing  a number of key TfL activities
• Look for your first contribution to TfL's future through a presentation on opportunities that you and your colleagues have identified for TfL's future