Step 1
Step 1
Applying
Find the role that’s right for you
It’s important that you find the right role that suits your talents and preferences. You can hear more from our colleagues who’ve completed Graduate programmes and Internships and read more on our Graduate and Internship programme pages at the links below.
Graduate programmes Internships
Don’t delay
Don’t miss the opportunity. We only have limited places available and we process the applications in the order we receive them. Give yourself the greatest chance of success and apply sooner rather then later, and remember, you’ll need to complete the assessment within 10 days from your application submission.
Submitting an application
Once you’ve found a programme that’s right for you, you’re ready to start the application process. You’ll be asked to enter some basic information to make sure you’re eligible for the programme.
After submitting your application and confirming your eligibility, you’ll have the option to start the first assessment (which you can read about in the next section). You can come back to it later but remember to complete the assessments as soon as you feel ready to do so. You’ll have 10 days from submitting your application to complete your assessment in full, and we’ll send you a reminder at day 7.
Getting support
If you have a disability, long-term health or mental health condition, or if you’re neurodivergent and adjustments would support you in your assessment(s), there’ll be opportunities to let us know throughout your application journey, just let us know what support we can give you.
We’ll have a confidential discussion and work with you to put in place any physical or non-physical adjustments you may need. Any information you share with us will only be used to make adjustments for your assessment(s) and we won’t share this information with anyone else.
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Step 2
Step 2
Work Scenarios Assessment
What is a Work Scenario Assessment?
Work Scenarios give you the opportunity to find out more about the job and working at NatWest – what’s important to us and what we value. And it helps us to understand a bit more about you.
You’ll be presented with 14 work-related scenarios based within NatWest Group, along with a number of statements. You’ll need to read the scenarios and statements carefully, and for each statement decide whether it’s more effective or less effective in that scenario.
How long does it take?
You’ll have an unlimited amount of time to complete the assessment. However, it usually takes about 20-25 minutes to complete.
How can I prepare?
Getting to know our values
Familiarise yourself with our values that guide and inspire us through everything we do.
Practice assessment
Our assessment partner, SHL, have provided some example questions that allow you to experience what it’ll be like to take the assessment. It’s a great opportunity to see what type of questions you’ll be asked and understand what it’ll feel like to complete it.
Visit the SHL Practice site and choose “Situational Judgment Test”. You’ll need to set up log-in details to access the material. You can use the same email address as you have done for the application – but don’t worry, taking this practice assessment will have no impact on your real assessment. The practice assessment isn’t scored so you won’t get any feedback on whether you got the questions right or wrong, but it’s still a great chance to have a go! You’ll only be able to complete this once, so make sure you set aside enough time so you can get the most out of it.
Consider why you want to work at NatWest Group
Before you start the assessment, take some time to think about why you want to join us. This may help you when answering the questions. For example, what is it about NatWest that makes you want to work here, what unique contribution could you bring and how could you support your colleagues and customers?
Consider your setting
Find a time and place where you can concentrate on the assessment without interruptions.
What will I need?
You’ll just need a stable internet connection and device (mobile, tablet or laptop).
Will I receive feedback?
As a purpose-led learning organisation, we want to champion your potential. Once you complete the assessment we’ll email with a feedback report to help you learn and develop from your experience, no matter where your future career takes you.
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Step 3
Step 3
Reasoning Skills Assessment
What is a Reasoning Skills Assessment?
Reasoning Skills is an interactive assessment where you’ll apply your problem solving, numerical and reasoning skills. You’ll be presented with 24 questions and will be asked to analyse scenarios, interpret information, identify patterns and sequences, perform numerical calculations and draw conclusions from the information given.
The assessment is activity based and allows you to drag, drop and interact with the questions.
How long does it take?
The assessment is timed and you’ll have 36 minutes to answer the questions.
How can I prepare?
Practice the assessment
Our assessment partner, SHL, have provided some example questions that allow you to experience what it’ll be like to take the assessment. It’s a great opportunity to see what type of questions you’ll be asked and understand what it’ll feel like to complete it.
Visit the SHL Practice Site and press “General Ability Test (Mobile-Enabled, Interactive)”. You’ll need to set up log-in details to access the material. You can use the same email address as you have done for the application – but don’t worry, taking this practice assessment will have no impact on your real assessment. The practice assessment isn’t scored so you won’t get any feedback on whether you got the questions right or wrong, but it’s still a great chance to have a go! You’ll only be able to complete this once, so make sure you set aside enough time so you can get the most out of it. Have a pen, paper and calculator ready.
Complete the example questions provided
When you come on to launch the real assessment you’ll also get a chance to complete some example questions before the assessment starts. The example questions will be clearly marked. You’ll get feedback on whether you answered the example question correctly, but it won’t have an impact on your assessment score. Take this opportunity to get comfortable with the question format before you go on to complete the real questions.
Consider your setting
Find a time and place where you can concentrate on the assessment without interruptions. Make sure you have a pen, paper and calculator ready.
What will I need?
You’ll just need a stable internet connection and device (mobile, tablet or laptop). If you’re using a mobile device, we recommend you turn off all notifications, so you aren’t interrupted while completing the assessment.
Will I receive feedback?
As a purpose-led learning organisation, we want to champion your potential. Once you complete the assessment we’ll email with a feedback report to help you learn and develop from your experience, no matter where your future career takes you.
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Step 4
Step 4
More about you
What’s the ‘more about you’ stage?
This stage is a chance for us to get to know you better, for you to share your motivation for joining NatWest Group, and why this job’s right for you. Here we want to understand more about your experience and potential, so we’ve carefully chosen six questions that will allow you to show why you’re the best person for the job.
We’ll ask you to record your response to each of the six questions. For each question you’ll see a recording of one of our colleagues asking the question and you’ll also see the question on screen, so you’ll have a chance to hear and read the question before recording your answer.
We’ll be using a video recording so there won’t be anyone on the other side of the camera. We’ve chosen this approach so you have the flexibility to record your responses in your own time and in a place where you feel most relaxed.
For some questions, we’ll ask you to give us an example of how you’ve dealt with a particular scenario. It’s important to choose a specific example with lots of detail about what you did.
For other questions, we’ll provide you a hypothetical scenario and ask you to tell us about how you’d respond. You don’t need to know about any of our processes or procedures to answer these questions.
How long does it take?
You’ll have a set time to prepare and record each of your answers, and you’ll clearly see how long you have on screen. The whole video assessment will take about 20 minutes to complete.
How can I prepare?
Our Critical People Capabilities
Familiarise yourself with our values and Critical People Capabilities. Our Critical People Capabilities outline the behaviours and skills that are important to help us succeed.
Critical People Capabilities explained
- Connected: To be inclusive, we need to be connected – communicating and collaborating with others, valuing the differences we all bring and delivering great things for our communities.
- Improver innovator: To be curious, we need to be improver innovators – generating ideas, continuously improving and reusing the best of what we have across the bank.
- Critical thinker: To be robust, we need to be critical thinkers – using data and information to make informed decisions, solve problems and keep ourselves and others safe and secure.
- Trusted advisor: To be sustainable, we need to be trusted advisors – using our expertise to make sure we build strong relationships, do the right thing and be considerate to others.
- Change ready: To be ambitious, we need to be change ready – delivering personal and organisational growth, continuously learning, and focussing on our resilience and wellbeing.
Consider why you want to work at NatWest Group
Do some research to find out more about NatWest Group and what we do, and help you think about why you’d like to work with us.
Think about some examples to share
Spend some time thinking about previous or current experiences from work, school, university, voluntary or personal life to share in your responses. Try to think of different examples, ideally from the past 18 months so you can remember them clearly. It may be a good idea to start making a list of your examples, and consider how these relate to our values and Critical People Capabilities.
Follow the STAR
Familiarise yourself with the STAR methodology which is a useful way of structuring your responses to the interview questions.
STAR Technique
The STAR technique is a well known way to prepare and answer questions about your previous experience and is a helpful way to structure your response. STAR stands for:
- Situation: Describe the background to the example
- Task: Describe the task you had to complete
- Action: Describe the specific actions you took to complete the task
- Results: Describe the results following your actions. We want to hear about what you did – try to avoid talking about ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘the team’.
Have a look at how to use the STAR technique
Here’s an example of how to structure your response. In your “real” response we’ll be looking for more detail and information in each area, but this gives you an outline of how to use the STAR technique to structure your response.
Tell me about a time you worked in a team with others
- Situation: When I was at university, I was completing a group presentation as part of my coursework, which involved working with four other students to a tight deadline.
- Task: In the group I was allocated the task of putting a draft presentation together by gathering all the information that each student was contributing.
- Action: I organised a weekly meeting with the other students so I could check on progress and so that each student could share the information they were looking at, to avoid any duplication.
- Results: The team completed the presentation in time for the deadline and I received positive feedback from our supervisor.
Practice
Many of our candidates find it helpful to record a video of themselves talking about their experiences and watching it back; this could be a great opportunity for you to practice a recorded answer and see how you deliver a response.
When it comes to the recording itself, before you record your responses, you’ll have the chance to do a practice question so you can see what it’s like. This will also give you the opportunity to check your video and audio are working okay.
What will I need?
You’ll just need a stable internet connection and device (mobile, tablet or laptop). If you’re using a mobile device, we recommend you turn off all notifications, so you aren’t interrupted while completing the assessment.
Will I receive feedback?
When you complete your video assessment, our team of experienced assessors will review it. We receive a high volume of video assessments, so it can take us some time to review them all. Don’t worry, we’ll email you as soon as we can with the outcome. Due to the high volume of candidates at this stage we’re unfortunately unable to provide personalised feedback on your video assessment.
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Step 5
Step 5
Virtual Assessment Centre
What’s the virtual assessment centre?
Our virtual assessment centre is a great opportunity to meet our team of facilitators, assessors and learn more about what it’s like to work at NatWest Group.
Our experienced team will support you throughout the day and talk you through each of the exercises you’ll be completing. Your day will consist of a number of interactive activities, for example a group discussion, interactive role play exercise and interview.
How long does it take?
The assessment centre will be a full day activity, but you’ll be given a number of breaks throughout the day.
How can I prepare?
You’ll be provided with a guide ahead of the day which outlines more information about the specific assessment centre you’ll attend, the technology you’ll need, as well as top tips to demonstrate your best self.
Will I receive feedback?
As a purpose-led learning organisation, we want to champion your potential. Once you complete the assessment we’ll email with a feedback report to help you learn and develop from your experience, no matter where your future career takes you.
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Step 6
Step 6
Receiving an offer
We’ll let you know our decision as soon as possible after your virtual assessment centre.
If we make you an offer, a recruiter will be in touch to talk you through everything you need to know. We’ll do some pre-employment checks on the information you’ve given us, like your address history. Once that’s all in order, we’ll bring you aboard and get you started.
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Check out our video series
Ready to make an application but need some help? Our Bright Series contains all of the information and tips you need to make a standout application. The four short videos cover application essentials, video interviews, top skills and networking for newbies – so whatever your questions, we’ve got it covered.