Apprenticeship interviews and assessment centres

Getting invited to an interview or assessment centre means the employer thinks you could do the job. Now they want to meet you. Nerves are completely normal. The National Careers Service points out that employers might not expect experience, but they do look for the right strengths and genuine interest.

Types of interview

• Face-to-face, at the employer’s office or site.
• Phone or video, live with an interviewer.
• Recorded video, where questions pop up on screen and you record your answers. KPMG UK, for example, uses video interviews.
• Assessment centres, where you do several activities, often in person (more on these below).

How to prepare

The National Careers Service suggests you:

1. Re-read the job description and note the skills and experience they want.
2. Research the employer on its website, so you can explain why you want to work there.
3. Re-read your application, because interviewers often ask about what you wrote.
4. Prepare examples from school, work, volunteering or hobbies that show the skills they want.
5. Practise common questions out loud, ideally with someone you trust. It feels awkward, but it really helps.
6. Check the format and ask for any adjustments you need.

Some employers publish their own help. Rolls-Royce, for example, has an assessment centre guide.

Questions you’ll probably get

• Why do you want this apprenticeship, and why with us?
• What do you know about what we do?
• Tell us about a time you worked in a team, solved a problem or dealt with a challenge.
• What are your strengths, and what would you like to get better at?
• Where would you like to be in a few years?

For questions that ask for an example, use the STAR method: the Situation, the Task, the Action you took and the Result. Keep the first two short and spend most of your answer on what you did and what happened.

On the day

• Plan your journey and leave loads of time. The National Careers Service suggests being ready 5 to 10 minutes before you start.
• For online interviews, test your camera, microphone and internet beforehand, and find somewhere quiet.
• Turn your phone off and keep the interviewer’s contact details handy in case something goes wrong.
• It’s fine to ask them to repeat a question, or to take a moment to think. You can usually look at notes too.

Assessment centres

An assessment centre gives you a few different activities so the employer can see how you work. The National Careers Service says they’re looking at how you work with others, deal with problems, and communicate and contribute.

Williams F1 Team’s assessment centre, for example, includes an interview, a practical skills test, a group exercise and a Q&A session. Typical activities:

Activity	What they’re looking for
Group exercise	Listening, sharing ideas, bringing others in, keeping the group on track
Practical task	Following instructions, care, accuracy and being keen to learn
Presentation	Clear communication and preparation
Interview	Why you want it, and examples of your skills

In group tasks, being the loudest isn’t the point. Employers notice people who listen, build on other people’s ideas and help the group reach a decision.

Questions to ask them

You’ll usually get the chance to ask questions at the end. Have two or three ready, like:

• What does a normal week look like for a first-year apprentice?
• How does the off-the-job training work?
• What have previous apprentices gone on to do?

Afterwards

If you’re offered the apprenticeship, the National Careers Service suggests asking for the offer in writing and checking the start date, working hours and pay. If you don’t get it, ask for feedback: GOV.UK confirms you can. Most people go to a few interviews before they get an offer, and every one is good practice.