Graduate Scheme Hiring Process, Assessment Tests, Interview, and Assessment Centre

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JobTestPrep offers you the preparation package with the material you need to prepare for earning your placement in Bank of Ireland’s Graduate Programme. The online tests and the competency-based interview require close attention and practice. Improve your competitive edge in the recruitment process by using JobTestPrep’s practice tests, tips, score reports, and interview online preparation. 

Before applying, ensure that you meet the requirements for the Graduate Scheme. All programs expect their candidates to achieve a minimum of a 2:1 Honours Degree or Masters in all disciplines. After submitting your application, you will be required to complete numerical and verbal online aptitude tests. The next step is a video interview, which sometimes includes a presentation exercise. Upon successfully completing the video interview, you are invited to an assessment centre in which you will participate in a number of group and individual ability-based exercises. 

After submitting your CV, you will be invited to complete verbal and numerical aptitude tests.

The numerical reasoning test examines how well you can evaluate numerical data. The multiple-choice questions require you to analyse charts, graphs, tables, and to perform calculations based on the information presented. In the calculations, you will be asked to compute percentages, ratios, and inflation changes.

In the verbal reasoning test, you will display your ability to comprehend and evaluate passages of text. Each paragraph is followed by a question which you must answer based on the information presented. In some cases, you will be asked to select whether a statement is true, false, or indeterminable based on the text.

In addition to the numerical and verbal tests you can be required to pass the following test: 

• Spatial Reasoning: These tests assess your orientation skills in two dimensional and three-dimensional spaces.
• Abstract Reasoning: These tests require you to demonstrate your skill to draw assumptions and conclusions based on information presented in the form of symbols or matrices.

Bank of Ireland’s Graduate Programme interview is likely to take place in the form of a competency-based video interview. Bank of Ireland employs competency-based interviews to ensure that the candidate is suitable for the graduate programme. Make sure to familiarise yourself with information about the Bank of Ireland itself and the bank's competencies, since the questions require you to reflect on situations in which you demonstrated your teamwork, problem-solving, and customer service skills. Prepare your answers beforehand to ensure that they are concise and that each competency is reflected in describing your previous experiences.

Here are examples of questions you might encounter in your interview:

• Describe a time when you went the extra mile, in work or university or personal life.
• Describe what sets you apart from other graduates.
• How do you see yourself influencing the bank's strategy from the graduate program?
• Why Bank of Ireland?  

JobTestPrep's Bank of Ireland preparation pack for managers includes interview materials, in addition to online practice tests.

The assessment centre, which takes place on site, includes groups of six to eight candidates and takes about three hours to complete. The exercises are divided into three sections, which are designed to assess how you work both in teams and individually. In the first section, the group will be assigned a business case which they must work together to solve. In the second section, you will solve a business case individually. During the last stage, you will be invited to a competency-based interview.

Please note, as part of Bank of Ireland's assessment centre day you might be required to complete other aptitude tests, such as spatial awareness and logical reasoning tests. 

JobTestPrep's comprehensive preparation pack is useful for all Bank of Ireland graduate scheme candidates. Make sure you fully prepare yourself for the selective hiring process by understanding the online tests and competency-based interviews available in our preparation pack. 

As we outlined earlier on the page, the assessment centre takes about three hours. Come prepared for the three sections of the assessment centre by reviewing the process outlined above. The goal of the day is to ensure that you are a good fit for the company, so make sure to demonstrate Bank of Ireland's valued competencies of teamwork, problem-solving, and customer orientation.

Depending on your background, you might be interested in any of the following Bank of Ireland graduate schemes: Accounting ; Finance, Audit, Bank of Ireland UK, Corporate Banking UK, Corporate Treasury, Risk, Compliance; Regulatory Risk, Human Resources, Information Technology, New Ireland Actuarial, and Business Insights Innovation. The bank aims to keep its recruitment process as simple as possible, and puts all applicants in touch with Graduate Recruitment managers to ask questions at any stage.