We caught up with George Brown, Engineering student at Oxford, to discuss his experience landing a Graduate Technical Consultant role at Atos. Read his story and top tips below.
Why did you choose to apply for this role at Atos?
I met Atos at Bright Network Technology Top 150 and found them really enthusiastic about the diversity of their jobs and the company ethos. I looked into them more at home and decided to apply because I thought I’d be happy doing this role and that I’d fit in there. The work they’re doing really interests me and that I think it aligns well with my skills.
Can you tell us about the application process? - what did you have to do?
I did the online application first, the general CV and questions bit. A couple were all about showing your interest in technology and technology events happening in the news. Then I had your standard numerical reasoning test, a verbal reasoning test and a 40 minute phone interview. The assessment centre was the real challenge. It included longer interviews with members of staff and really gave me the chance to show them why I wanted to work there.
How did you prepare for the application process?
I asked a couple of people who I knew had been through similar applications for advice and general tips. I also spent a very long time on the Bright Network website looking at the helpful information on Atos which was crucial in the application processes.
When it came to preparing for the competency based questions, I thought up examples to use for each competency and wrote them out in a structured manner. For motivation I researched competitors and the company’s unique advantages.
For the assessment centre I was told there would be a case study so I talked this through with a friend who’d been through a case study interview already. Overall I was prepared as I could be; this was very important because it relaxed me on the day.
What part of the process did you find the most difficult?
The assessment day because I only had one day's notice for it! I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for it! The day itself was quite busy and it was a little intense trying to be professional throughout the day, and tiring You can’t focus on one thing for too long so it’s a fast paced day. I'm a stronger person for it though.
What part of the process did you most enjoy?
I liked the phone interview and the actual face to face interviews at the assessment centres. This is because I got to meet the people I could actually be working for. It was great to get to know them; they were friendly and welcoming. It was formal of course but it was great to be able to express myself, show my interest in the company, learn what I’d be doing and get to know my possible colleagues.
What three tips would you give for someone following in your footsteps?
Tip 1: Excel is your friend
Be as organised as you can be in terms of the overall process. I found it stressful until I made a spreadsheet with the details of where I was applying, deadlines and where I was in terms of the stages.
Tip 2: Preparation is key
Prepare as much as possible. Companies want to see you put lots into the application process, not appear as if you’re applying to lots of places and they're just one on your list. It also puts you at ease to be knowledgeable. Get to know the company as much as possible.
Tip 3: Don’t be disheartened by rejection
Applying to numerous places will result in some rejection but keep going and you’ll find somewhere that offers something for you. Rejections can even make you a stronger candidate in the long run.
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