Nationwide Building Society Graduate Program Interview Questions
& Process

The assessment centre was well structured and ran smoothly. A low number of candidates (4) were invited, which helped. It was a relaxed yet challenging experience that reflected well on the organisation. All staff were helpful and friendly. The AC had three stages: 1) A novel group task where we had to solve puzzles to decipher combinations to escape a fictional room. It was timed (around 23 minutes) and was a fun way to get candidates to work together and break the ice. Escaping the room seemed less important than how you interacted with your teammates. Being polite, offering suggestions, and including everyone was key. 2) A strengths-based interview with a senior member of the department I was joining. This was a pleasant and interesting experience to get a feel for the company and work life. The questions were fairly general with a couple related to the department. 3) A 'briefing' which was essentially an investment pitch for a fictional company. We were given a company brief (background, market, financials) and 30 minutes to prepare in silence. The pitch included a SWOT analysis and a proposed business plan on how to use the investment. This was the most difficult part and perhaps slightly under-explained. The use of visual aids was unclear, and upon entering the room, candidates were unsure if the 'role play' started immediately or if there'd be an introduction from an assessor. The latter was true. It was still an enjoyable experience. A detailed feedback report is given regardless of offer, which is a nice touch.

After passing all the online assessments, the next step was a telephone interview. I was given a choice of time slots on a first come first serve basis, so picking an earlier slot increased my chances of getting one. The interview was strengths-based, and I was told to get familiar with the role I applied for beforehand. It went really well and the interviewer was very nice. She explained that passing this interview didn't guarantee a spot at the assessment centre, and they'd probably take another month to let me know if I'd get to the next stage.

I started with an online application that had a couple of motivational questions. After that, I had to complete some online tests. About a week later, I got a phone interview. It was mostly competency-based, asking me for examples of common situations like teamwork, leadership, and also why I applied for the role. The interviewer didn't seem super interested in my answers, and the interview finished in under 15 minutes. I heard back in less than two days.