Hi Guys,
Im just reporting back, unfortunately, I did not get the FMP graduate scheme for GE despite being a previous intern, the competition is quite tough, and although im one to fight all the way to the end, some people are just meant to be eliminated from that list, but its a fact of life.
Anyway, I will now let you all know about how the assessment centre works at GE if anyones applying, and im sure undergraduate assessment centres work similar to graduate ones.
For the FMP (Financial Management Programme):
You start the day with a 30-40 min presentation on the overview of the company, what it does, followed by the FMP scheme, what is expected of candidates who join it, and what you could potentially be getting your hands on and how your career will go. After all, this is a very good programme, so they are expecting you to stay within the firm for a long time, and become a future finance leader. This is an opportunity to ask a few good questions.
Next, you will have an accounting test, roughly 5-7 questions, 30 mins long, so brush up on your basic accounting knowledge of pro forma/consolidated profit and loss charts, balance sheets, cash flow statements, know how to calculate a few ratios, you will be expected to give your own reasons as to what should happen and why in accounting related concepts, and give in depth valid answers, but this is not hard if your an accounting or business student, also no calculators necessary.
Then you will meet the interviewers, and you will be given a chart of who will be interviewing you and at what time. There are 4-5 interviews (I had 5), each lasting 45 mins by different managers within GE's range of businesses e.g. a finance manager from GE healthcare, another from GE Money will be interviewing you. Also, one will be a HR interview, but be advised that this HR person is in the field of finance, so you will be caught out if you try to pull the wool over his/her eyes. Prepare competency questions around GE's competency traits: PASSIONATE, CURIOUS, RESOURCEFUL, ACCOUNTABLE, TEAMWORK, OPEN, ENERGIZING, COMMITMENT and prepare examples of when and when you were not good at these traits as you will be tested. Also, you will get the usual questions as: why do you want to work for GE?, why do you want to join FMP, and what you can bring to the company. Remember to really sell yourself here and be clear and straight to the point (I mostly was, except for 1-2 interviews where my answers became unclear due to the direct firing of hard questions)
Once the interviews are done, with lunch between, where you can talk to current FMP's from a wide range of different geographical locations, and talk to the interviewers and other candidates face to face, you will arrive at the group activity.
At this group activity, you have to really push energy and vibrancy into the team. (This is where I became a little stuck). I had a very dominant person in the group that wanted to do everything his own way, and I had my own ideas, and put them across in a diplomatic way, with the other two candidates in my group doing this also, but I was one of the guys that didnt fit their criteria. Anyway, you will have a group of 4, really put some energy into this activity, as you are being watched constantly, and dont be quiet, but dont be very pushy. You will have 1 hour to do two activities (varies). First activity, build a bridge out of paper, cups, paper plates and tape. Organise (e.g. write down ideas), plan how to do it, according to requirements on the whiteboard, you will have a time limit, and they will want to roll a rubber ball across it, doesnt matter if the bridge falls, as we are not structural engineers, but they are testing how you act, so really get your ideas across, dont be quiet, and if theres another dominant person, start to challenge him/her, and give constructive ideas.
Second activity, you are in a plane crash, you survive, and theres a scenario that nearest habitual camp is 70 miles away, and you are allowed 15 items that will help you survive, you have to rank yours from 1 (most important) to 15 (least important), and then push for the group to accept your ranking over theres in a time limit of 10 mins, (again here I felt I couldve pushed my ideas more) but there was literally no time to think, so you must be quick. Then, you have to read out your ideas and assess your other team members participations in this exercise. They then give you a chance to redeem yourself and you have to give a statement on how you think you performed in this activity, and try to sell yourself here.
I was unfortunate not to get this job as I know the company, ive worked here before, I know the people and this scheme was what I had in mind for a great career but I cant reapply to that scheme for 18 months but still theres more jobs of equal calibre out there, so I will start looking at more. If theres any questions, you can post here or PM me and I will be happy to try to advise you.
Thanks