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Shell Online Assessment, Aptitude Tests, Assessment Centre Preparation and Practice
Are you applying to Shell, either on the Shell graduate program, internship, or in any other capacity? The Shell recruitment process is long and has many steps that you need to excel at in order to get that prized offer. Here at JobTestPrep we have prepared this article, walking you through the process as well as providing help and guidance throughout.
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Royal Dutch Shell, as they are formally known, is a global energy and petrochemical company. They have many graduate opportunities and competition can be tight. We will focus on the Shell graduate scheme as this is the most exhaustive application process. There are many elements that flow into other applications as well, particularly for Shell internships so everyone should find this article helpful.
The Shell Graduate Program is highly varied depending on the role or department that you have applied for. Positions vary from places in the commercial and financial department, to the engineering and even HR. Due to the roles being highly sought after, the competition is high. As such, the recruitment process can be very challenging. Here at JobTestPrep we can help you prepare.
The entire application process consists of five main steps, with the final step being a job offer. We will go through each of these steps and offer guidance for each one. The first step is to complete an online application form. The different steps are:
Shell Online Application FormThe Shell online application form is your first opportunity to stand out from the crowd. You are given the opportunity to upload your CV. Your CV shouldn’t be longer than two pages. As well as this, you are given the chance to sell yourself in a more precise way by answering the question: Why do you want to work for Shell? In order to answer the question properly, you have to incorporate the key values of Shell into your answers. These are:
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Respect for people
These are in fact rather open ended values and you can take them where you want to in a sense. Learning how to craft your CV and answers in the correct manner is an art form of sorts so here at JobTestPrep we have created a CV creation package to help you craft the best possible CV. If you are successful at this stage of the Shell application process you will be invited to take the Shell assessment test.
If you have been shortlisted to proceed, the next stage is the Shell online assessment.
Shell Online Assessment TestThe Shell aptitude tests consist of two sections, competency based questions followed by a decision and problem solving task. In essence there are three different aptitude tests, a personality test, a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), and a numerical reasoning test. All three of these Shell online tests are provided by Cubiks, a well known psychometric testing company.
Part 1: Competency Based QuestionnaireAfter you have completed the Shell online application form you will be sent a link asking you to complete the Shell competency questionnaire. In the competency based questionnaire you will be presented with 72 different statements that relate work tasks and how you work with other people. You have to rate each statement on a five point basis with 1 being Disagree and 5 being Agree. The 72 statements are divided into groups of four and for each set, apart from rating the statement 1-5 you need to choose two statements, one that you most agree with and a second that you least identify with. The entire competency based questionnaire should take you between 20 and 30 minutes to complete.
It was once thought that it is impossible to prepare for a personality competency questionnaires but this is very far from the truth. Learning what the company wants, their key values and incorporating them in your thought processes is a skill that you can learn and by doing so you will be able to perform to a very high level. Find out how we can help you prepare with our personality proofing package.
Part 2: Decision-making and Problem-Solving TaskBy successfully completing part one of the Shell aptitude tests, you will be sent the second part of the online assessment stage. This stage is to assess your ability to make decisions based on certain criteria. This is, in fact a Situational Judgement Test, an SJT.
SJT’s are becoming more common in the job application market and they are a good measurement of your thought processes such as are you a leader or follower? You are presented with 18 different situations that could occur in the workplace and there are a number of different solutions that could be used to solve this problem. There are four different options for you to choose from and you have to rate each of the options on a five grade scale with 1 being “counterproductive” and 5 being “highly effective”. As well as rating each of the statements, you have to single out two of them, one being the one that you are most likely to do and the other being the one that you are least likely to do. Once said to be impossible to prepare for, studies have conclusively proven that this is completely false. Preparation is not only possible but is preferable.
At JobTestPrep we have a complete SJT package with a full guide to help you understand what is expected and practise tests to give you a feel for the real thing.
Shell Numerical TestAlong with the Shell decision making test you will need to complete the timed Shell problem solving test which is the Shell numerical test. This Cubiks provided test presents you will a variety of statistical tables, graphs, and charts that you have to analyse carefully. Using ratios, percentages and other mathematical functions you need to calculate the correct answers and select the correct answer from five different options. There are 16 questions which are grouped together in sets of four questions for each set of numerical data. You have a mere 18 minutes to answer all the questions in this test. This is a very small amount of time and without proper preparation and understanding, it is very difficult to get to grips and do yourself justice in this test. Preparation is therefore key and this is why at JobTestPrep we have an entire package dedicated to teaching you how to answer these questions, as well as many practise tests that can be taken in either timed or untimed conditions.
Once you have received the tests, you are given seven days to attempt and complete them.
Shell Telephone InterviewIf you successfully manage to complete the online assessment, the next part of the Shell selection process is generally the Shell telephone interview. This is a long and detailed interview often taking well over an hour to complete. It is comprised of four different sections and we will detail them below.
In the first part of the Shell telephone interview you will be asked some general questions about your different career preferences, why you have chosen to apply for Shell and a check on your ability to work in different areas of the world.
The second part of the interview focuses on the main competencies of Shell. They are focused on the competencies that we mentioned above and on the CART competencies. These are:
- Capacity: You need to show that you have the intellectual, analytical, and creative ability to learn new things and make judgements quickly and carefully.
- Achievement: You need to show enthusiasm, resilience and confidence in order to do the job expected of you.
- Relationship skills: You have to show that you have the character to work with a diverse team.
- Technical skills: A deep understanding of technical issues as well as a willingness to learn new technologies.
The Shell interview questions for this section of the interview include:
- Tell me about your biggest achievement.
- Tell me about a time when you worked in a diverse team with many contrasting opinions and how did you work together to solve the issue?
- When have you engaged in different cultures and opinions?
You will be guided to answer these points using the STAR method of answering questions, where you use a real life situation you have encountered to expand and explain what you did. Learn more about the STAR method here.
The third section of the Shell telephone interview is similar to a role play based on a case study. You are given three or four topics and you have to choose one of them to discuss with the interviewer. These are generally:
- A strategy for implementing diversity and inclusiveness
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Recruiting and retaining high calibre staff
- Helping local governments financially and in other ways.
You have to give a brief introduction on your chosen subject, showing that you understand the topic. You will be asked probing questions and enter a deep discussion about the different aspects of your chosen subject.
The last section of the Shell interview is where you are asked if you have any questions. This is somewhat underestimated but in reality this can be the make or break of your Shell application. Showing that you really want to know more about the organisation proves your motivation for the job. Moreover, this is the last chance to shine in the interview so if you finish on a high this is what the interviewer remembers the most.
Preparing for the Shell telephone interview is difficult. There are quite a number of different questions and topics that you need to go through. As this is a telephone interview however, you can have your application form and general notes in front of you throughout, thus helping you. The best way to prepare for this interview is to actually have a mock one with a trained assessor. This gives you a complete preparation as you will not only get a full interview but you will also receive valuable feedback and tips on how best to present your answers. Learn more about our Skype based interview preparation package here.
Once you have come through the previous stages of the recruitment process successfully you will be invited to attend the Shell assessment centre. Find out what happens there on the next page.
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