- Online application form - Three tests (personality, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning) - Telephone interview - I didn't pass this stage. Did not ask 'Why HSBC' or 'Why should we choose you' or anything like that. 3 questions were asked, based on their values and values alone: - Dependable and do the right thing - Open to different ideas and cultures - Connected to customers, communities, regulators and each other Interview is 40 minutes long, so prepare at LEAST 3 examples for each. I was asked about a time I had really, really gone out of my way to help somebody. I then explained and launched into this story. They followed up each example with lots of questions (sometimes asking questions you have already answered in your own speech...) saying things like 'how did you go out of your way? how did it impact you? how did it impact them? how did you really go out of your way?' etc. After that, I was asked, 'so can you give me another example of a time you have really gone out of your way to help somebody?' So prepare lots of examples (or lies) for each 'value'. There was not any particular hard questions - just the fact you had to give numerous examples of the same thing, which obviously you may not have done in real life (e.g. 'a time when you really stood up for something that was right even though it was hard to do so' - and having 2/3 full examples you can discuss from that). Was the worst interview structure I have ever come across!

The assessment centre was very well organised and the staff were very friendly which made me feel at ease. Before the assessment centre I was required to apply online, pass 3 online tests, pass a telephone interview and then was invited to take part in the assessment centre. I passed the telephone interview in November and did not hear back about the assessment centre until February so do not worry if you do not hear anything in between.