Applied online via the government website. This was followed by a phone screening with the recruiting agency where a few questions were asked and personal information was confirmed.
Didn't hear anything for 1 month then got a call saying that I got an interview but no date was set.
Didn't hear anything again for a couple weeks then got an email confirming the date and time of the interview which gave me a week's notice.
Arrived 15 minutes early to the interview and was greeted by the employer. Sat down in the interview room and had the option as to whether I wanted to have my interview first or tour the lab; I chose to tour the lab.
A laboratory employee at the lab gave me a tour and the place seemed like a good place to work. I was escorted back to the interview room.
However, when I had the 'interview', only 2 questions were asked! Nothing about my skills or education, just "Why do you want this role?" and "Tell me about yourself." A complete waste of my time; why bother inviting me to an interview if you're not going to at least ask me about anything relating to the apprenticeship?
I was told that I would find out whether I had the job the following week.
What's even more outrageous is that the 'feedback' they emailed me 3 weeks later (I had to email the agency to query about the status of my application!) said I was late to my interview and that I didn't have the contingency to call them up, yet I was 15 minutes early! Vague feedback and poorly organised.
The company doesn't also reimburse travel expenses, but will happily tell me I have an interview in 6 days so I have to pay full train expenses.
Will never be applying for this company again.