After completing the online application I was invited to take the online numerical and verbal reasoning tests which can be quite difficult but I was notified that I had passed. The tests are done by SHL, a testing consultancy firm, make sure to take a few of the practice tests online to acclimate yourself to that type of tests (particularly the time constraints). After the tests I was asked for a phone interview, the person interviewing was extremely nice and seemed to be more nervous than I was. The questions are basic competency screening.... give an example of being a supportive member of a team, tell us about a time when you had to let someone go, why do you want to work with us, why do you want this role. basic stuff really. If you are successful they ask you to come to a selection center. You make your own arrangements and then you are reimbursed, another painless process. The selection center lasts 2 days and starts with a meet and greet (dinner, drinks, etc.). Then the next day you the interview process begins. The order is different for every person but everyone has the same process. Aside from the one on one interview you are given a hypothetical case study that you must assess. 1. one on one interview, with the same type of questions as the phone interview. 2. A group presentation with other candidates, there is some level of competition here dont be fooled... 3. A mock meeting with one of the interviewers who is playing a role 4. Writing a memo about that meeting to a hypothetical superior 5. An individual presentation to an interviewer about meeting/memo/group presentation.

I first filled out the online application which is quite extensive. In addition to basic interview stuff, they ask candidates to write brief responses to four or five essay-type questions. The questions themselves were basically behavioral interview questions. Hard part was saying everything you wanted to say to each question in 200 words. Received an invitation a few days later to complete their online assessment tests. These are basically math and verbal tests that are timed. Not too difficult, but it's useful to practice them beforehand. The key part is time. I passed the online tests and was then invited to a phone interview with an HR representative (not an International Manager or IM). She basically has a very specific list of behavioral and motivation questions she had to ask me (about my experience, resume, why HSBC, describe a time when, etc.). They want very specific examples. Following the telephone interview I was invited to complete another online test called the Situational Judgement Test. Pretty straightforward and easy. No time limit. Want to see if you fit a specific profile. A few days later I received word that I had made it through to the final round, which was an Assessment Center in London. They flew me to London and put me up in a hotel (all very professional). Assessment center consisted of a pre-interview(s) dinner and drinks with other candidates and IMs. They said it was not being evaluated. The Assessment Center itself (which I believe is more of a British thing anyway) was difficult, but also rather stupid in my opinion. It was basically five+ hours of role playing exercises and a one-on-one interview. All the role playing exercises tested was your reading/comprehension speed (given a huge stack of papers, memos, reports, etc.) and ability to do office tasks. It was hard and I never felt I had time to prepare for each exercise, but I also feel the program would have been better served by case interviews, or more traditional final round interviews. Found out a week later that I didn't receive an offer. Also learned elsewhere that no one at my assessment centre received an offer oddly enough. They provided feedback, but given how esoteric the role playing exercises were, it really wasn't helpful.