Online Application
This stage works as a screening process, checking basic information and minimum requirements. You are required to submit a CV, but no cover letter. However, as a substitute for no-cover letter, you are asked to answer a number of questions that would cover content typically written in a Cover Letter, such as motivations for the role and why this particular role.
How to respond for success
With the Cover letter lookalike questions, It's good to be personal and illustrate it with examples. Preferably different from the ones in your CV. I would also advise you to embrace the company culture and values in your answers too!
Expect up to a 1 month wait before progressing to the next stage.
Online Tests
For my role, there was 2 online tests. One was a general situational judgement test which is tasked to all applicants regardless of the role you apply for. The other one was a role-specific technical test (in my case based on project management). It roughly takes around 30 min - 1.5 hours per test.
Example task
In the situational judgement test, expect to be presented with day to day office scenarios and asked to evaluate best and worst courses of actions.
How to respond for success
I would recommend you to research the company culture, current projects they are undertaking, their stakeholders, market share etc. It may also prove handy to remember some elements from their key facts page.
Expect up to a 1 month wait before progressing to the next stage.
Assessment Centre
This is the final stage of the application process. It will last around 5 hours, and you will take part in 3 different interviews. Expect one interview to be 1-1 competency based, then the other two to be more business related, involving case studies and or being tasked with presenting something to the interviewer.
It is vital to know the role description like the back of your hand and be able to provide examples of the skills needed for the role. I would also advise you to learn how to analyse and understand raw data quickly. So you can present it concisely.
Example task
In the competency based interview expect typical questions along the lines of 'Tell me a time you demonstrated x skill'. Therefore, it's essential to provide examples to better illustrate your answer.
How to respond for success
Focus on why you want to work in this role at GSK. Memorise your CV and all elements of it. It's very important that you engage with the other applicants too, as this shows you can work well with others. With regard to attire, no suit is needed, but a formal shirt is recommended.
