Online suitability, verbal and numerical reasoning tests. Video interview where the applicant has to record their responses to questions posed by an automated system. Nothing particularly challenging in these early stages, in spite of a few technical difficulties experienced by Lloyds in the process. I had to repeat the numerical tests for example as they had an error with my results. Assessment centre in Solihull with warm up exercise, presentation from existing graduates, group exercise, written exercise, one-on-one interview and presentation. Group work exercise was quite unclear, and I still feel my group got the wrong end of the stick. In spite of this, the exercise was all very civilised. One on one interview asked you to explain in detail your motivations and required a good knowledge of the firm and industry. Presentation to prepare at home on particular product that could make the bank 'best bank for customers' Positives 1) Everybody was very pleasant throughout the process. 2) The job is very regimented, which is great for graduates as it ensures a guaranteed set of skills over the course of the scheme. The Existing graduates seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs 3) The AC is organised to enable as many people as possible to join 4) Relatively short process Negatives: 1) AC was very regimented in terms of what the assessors noted down, and I feel it's very much a case of jumping through hoops for particular skills and capabilities. I felt sometimes they weren't actually listening to what I was saying, more making quantitative decisions based on qualitative answers, and I feel they are quite restricted in their judgement making, and look for somebody that can be moulded to fit their model rather than a free thinking individual. The whole process is full of buzzwords and a lot of waffle, which I found off-putting. I felt constantly that I wasn't getting the whole story and that I didn't know what the interviewers wanted - I think in a good AC you should be able to ascertain what they want 2) They put an inordinate amount of focus on the written exercise. In my feedback, my responses to the written exercise were highlighted as limited. I just don't see how 15 minutes of scribbling down answers to vague questions can trump an hour speaking to an interviewer. 3) 'Warm up' exercise at the start. I felt for a room full of applicants, some of whom were well into their late twenties and thirties, pushing balloons across a table is a little childish. I understand what they're were trying to do, and some people may well respond well to this approach, but I found it a little patronising. The job itself should carry a degree of prestige and having beaten hundreds of applicants to the final dozen, I would have appreciated being in a slightly more 'grown up' environment. That said, I think for the right kind of people it's a great application experience and a great job. THe AC put me off the job entirely, and I was not offered a role.