The Student Room Group

Sandwich Placements/ Year in Industry

Hey.. I haven't posted on here for like months/year and have searched pages back looking for stuff on this.. maybe I am too late as I think most people have applied for this sort of thing already. But I was wondering if anyone could give me any helpful hints and tips as to what to expect, whether to wear a suit or not etc.

I have an interview for UCB http://www.ucb-group.com/ and was wondering if anyone has had an interview with them previously and know what to expect i.e. will I have to sit a formal exam, i.e. aptitude test, actual exam on cells and stuff etc etc..

Also if anyone else has other recommendations on other places I can apply? I seem to have missed the dead lines for most of the other famous companies like pfizer, GSK etc.. even though I had scholarship with pfizer before so..

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions though.

p.s. I am also taking biochemistry..
Treat your interview as if it were for a permanent position. Dress smartly and do your homework. You may have to sit an aptitude test (I had one for GSK, well they weren't GSK then...) and perhaps a technical interview (again I had one for GSK) as well as a HR interview.
Reply 2
Definitely wear a suit whatever you do.
Reply 3
When I applied I only had to do a relativley straightforward maths test at AstraZeneca. So if you do get a test, it should be quite easy.
Reply 4
Thanks for the advice thusfar, but I was wondering if anyone had any specific information regarding the company. I have searched their website and have found no mention on the stages of their recruitment process. For example other companies I have browsed through seem to outlay the different stages of their recruitment process i.e. stage 1: send cv, stage 2: telephone interview, stage 3: face to face interview etc etc.. any advice on this matter would be appreciated.

Or perhaps advice on other companies I could apply to if this falls through..:frown:

Thanks in advance.
Tom H
When I applied I only had to do a relativley straightforward maths test at AstraZeneca. So if you do get a test, it should be quite easy.


Some companies, like Proctor & Gamble, do overload tests where it is almost impossible to complete the test in the time allowed. The questions are very straightforward interpreting and analysing simple graphs and tables, but there are lots of them! The trick is just to get stuck in and see how far you can get, they are designed to see how you perform in a stressful environment, not very ethical, but they do exist.
Reply 6
I have actually completed the proctor and gamble test last term.. I went for a seminar unaware that there was an exam... completed it without a calculator might I add and passed and was given access to their website where I somehow failed some questionnaire on personality...

Just like I said this company does not mention anything on their website regarding the format of application.. but I will be interviewed by a Dr... so I assume questions will be asked and not just competency based mumbo jumbo. Right?
Sw1ft
I have actually completed the proctor and gamble test last term.. I went for a seminar unaware that there was an exam... completed it without a calculator might I add and passed and was given access to their website where I somehow failed some questionnaire on personality...

Just like I said this company does not mention anything on their website regarding the format of application.. but I will be interviewed by a Dr... so I assume questions will be asked and not just competency based mumbo jumbo. Right?


I would expect some form of technical interview.