GES student placement

1

Applications for the Government Economic Service closed last Wednesday. Has anyone applied for this? Has anyone heard from them? Has anyone interned in the public sector before? Experience of interviews?

It'll be nice to talk about something other than IB internships. :s-smilie:

Anyone?

Reply 1

dpali

OP

1

That's pathetic. I would have thought people would be slightly more enthusiastic in the public service.

Reply 2

OneTwoSix

Hi dpali!

I did a placement year with the GES (HM Treasury) last academic year.

I absolutely loved my time there. I worked in a totally economics based post in one of the main teams in the treasury. The people are really nice and friendly and the whole working atmosphere is great. You get to be involved with really central issues and working towards the budget and pre budget were great experiences.

As for the interview, I did a short paper based numerical test before it, which was mainly percentage change, charts and indices.

For the actual interview, there were two people interviewing me (made me feel relaxed right away). They asked some competency questions - i.e. teamwork etc (they were mainly based on things mentioned in my application). They also asked some motivation questions such as why I wanted to work for them and why I'd fit in there. Finally, they asked a lot of economics based questions - externalities/ automatic stabilisers / interest rates. Try and also be up to date on current economic issues (interest rate decisions.... possibly the budget report if your interview is then).

I hope this helps a little!

Good luck with your application!

Reply 3

dpali

OP

1

OneTwoSix

Hi dpali!

I did a placement year with the GES (HM Treasury) last academic year.

I absolutely loved my time there. I worked in a totally economics based post in one of the main teams in the treasury. The people are really nice and friendly and the whole working atmosphere is great. You get to be involved with really central issues and working towards the budget and pre budget were great experiences.

As for the interview, I did a short paper based numerical test before it, which was mainly percentage change, charts and indices.

For the actual interview, there were two people interviewing me (made me feel relaxed right away). They asked some competency questions - i.e. teamwork etc (they were mainly based on things mentioned in my application). They also asked some motivation questions such as why I wanted to work for them and why I'd fit in there. Finally, they asked a lot of economics based questions - externalities/ automatic stabilisers / interest rates. Try and also be up to date on current economic issues (interest rate decisions.... possibly the budget report if your interview is then).

I hope this helps a little!

Good luck with your application!

Cool! Thanks a lot. I really want to work for them...I've put down a first preference for Ministry of Defense. It sounds interesting. Don't think I'm allowed to work in Treasury because I'm an international student.

I was just wondering when I can expect to hear from them, if at all. I applied on the deadline on the 14th last week. Interviews are supposed to start in March.

Also, how many applicants get a student placement? Is GES like all the IBs in terms of the number of applicants rejected every year?

Thanksx

Reply 4

OneTwoSix

dpali

Cool! Thanks a lot. I really want to work for them...I've put down a first preference for Ministry of Defense. It sounds interesting. Don't think I'm allowed to work in Treasury because I'm an international student.

I was just wondering when I can expect to hear from them, if at all. I applied on the deadline on the 14th last week. Interviews are supposed to start in March.

Also, how many applicants get a student placement? Is GES like all the IBs in terms of the number of applicants rejected every year?

Thanksx

The deadlines and applicaitions system is a lot different to now and when I applied. I applied directly to the Treasury in Novemeber, had an interview in December and got told just before Christmas I have the job.

For the Treasury alone, I know there were around 200 applicants, 50 of which got interviewed and there were around 20 places.

I'm not sure about MoD to be honest, but other less economic based government departments have less economists. Like a friend of mine worked at the Home Office and was the only student there. Another friend worked in DTI and that had a few students too.

If you're really curious about the numbers or when you should know by, just contact the HR for the GES and I'm sure they'd be more than happy to tell you.

Reply 5

CRS

Hi,

I have an interview for the GES student placement at the end of the month and I was just wondering about the paper based test. Does anyone know if it is like the standard numerical reasoning tests provided by shl and efinancial i.e. similar style (data interpretations etc)?

Any info would be much appreciated!
Many Thanks.

Reply 6

hazelground

CRS

Hi,

I have an interview for the GES student placement at the end of the month and I was just wondering about the paper based test. Does anyone know if it is like the standard numerical reasoning tests provided by shl and efinancial i.e. similar style (data interpretations etc)?

Any info would be much appreciated!
Many Thanks.

Hi CRS,
How was your interview with the GES?

Did you need to go through psychometric tests?
Was it both verbal and numerical?
Any tips for interview preparation?

I have just been invited for an interview, for a summer internship...
and I am totally clueless about what to expect...

any suggestions would be absolutely fantastic!

Thanks a lot!

Reply 7

punkrockisfreedom

8

hazelground

Hi CRS,
How was your interview with the GES?

Did you need to go through psychometric tests?
Was it both verbal and numerical?
Any tips for interview preparation?

I have just been invited for an interview, for a summer internship...
and I am totally clueless about what to expect...

any suggestions would be absolutely fantastic!

Thanks a lot!

Hmm your experience sounds quite different to mine. I have an interview in three weeks, but haven't been told about any tests :-s

then again i am applying for the department of work and pensions in sheffield...

Reply 8

hazelground

well, tests are highly likely on the day...at least the numerical, but it may vary according to the dept...

I am still waiting to be allocated an interview date :frown:

(

Reply 9

bobindra

does anyone have any info about what the interview will entail? do the summer placement intrviews have tests, presentations too? i was only told it would be an economics based interview...

Reply 10

hazelground

perhaps it depends on the department you applied for....

Reply 11

jonesy88

anyone had an interview yet?

Reply 12

MandaJR86

the GES interviews for this year finished a while ago.. I'm currently a placement student with the GES (Treasury) if you have any questions let me know.

also the interview is a small numeracy test and a chat with a couple of economists to test your understanding of economics :smile:

Reply 13

WelshMe

I recevied a phonecall yesterday for me to arrange an interview within the Competition Commission, but unfortunately had to reject, so for those who haven't yet heard anyhting, perhaps end of this week?

Reply 14

bobindra

anyone had an interview/offer for the summer programme yet?

Reply 15

hazelground

MandaJR86

the GES interviews for this year finished a while ago.. I'm currently a placement student with the GES (Treasury) if you have any questions let me know.

also the interview is a small numeracy test and a chat with a couple of economists to test your understanding of economics :smile:

Congrats on your placement...Would be great if you could share your interview experience, what questions are normally asked, anything unexpected...any tips for the rest of us? :smile:

Thank you!

Reply 16

MandaJR86

well they will test your knowledge of economics so brush up on the basics such as indicators of the economy and so on.
The numeracy test was quite easy in my opinion but it does take some time to complete so practice before hand is always useful! but don't worry if you aren't that good at numbers, there are placements which don't use as much.
They may ask you about your strengths and weaknesses so pick 2 or 3 strengths and a couple of weaknesses and be prepared to talk about how you would overcome your weaknesses.
Thats all i can think of now, if i think of anything else i'll post again..

Reply 17

bobindra

anyone had any offers?

Reply 18

Nish13

Anyone know how to prepare on an interview for the GES summer student scheme for the HM Treasury Department? I've been told I've passed the sift stage and that I will be contacted soon regarding the possibility of an interview? Any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks!!

Reply 19

Nish13

MandaJR86

the GES interviews for this year finished a while ago.. I'm currently a placement student with the GES (Treasury) if you have any questions let me know.

also the interview is a small numeracy test and a chat with a couple of economists to test your understanding of economics :smile:

Hi, I was wondering if you had any tips about how to prepare for an interview with the Treasury department (for the summer student scheme)? I've recently been told that I passed the sift stage after sending my application, and that I will be contacted about a possible interview soon. Any help will be much appreciated!

GES student placement

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