In this guide, we shall cover details on the GSK online tests and first round interview. Moreover, through this guide, you will be able to access practice tests, tips, coaching videos, insider information and many more.
Starting point resources
- Download and practice GSK online aptitude tests here.
Download our Ultimate Assessment Day & Interview Guide here. It includes top tips, insider secrets and tricks which would help you during your assessment event.
About this GSK assessment centre guide
The assessment centre of GSK is the last step of what GSK calls as a robust application process. Many would attest that, that is an understatement as recruitment process of GSK is tough and challenging. Aside from that, they also have graduate scheme which means the competition for a job role position is fierce.
Through this guide, you will be able to access tools which you would need for you to succeed. We shall provide you some basic information about GSK and their assessment centre.
About GSK
GSK also known as GlaxoSmithKline is one of the most popular and biggest pharmaceutical companies worldwide. They have products for diseases such as cancer, infections, asthma, mental health, digestive conditions and diabetes.
The company is huge and if you wish to learn more about them, click here.
Here is a short video which will tell you about GSK.
Working for GSK
This company has about 100,000 employees in over 115 countries. They offer significant number of opportunities for both career progression and diversity.
Here is a video which shows GSK employees and why they love to work for GSK.
Of course, you would need to pass their assessment centre before you will be able to join their organization.
Before your GSK assessment centre
Before your GSK assessment centre, you will need to complete their application form online through this link
Important!
Your application process will be determined by the position you are applying for and the grad scheme which you are applying for. Take note of this as it has an effect on the assessment exercises that will be provided to you.
With that said, in this guide, we shall cover all types of tasks administered at the GSK assessment centre. Take note not all of them are relevant to you and the role that you are applying for. Some of the exercises might not be administered to you.
Tip: It is not clear as what exercises will be given to you. Hence, we suggest that you reach out to their HR department and clarify this point. Do not feel that you are demanding or pushy when asking for this information as this would show them that you are preparing for the assessment centre.
GSK recruitment process
- Online aptitude/ability tests
- First round interview
- GSK Assessment Centre
For more information about their process, check their careers section on their site.
Online Aptitude/Ability Tests
Here are the tests that could be given to you:
GSK Values Fit Assessment
The GSK Values Fit Assessment is a personality test which identifies and determines if your personal values coincide with the values of the company. Check our guide on personality tests for more tips and practice tests.
- You will be provided with three statements about what you consider as important in the workplace.
- You will rank them in order of importance according to your preference.
Tip: set aside an hour to read GSK’s values and absorb them and prepare a list of examples where you have exhibited those values in your work life.
This will definitely be useful for your Values Fit assessment. However, once you have passed this stage, you will have to match your experience to their core competencies and your role.
Find out GSK’s culture and values by clicking here.
Numerical Reasoning Test
This is a bit different from the usual numerical reasoning test. It is a test that comes with difficulty level scale based on your performance. The questions could be either easier or difficult depending on how well you are doing. In this test you will be measure on your :
- Accuracy
- Speed
In this test, you will not have a specific number of questions but you will have to roughly answer as much as you could within 20 minutes. The time varies depending on the applicant. The software will stop the test as soon as it has a confirmed assessment.
The secret to passing GSK’s numerical reasoning test
The secret for you to pass is to practice as much as you could. This will not only increase your chances to succeed but also you will gain more confidence and help you remain calm during the test. This would also allow you to identify your weaknesses and work on them.
Must-see resources
- Practice GSK numerical reasoning test here.
- Numerical reasoning test of GSK is supplied by Kenexa. Click here for more practice.
- Visit our free Numerical Reasoning Mega Guide. It comes with ways to prepare for your assessment, tips and practice tests.
GSK Verbal Reasoning Test
This section of the test is similar to numerical reasoning test. It is also adaptive and could last about 20 minutes. In this test, you will be assessed and graded according to spelling, grammar and overall language skills.
In this test, you will be provided with a passage of text and you will choose if the statement is true, false or cannot be determined based on the passage provided.
There are also questions where you will have to supplement a missing word. You will be given four options to choose from.
Download our 12- step assessment day cheetsheet
Useful resources:
- Practice GSK verbal reasoning test here.
- Check our Verbal Reasoning Mega Guide. It includes tips, practice test and coaching videos.
GSK Logical Reasoning Test
Take note that depending on the role that you are applying for, you may or may not have to take this test.
The Logical Reasoning Test measures your ability to solve problems. In this test, you will be provided with patterns and sequences of shapes and objects and you will have to identify which from the choices would fit the missing shape/object.
Check our logical reasoning guide. It comes with practice tests, example questions and many more.
GSK quicktip
Visit GSK Graduate Facebook Page . It offers a lot of insider information which you would find very helpful.
GSK First Round Interview
Once you have passed all the tests, you will then be invited to first round interview. This could be either a phone or video or face to face interview. This will depend on the role you are applying for,
This is the first time you will get a real contact from GSK which means you will need to bring you’re a game. Again, remember how intense and fierce the competition is.
Expect for your interview to be competency based questions no matter if your interview is through phone, video or face to face.
Interview tips
One important tip is for you to be familiar with GSK’s core values and competencies of your role. These are one of the foundation of which you will be assessed on. We suggest that you contact the HR department and request for a copy of job description of your role. This will include the core competencies which what they are looking for.
Prepare and study this document as it will be one of the basis of your success. Reflect on the language and internalize it.
Also, prepare for questions such as:
- Why would you like to work at GSK?
- What would you like to know about GSK?
- What skills you would be able bring to GSK?
Tip: check GSK’s previously asked interview questions here
Check this video of a GSK employee providing tips for the GSK initial interview. Check some examples and advices here .
Whenever answering questions during the interview, consider the STAR framework:
- -Situation – background of the problem or challenge
- -Task- why is it considered as a huge problem
- -Action- what great thing did you do to solve the problem
- – Result- what was the result to the great thing you did
This framework will give a huge impact on the result of your interview. Practice them before your interview event.
GSK assessment centre
In this part of the recruitment process, it will take you about 1 to 2 days depending on the role you are applying for. The assessments that could be administered are the following:
- Group exercises
- Role Play
- Presentation
- Interview
Group Exercise
You will be assigned to a group which you will have to do two exercises with.
- The GSK ability test- in this exercise, your group will have to analyze a given situation and you will need to aim for a common goal of achieving a specific outcome.
- The Group Exercise- you will be given a traditional group exercise.
A must-do action point
Read our Group Exercise Success Guide. It includes tips and advices which will help you succeed in group exercises.
Group Exercise Preparation
You will be provided with materials 24 hours before your assessment activity. Study the information enclosed with the materials. Once your group has finished the activity, you will have to present your work to the assessors. Each candidate will have to talk for 5 minutes each.
How should I behave in a group exercise?
In this type of exercise, you will need to balance assertiveness and at the same time being a team player. You will have to show your leadership skills as well. Remember do not be aggressive as they might see you as bullying other candidates.
Check our Group exercise success guide for more tips.
Here is a useful video which shows how you should behave in a group exercise.
GSK Assessment Centre Role-Play
This section of the assessment centre is pretty standard. Check our role-play success guide to get a lot of advices, tips and many more. Here are some GSK specific tip/s:
- When you do role-playing, remember to incorporate the GSK values and core competencies. Ensure that they are shown in your role-play.
- Practice is the key for you to be confident in this part of the assessment.
Presentation
In this part of your assessment, you will be marked according to your content, delivery, communication skills and impact of your message. Presenting could be scary but it is also an avenue to present and show your skills. Read our Assessment Centre Presentation Guide and learn more how to ace this exercise.
Check the video below for great advice on how to manage your nerves.
GSK Assessment Centre Interview
This interview is a behavioral interview which means it is conducted to access your previous experience/s and your reaction to those past experiences.
Tip: ensure when you answer incorporate the GSK values and your role’s key competencies.
This interview will provide the interviewer a chance to get to know you more. Also, this is where you could show everything that you have prepared for. For more tips and advices, check our interview success guide.
GSK also has provided some tips to pass their interview activities. Check them out here .
Another must read guide: How to prepare for an assessment centre. In this section, you will find popular guides, tips and advices which will give you higher chance of succeeding your assessment centres.
Go through your CV!
You will have to know your CV inside-out. You will be asked in detail regarding about what is in your CV, what were your previous roles and why you left your previous jobs.
Update your CV before your Interview
One of the biggest mistakes when going to your interview is not improving your CV. Here’s why:
- Update your CV before the interview event and take with you a fresh, newly and improved version. One that is tailored to the job or role you would want.
- In interviews, one of the basis of your interview will come from the information on your CV. No matter the interview is competency based or no. You will have to answer the questions based on your CV.
- Your CV is one of the basis in the hiring decision process. It is your CV that they look at when they decide whether to hire you or not.
The CV is the one that reminds the hiring manager of what your skills and experiences are and what happened during your hiring process. Aside from that, your CV is also your first and last impression. With this, we remind you to make your CV as strong as you could.
Learn about GSK’s history and your role
This is very important. You will be asked why you would want to join their organization and with this, we suggest that you spend an hour or two to learn the history of the company for you to have a knowledge on the company’s background.
Review GSK’s annual report
Spend at least 1 hour going through the latest annual report.
- How’s the company’s performance? Turnover? Net profit?
- Which areas are they growing and which areas are shrinking?
- Is the market up or down?
- How are GSK’s competitors’ performance?
- What are GSK’s aims? What are they looking to achieve in the next 5 to 10 years?
The common mistake of most candidates is they do not see the big picture. If you are going to apply at GSK, ensure that you make a good impression and show them that you have a huge grasp of the big picture.
Prepare questions for your interviewer
Now that you are at the end of your assessment event, you will have the chance to ask questions to your interviewer. Though it is tempting not to ask questions after a long day, we highly encourage you to ask three to four questions. This will show your interviewer that you are really interested in joining their organization.
Final Tip
Remember to practice your GSK online tests before your assessment centre.
Good Luck!
We hope we were able to help you increase your chances in succeeding in your GSK assessment centre through this guide. Remember practice is the key!