I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at BASF (Cheadle, North West England, England) in Feb 2019
Interview
The application process was smooth and worked well.
Application sent > Online skills tests > Phone screening > Onsite interview > Offer
The online tests consisted of 5 different sections assessing different areas; two personality tests, and verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning tests. The tests weren't particularly difficult and most weren't timed, although a couple were. The whole thing was very long though, with the email recommending 90 minutes. With breaks between sections, it would be longer.
Next stage was a brief phone call with a recruitment agent in Berlin, with a couple of simple questions. Why do you want to work for BASF, why would you fit the role etc.
After passing the phone screening, I was invited to an onsite panel interview at their offices outside Manchester. Interview was friendly and professional, with competency based questions and a chance to expand on what experience and education you've had in the past. There was also a detailed explanation of what the role entailed and the chance to ask any questions.
Overall, it was a positive experience and surprisingly quick compared to most placement year applications I went through. I applied during the holiday off season so it probably took longer than it otherwise would have.
Interview questions [3]
Question 1
Could you tell us about a time when you had to manage multiple deadlines?