Application Form
Do's
- Do complete our self selection tool to make sure your skills are a good fit for Cadbury. It will also get you thinking about relevant examples of your achievements and experiences.
- Do take time to draft your answers, save a copy and then paste what you have written into our application form.
- Do make sure you answer all parts of the question.
- Do give specific examples and evidence in your answers.
- Do ask a friend to proof read your form before you submit it.
- Do read our descriptions below of what we believe Judgment, Drive and Influence to be, because we will be assessing you on your ability in these three areas.
Judgment
Adopting a sharp and rigorous approach to problems. Effectively spotting issues early, in a manner that allows new opportunities and problems to be identified ahead of time, and new perspectives framed
Drive
Setting and pursuing goals without the guidance and influence of others. The desire to have a broad impact, to question and challenge the status quo, and have the self assurance that enables goals to be achieved. Those with high drive will want to 'leave a mark' rather than just achieve results.
Influence
Awareness of your own strengths and development areas and the ability to use this self-insight to manage your own behaviour. Seeking feedback and acting on it. Being confident and clear in your views, and expressing them openly with others. Taking a stance which you are prepared to defend if challenged.
Don'ts
- Don't cut and paste your answers from other application forms, as the questions are unlikely to be identical from one form to another.
- Don't use your participation in just one activity to answer all 3 questions. At least one of your answers should mention something else that you have been involved in.
- Don't make us believe your computer doesn't have spell check! Whilst we may not reject a strong application form purely on the basis of spelling mistakes, do double check your application for obvious errors because presentation is important in a business environment.
On-line numerical and verbal reasoning tests
These are timed, multiple choice tests, designed to measure your numerical and verbal ability.
Preparing for Numerical reasoning tests:
If you have not looked at numbers since GCSEs, it will be worth brushing up on your numerical skills. Playing with mathematical teasers and diagrammatic puzzles may help you feel more confident with numbers. There are also a variety of books available about how to pass psychometric numeracy tests. These will provide you with some helpful revision advice and practice questions. (Please note that we cannot guarantee the level of similarity between test questions in any published material and the questions you will be given in on-line tests as part of the Cadbury graduate recruitment process.)
Preparing for Verbal reasoning tests:
These are more difficult to brush up on quickly but reading newspapers, manuals, technical reports or academic business journals may help. Practise extracting and summarising the main points from passages of information.
Please note, your careers service may be able to provide you with additional practice materials, resources and websites that contain useful advice and practice questions.
Interviews and Assessment Centres
Do's
- Do prepare by researching Cadbury, and the function for which you are applying. (Industry magazines and our website are good sources of information)
- Do save your application form and read it through before your interview. It is likely that you will be asked questions based on what you have written on your form.
- Do prepare at least two examples of where you have displayed good judgment, drive and influence (6 in total).
Listen and take care to answer questions carefully
- Speak in the first person (say 'I' not 'we'), your interviewer will want to know what you did more than what the team as a whole achieved.
- When you're asked interview questions you might find it useful to use the Situation, Objective, Action, Result (SOAR) model. Explain what situation you were in, what objective you were trying to achieve, what action you took to achieve your objective and what the result was.
- If your interview travel expenses are estimated to be more than £250 if applying to the grad scheme or £100 if applying for an industrial placement, do check in with the graduate team before you book your ticket!
Don'ts
- Be economical with the truth. (i.e. don't lie) as a good interviewer will probe you for details and will be able to pick up inconsistencies with your previous answers.
- Badmouth your current colleagues, company or boss. Instead use your interactions with difficult colleagues as examples of when you have had to influence people in a challenging environment.
Assessment Centre
- Your assessment centre will be split over two days and we will pay for you to stay overnight in a hotel. In the evening there will be an opportunity to have dinner with current graduates and employees. This is an opportunity for you to ask any remaining questions you may have about the company or the scheme. Remember, there are no tricks in our assessment tasks, we are simply looking to assess whether you are a good fit for Cadbury.
- Your assessment will involve various activities, including group and individual exercises, a presentation and business case study. Although you will not be able to do any specific preparation for this, it may be worth going through the interview preparation outlined above and having a search on the internet and in business pages for information on Cadbury and the current business issues facing the FMCG market. This may provide useful background information for you.
- The most important thing is to try and relax and be yourself and remember that this is your chance to decide if Cadbury is right for you as well as an opportunity for us to decide if you are right for us.
Good Luck!