Application Process & Interviews at Arup Australia

I was already an intern (and did not go through a hiring process to get that role) so did not have to go through the formal hiring process so cannot comment.

The recruitment process was rigorous. The interview was somewhat casual

Online form, CV and cover letter, Academic transcript > Assessment activities (online) > In-person interview

It was fantastic, there was no stupid online recorded interview, just a simple application online followed by an aptitude test and then after passing these I was advanced to the interview stage.

I applied as an intern. Completed a casual interview and a formal interview. After I completed my internship, there was a casual interview to establish the company's future and my future. I entered into a casual contract. I was offered a graduate role after I demonstrated I fulfilled my tasks during the casual contract period.

The process contains several steps including CV and cover letter, recorded video answers, interview and job offer. This was all rather standards when compared to the many other companies I have applied to in the past. I cannot remember if I had to provide my GPA. From the perspective of someone working at the company I see that our recruitment is very rigid and limits our ability to offer unique work experience for students that do not want to/cannot participate in a 12-week summer internship or start a grad program in February.

Standard process, easy to navigate and do all the required assessments. The interview was very straightforward and comfortable.

Automated process, some psychometric assessment and reading tasks, was quite stringent and did not leave me with confidence that I would make it through to the role. After succeeding the automated process, my application was reviewed and I was asked to come in for an interview.   Recruitment team (HR side) does not do well for advertising roles or making us marketable compared to our competitors.

Was fairly straightforward and everyone was helpful

I was interviewed for my internship position - the process was quite straightforward. There was an initial application (incl. written responses to questions with resume attached), followed by a situational judgement test (one section on solving puzzles and numerical / verbal reasoning and another on personality). I was then invited to an interview with 2 members from the team I was interviewing for. Following this interview was the offer. The transition to a graduate involved signing a provisional offer and then upon completion of university officially being taken on board as a graduate. There was also the opportunity to work for a few days a week during the year leading up to the graduate program starting.

There was a pre-interview personality test with questions around how you work best as well as logic games. the interview was the most relaxed interview I've ever been in, felt very comfortable and more like we were just having a chat than some kind of assessment.

I don't remember the psychometric test very well, it stand out from other graduate jobs I applied for. I liked how my interview was with the leaders of the teams I'd be working for rather than HR.

The process started with an online application, followed by an online psychometric test. From here shortlisted interview candidates were invited to a meet and greet in the office, which was great to meet staff and other candidates, and helped to break the ice and provide a bit of familiarity when it came to the in person interview the week after.

I reached out privately to the then Team Leader, so he was aware that I was interested in working in the Facades team. I did not go through the formal application process (although I have heard it is quite tough!). Fortunately the Team Leader reached out to me directly and I had an interview with himself and another senior member of the team.

Application, psychometric test, interview

Too slow and long

The Arup as of 2021 consisted of 1 round of online assessments and 1 round of interviews. The company also provided a networking night for all non summer vacation students who were invited for an interview. This networking night is aimed to reduce the worry and stress some undergraduates may have before their interviews while also meeting the interviewers. A friendly less formal interview is a hallmark of an Arup interview.

I was hired as a vacation student (intern) in November 2020. I believe the process is a bit more streamlined now. - Completed online form (no requirement for a cover letter, only CV) - Submitted transcript - Personality and aptitude test - Interview with line manager - Offer received

1. Online application 2. Online assessments - outcomes are used by hiring managers to determine what questions to ask you 3. Interview 4. Phone call with verbal offer 5. Contract I also attended a graduate information session between step 2 and 3 but they don't really do this anymore unfortunately.

Cannot recall.

I was asked questions that reflected the nature of my attitude, it mattered to the team that I had a positive attitude and interest in learning.

The majority of my interview was about my past work experience and extra curriculars that developed my soft skills. There was no technical questioning for my position.

A few questions about myself, my experience and my previous roles and education as well as a few behavioral questions.

Very good questions to understand who I am in a work/social sense, how I communicate, dealt with challenges regarding teamwork in the past, and questions regarding the content of my work. Great questions around my desires for work, what are my drivers and what would make me feel successful / proud of the work I was doing, to see if I aligned with the team's goals.

I can't remember exactly, but they asked me to introduce myself and also brought up my responses from my questions in the application and I elaborated on them as well.

I asked a question to my interviewers about why they had stayed working for this company (as most of them has been there for 10+ years).

There were a couple of situational questions, but mostly it was asking about uni, interested subjects, honours project and why I would like to work for Arup. There was also a bending moment question to assess my problem-solving process.

Favourite facade, interests outside of study/career, certain experiences through university, past experience in the built environment, travel.

The classic 'tell us about yourself' is usually one of the first questions asked in my experience. Other questions asked were behavioural questions - e.g. 'Tell us about a time when you...' or 'How do you approach...'. These focused on areas such as teamwork, ensuring quality of work, organisational skills and overcoming setbacks.

What is consultancy to you? Why geotechnical engineering? How did you find studying while working a part time job?

Introduce yourself - Why do you want to work here? - What was a challenge in your studies and how did you overcome it? - Where do you see yourself in 5 years? - What is a challenge you might face moving from uni to the workplace?

- Be yourself. Study the projects you've done at Uni, pay particular attention to the methodology you've used for problem-solving and the outcomes.

Research the company and what they do (locally and globally) Research the company and their values

Our company has a Key Speech written by the founder, Ove Arup, give it a read and see if you like the content of it. Arup is a moral company that hires quality candidates with a good attitude. Show your personality and present a good attitude in your interview.

I think candidates should look up the projects and values of the company and if possible, network with current employees before applying.

Be true to yourself. While it's common to get ahead of ourselves in the pursuit of a job, it's important to consider if you genuinely want that position. Does it align with your values and long-term goals? Would you enjoy working in that role and at that company? If the answer is yes, it shouldn't be difficult to secure the job. Be proactive and demonstrate your enthusiasm for joining the firm. Clearly explain why you are passionate about the role and how you can contribute to the company's success. Do your research on the company culture and values to ensure they resonate with you. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate. Be prepared to discuss how you can address the company's needs and challenges. Finally, stay confident and authentic during the interview process, as authenticity can leave a lasting positive impression on potential employers.

Go to networking events and get contact information to give you the best chance of being filtered through, potentially avoiding the psychometric testing, and being shortlisted for an interview.

Research the company and what makes it stand out. For example, Arup has a big internal research focus and they also publish white papers on different topics. If you find something interesting from the area you are interviewing for, have a read and bring it up during your interview. Another thing to research for Arup are the values and the key speech which are both key components of the company in defining the culture of the organisation. In general for any interview, having some questions that you want to ask the interviewer is also a great way to find out more about the company and sending a thank you email after the interview is good courtesy.

Read up about the company and talk about where your values align with ARUP's in your application. For grads they're really looking for a cultural fit more than someone with the best technical proficiency.

Be your honest self. Reach out to people you would like to work with on LinkedIn etc. Have an idea about the kind of work or areas you are interested in but be open to working in other areas.

Know why you want to work for that particular company, and prepare/practise stories that demonstrate your best qualities and how you handle situations.

Research online about the type of questions your team may ask you and prepare answers for these, and do lots of research related to your discipline so you have examples in your back pocket (e.g. favourite structural design, Arup buildings etc.).

Read about Arup's history, values and projects on our website. Try to identify the value(s) you align most strongly with and make sure to highlight this in your application where possible. Presenting as a well rounded candidate through participation in university activities and clubs, extracurricular (sport, music etc.), part-time or casual work, and/or internships in a relevant area helps you stand out. Solid academic performance is also good, but the highest grades aren't necessarily required. A well rounded candidate who demonstrates strong alignment with Arup's values, and a diversity of experiences would likely stand a good chance of receiving an interview offer.

Just be yourself, prepared answers are noticeable and get in the way of highlighting what you can truly offer by being yourself. Sit down and try to explain to yourself why you believe a consultancy environment is best for you? and why are you passionate about the particular team/sector of work you are applying for?

I would recommend junior candidates to not stress too much over memorising behavioural questions and typical interview questions. Generally the managers at Arup are looking to see if you will be a fit in the team culture and want to get to know you as a person. Be authentic rather than memorising the "ideal" answer.

Research the company, have structure to your answers - particularly behavioural questions