National Grid Assessment Tests

Careers at National Grid

Competition for job roles is high at National Grid, but the benefits are numerous. National Grid offers exemplary industry training and development, including access to its world-class training centre for apprentices and graduates.

There are many opportunities across the board, both for employees who are starting on their career journey and those with more experience.

National Grid is also dedicated to helping the UK reach net zero by 2050. This represents an ambitious and exciting goal, meaning that employees will also have a hand in helping to form a greener, more eco-friendly society.

Due to the fast-changing nature of technology and our society, National Grid’s employees are at the forefront of innovation. As such, recruitment for National Grid focuses on finding highly motivated, determined and talented individuals.

When applying to a job role at National Grid, you will need to be up for the challenge of a structured and thorough application process. If you are successful with your online application, ability tests, and phone interview, you will be required to attend a final all-day assessment centre that will take place either virtually or in-person.

National Grid online application

The online application shouldn’t take you more than an hour or so to complete. It is there to provide a record of some of your personal and contact details, and to initially check that you meet the minimum requirements for the role that you are applying for.

It’s important that you check the application thoroughly before submitting, since it may not be processed if any of the details you provide are incorrect or inaccurate.

National Grid Ability Tests

If your application passes muster, you will be invited to the next stage of the recruitment process. This consists of two ability-based tests: typically a verbal reasoning test and an abstract reasoning test.

The tests will vary slightly, depending on the role you have applied for. They should take between 45 to 60 minutes to complete.

For some roles, National Grid uses game-based assessments, which will examine your cognitive ability, situational strengths and personality traits.

National Grid uses SHL tests. These assessments are all timed, so it is of vital importance that you practice them beforehand to get used to the timed conditions.

National Grid phone/video interview

Once you have passed the ability tests, you will be required to speak with an interviewer on the phone or computer for 30 minutes, to answer around three questions. These questions will be mainly based around your competencies in problem-solving, decision-making and communication.

Once you have your interview scheduled, it’s a good idea to practice your answers. Your interviewer will be expecting real examples – from the workplace, or volunteering, or perhaps as part of a club/society. It’s easiest when preparing for these types of questions to go with the STAR technique commonly used for interviews (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

You should also expect a question to test your knowledge of the industry. You’ll be asked a few follow-up questions too, so that you can have the opportunity to demonstrate how well you have understood the initial question, and to further elaborate on your answer.

Remember, the interview is there for you to showcase your enthusiasm and talent.

National Grid assessment centre

When you have successfully completed all other parts of the application process, you will be invited to an assessment centre, or required to be available for a virtual session.

Within this final stage of the process, you could be asked to complete some or all of the following exercises: an interview, a group exercise, a presentation task, retaking of online tests, and a technical test for the role (if applicable).

The interview will be a more detailed version of the one you had previously. It should last between 45 minutes to an hour. As before, you will be required to demonstrate key competencies required for the role, with evidence-based examples.

The group exercise is a great way to show your ability to work as a member of a team. It will be a problem-solving assignment, based on a fictional business scenario, and you will be working with other candidates. During the given time period, all candidates will be observed by National Grid business representatives. Afterwards, you will be expected to report your findings back.

The individual presentation centres on a case study that you will be given 90 minutes beforehand. Your presentation relating to this should last around 10 minutes, and will be an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to comprehend the information, as well as how confidently and clearly you can express yourself.

The technical tests (if applicable) will focus on a Manual Dexterity Test, and a Working at Heights Test.

As the name suggests, the Working at Heights Test exists to make sure that you are comfortable working at a height. You will be with a qualified climbing instructor throughout and will get full verbal instructions before your test.

The Manual Dexterity Test will test your ability to disassemble and rebuild a bus bar termination as accurately as possible. You will also get full verbal instructions.