Hints & tips

First, ask yourself:

• Which apprenticeship is for me?
• Is it available in my location?
• Why do I want to work for BT?
• What can I bring to BT?

You'll need to have a good answer for each. Remember, it's not just about convincing us, it's about making sure BT is the right place for you. To find out more about BT and what we stand for it’s a good idea to check out the page Life at BT.

Some handy tips for you to consider when completing the online form:

• Gather all the information you need: Before you start put together all the information you may need e.g. details of your academic qualifications.
• Take your time: Chose a time when you’re free to sit down and really focus on your application. Give yourself plenty of time to fill it in.
• Be thorough: Before you submit your form review your application to see if you could add anything to support it.
• Ask for an honest review: Before hitting the submit button ask someone you trust to read through your application and to give you their honest feedback.

The first step in our process is the Online Factors test, which is designed to find out about your personal working style and behaviour. Don’t worry, it’s simpler than it sounds! You’ll be shown a series of short statements then you’ll be asked to state how much you agree or disagree with them.

There’s no time limit – and you can take as long as you like. But once you’ve started you must finish it in the same session. To ensure you get the best result possible we suggest the following approach:

• Tell us if you need any help: We’re committed to ensuring that everyone can perform at their best. If you have any concerns about taking our assessments or need any adjustments, please email our team on bt.apprentices@bt.com within three days of receiving your assessment invite. They’ll be happy to talk through any needs you may have.
• Answer each question honestly: Don’t think of answers based on what you think other people would do, or what you think somebody else might expect. It’s your personal answers we’re interested in.
• Connect your answer to the role you’re applying for: When answering the questions it will help you to think about how the challenges described relate to the apprenticeship you’re applying for. For example, if you’ve applied to one of our Engineering programmes we’ll present some challenges that might appear while you’re visiting a customers’ premises. Or, if you’ve applied for one of our Customer Service programmes we’ll present some challenges that may come up while you’re speaking to a customer.

When you’re ready to start make sure you’re in a quiet room with a stable internet connection – and off you go. Good luck! 

The video interview will allow us to see your personality, drive and motivation in action. This will help us work out whether you’re a good fit for your preferred BT apprenticeship. During the interview you’ll be asked specific questions relating to your chosen apprenticeship programme.

Here are our top tips to help you get ready:

• Prepare your device: You can use your PC, laptop or mobile for the interview. Make sure whichever device you choose is fully charged.
• Practice makes perfect: You can log in and complete practice interviews to familiarise yourself with the video interview system. Only you can see these videos so it’s the perfect opportunity to prepare yourself and build your confidence.
• Be aware of your background and environment: Ensure you’re in a clean and tidy area where you won’t be disturbed.
• Dress to impress: Remember, even though you’re not in a face-to-face interview your video interview will be reviewed so it’s important to dress appropriately.

The assessment centre is where we get to see you in action. Before you attend it’s worth thinking through the following points: 

• Be yourself: Don't just say what you think we want to hear.
• Be informed: Make sure you know as much as possible about BT. Read our website in detail, as well as any materials we’ve sent to you.
• Think about what you can offer: Be clear about your own strengths and weaknesses and what you can bring to BT.
• Get involved: We'll be looking at how well you work with other people so it’s good to have a few examples from your background in mind.
• Qualifications: You’ll also need to bring any relevant qualification certificates you weren’t able to add to your application form. This is really important –if your interview is successful we won’t be able to make you a job offer until we’ve seen evidence of your qualifications.