Graduates and industrial placement application process

The application process

All applications are made via our website. Please make sure that you complete a ClearTalents assessment when you apply – it’s really easy to use. It’s just a few questions about you that will ensure we can accommodate any reasonable adjustments you may need during the assessment process.

Application hints & tips

We assess each candidate consistently against our requirements and CGI's core competencies. Please click on each section below to find out more about each stage of the process.

Application form

Our online application form is relatively short, as we prefer to get to know you personally. It checks you meet our minimum requirements, captures personal details so we can contact you, and gives you the opportunity to showcase your key skills, abilities and capabilities. A member of our Student Recruitment team here in the UK screens the application form against our business requirements and the competencies listed above.

Our top hints & tips are:

• Be honest – we’ll verify all results and statements of achievement during the process.
• Be inclusive – we’re interested in all your skills and experiences so don’t just write down the ones you think we’re interested in; we want to know everything about you!
• Be passionate – we want people who want to work for us, so use the application form to show why you’ve chosen CGI over one of our competitors.
• Spelling and Grammar - please check for mistakes in spelling and grammar before you submit your application. Although the online application doesn’t have a spell-check facility, you can type the details into a Microsoft Word document or similar and use the checking facilities available. Remember that it will not pick up words spelt correctly but used incorrectly so do please read your form through first. If you’ve spent some time working on the form have a break before proofreading, or perhaps ask a friend to read it so you get a fresh view.

Screening call

If your application meets what we are looking for then we will call you for a short telephone screening. The purpose of the screening call is really to expand upon the application form. Here we are mainly looking to see if your business unit preference and location preference is a match for our live role availability. We may also ask you some more questions about your application.

Our top hints & tips are:

• Try to make sure you don’t have distractions or noise around you. We don’t usually schedule our screening calls so don’t be afraid to ask if you can call back at another time, as we’d prefer you to be able to concentrate and ask any questions!

Assessment centre

You may be invited to an assessment centre after the screening call. The assessment centre comprises different exercises, normally a group exercise, written exercise and interview. Sometimes you may have your interview or have a second interview on a separate day.

The group exercise

• We run the group exercise because CGI values collaboration and cooperation, it helps us deliver the most competitive and innovative ideas to our clients.
• At the Assessment Centre, two to three interviewers will observe and assess skills against our competency matrix.
• Along with other candidates, you'll be asked to read some information and work as a group to come up with a solution to a problem.
• you don’t need to come perpared with any specific knowledge before hand.

The written exercise

• The written exercise is a timed, hand-written assessment designed to assess your written communication skills.
• You have 30 minutes to complete the exercise by answering one question using a report format and a structured argument based on a case study given to you.
• There are no right or wrong answers; we are looking at the way you present your work and the argument.
• Our biggest tip here would be to plan your exercise so that you finish the test within 30 minutes and to check spelling and grammar.

The interview

The interview is a two-way process. Whilst we want to get to know you, it’s also your opportunity to get to know us better too. Interviews work best when candidate and interviewer are equally enthusiastic about the role. We’re very enthusiastic about recruiting; new innovative minds are central to the future success of our business. So show us why you’re enthusiastic about working for us and being the brains behind the next big thing.

• The interview is conducted by a senior member of staff with a vested interest in student recruitment. Some may have come through the same recruitment process as you, and others will have experienced very similar processes. So you can guarantee at some point they were in your shoes and know exactly how you feel.
• It’s entirely normal to be nervous before an interview, but you can learn to control these nerves by practising for interviews and thinking about why you have chosen to apply to CGI and why a career in IT interests you.
• Many careers services offer mock interview sessions. Use these to practise answering competency-based questions. Our competencies are listed on our website. The technical element of the interview will cover any key skills that you’ve highlighted on your application form and explore your written exercise.

What do we look for?

We like it when you can show a clear drive to start a successful career within the IT sector and a clear passion for working for CGI. For our technical roles, as well as technical ability, equally important is your ability to listen and communicate. The success of our business depends on our ability to engage with our clients and get under the skin of their organisations. As well as an inquisitive mind, you’ll therefore need to be a strong relationship builder. You’ll need to be flexible, open to sharing ideas and truly collaborative in your approach.

Students applying for our technical opportunities will usually be studying towards a computer science or STEM related degree however we welcome people from all degree backgrounds as long as you have an interest in the industry. Students applying for our business opportunities will have studied any degree discipline.

Depending on which business unit you would like to join, we will consider students with a minimum 2:2. Some business units seek graduates with a minimum 2:1.

CGI graduate brochure

From the moment you join CGI as a graduate, you’ll be playing a vital role in the services we deliver to our clients.                                                                                                                                                               

Download the brochure