Energy and Natural Resources Assessment Tests, Application, Hiring Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024

What Are Energy Companies?

If you want to work for an industry that will always be expanding and changing, working in energy and natural resources is what you are looking for. As technological strides are made, these industries will continue to change and adapt, creating new opportunities for employment. From those that do the physical labour to the engineers who design equipment, geologists, nuclear specialists, and project managers who determine the scope of work, there are opportunities at every level. Internships are available for undergraduates who are interested in possibly working in the industry, and there are several graduate scheme opportunities. Fields you may consider looking into if you are interested in a career in the energy and natural resources industry include:

• Petroleum and oil
• Renewable energy
• Electricity
• Wind and solar power
• Alternative fuels
• Nuclear power

 

What Is the Hiring Process in Energy Companies?

Application

Energy and natural resource companies advertise their positions online. They all have extensive websites that describe the scope of their work, and the various departments they have career opportunities in. There may be some occasions where they set up recruiting booths on university campuses to search for interns or graduate students to fill entry-level positions. When applying online, you will need to create an online profile. This allows you to save your CV or resume to apply for multiple positions and gives you the ability to track your application. Most sites allow you to search by department, job, or location. Job descriptions include the experience the company wants to see in a candidate, and the required education level since many jobs in this industry require specialized degrees. After applying most companies will have an email that is automatically generated to notify you that your application has been received.

 

Energy Companies Psychometric Tests

The energy and natural resources industry is a field that is in demand with job-seekers. Therefore, they receive many applicants. To assist in the short-listing process and aid in finding the most qualified people for the job, applicants will be asked to take a series of online assessment tests. These tests will be offered either at the time of application, or you will be sent a link shortly after your application is received. Due to the wide variety of positions and the specialized skills they may require, the specific content of the online assessment test will vary, but in general, the tests that job seekers can expect include:

• Personality Questionnaire – Many corporations have test developers work with them to develop personality profiles for each position. Personality assessment tests are given to job candidates to help determine their dominant personality traits, ethics, and work style. This will be compared with the profile that has been developed for that job to see how well it compares. Personality tests are multiple-choice.
• Situational Judgment Tests – SJT tests are used to help determine your work style. Test takers are asked questions relating to the job they would be performing and must rate their responses based on the way they would be most likely to behave. This will help develop a profile of your work style so the hiring team can see how well you would fit into the company.
• Numerical Reasoning Test – Being able to work well with numbers and interpret numerical data sets is an extremely important part of many jobs in the energy field. To ascertain if you have the necessary skills, numerical reasoning tests are given. These will test your ability to read graphs and tables and draw the appropriate conclusions. These tests are usually timed.
• Logical Reasoning Test – The ability to problem solve and think on your feet is a necessary skill, to demonstrate you possess these abilities, you will be given this multiple-choice test. You will need to solve sequences and finish patterns, in a set amount of time.
• Mechanical Aptitude Test – This will measure your knowledge of mechanics and test your ability to apply them to real-world situations. This test is frequently given to those working on oil rigs, and other positions that require extensive mechanical ability.

 

Interview

Job-seekers who match the desired profile, and who score well on the assessment tests will be contacted for an interview. The first step in the interview process of many energy companies is a telephone screening or virtual interview. The phone screening usually lasts about 20 minutes and will cover your educational background, clear up any questions about your related experience. This will also give you a chance to ask any questions you have about the position and the company. For a virtual interview, you will be sent a link to a set of pre-recorded questions. You will have a window to complete the interview before the link expires. If you impress the hiring team during the screening interviews you will be called in for an in-person interview. These interviews are generally behavioural-based. The interviewer will try to get a sense of how you can handle the pressure of the job, and if you are able to accept responsibility for your actions. Interviewers will typically ask questions using the STAR method. This is short for situation, task, action, result. Using this method, interviewers will ask you to describe a situation from a past job, what you were expected to do, how you completed the task, and the end result. They may follow up with a question about what you would do differently, and what you learned from the experience. This interview method gives the job-seeker the ability to turn even negative experiences into positive ones, by exhibiting how they experienced growth. If your first interview was a virtual screening, instead of a phone interview, now is the time to ask any questions. Questions show that you are interested in the company and have done your research, and also helps establish a dialogue with the hiring manager. This will help your interview stand out when the time comes for them to make the final decision on whom to hire.

 

Natural Resources Companies Assessment Centre

Assessment centre are frequently held for those looking for graduate scheme positions, and those who have applied for executive roles. Assessment centres give the hiring team the ability to watch you perform in a job-like setting to determine if you really do have what it takes to work for their company. Assessment centres consist of group exercises, and there is a chance you may be required to retake the assessment tests to see if your scores stay consistent. Exercises that are typically performed at assessment centres are:

• Group presentations – Job candidates will be placed into groups and given informational packets. After going over the information groups will need to put together a presentation. The equipment you will need to put together a professional presentation will be provided.
• Group Role-Play – Each group will be asked to role-play the positions they have applied for, after being given a brief to discuss. Management will be watching to see how well each person works in a team environment, how well candidates are able to express their opinions and come up with ideas, and who is able to both listen and contribute.
• Interviews – If you are asked to attend an assessment centre, this may also be your final interview. Since there will be multiple members of management present, you may be given a panel interview, with each manager asking questions in turn.

 

How to Prepare for Energy Companies Tests?

The online assessment tests will establish if you are able to continue in the hiring process. Since these tests are of such importance you will want to take time to prepare yourself to ensure your success. Study the company and the job requirements so you are familiar with the skills you need and the company culture. These will play into the types of questions you can expect to see on the tests. Practice any hard skills you feel you may need to refresh your memory on. Logical reasoning skills can be strengthened through using logic puzzles, and sudoku. There are online aids to assist with mathematical and mechanical skills. Practice and study will make you feel more confident and help any test anxiety you may have. Personality tests may seem impossible to prepare for. You want to be truthful, but you also want to tailor your answers to what you know the company is looking for. Think about the job requirements, and the type of person who would best fill that role, think about how you would behave on the job, and pick your best answer.

When taking the tests, give yourself adequate time. Many of the tests already have time constraints and you do not want to increase the pressure on yourself. Check your internet connection so you are not inconvenienced by your internet suddenly dropping. Take the test on a laptop or PC. Most assessment tests are not designed to be compatible with tablets or smartphones. Read the directions carefully so you do not make mistakes that could have easily been prevented. If the test is timed, try not to get caught on any one question. If something is proving too difficult, move to the next question. You want to accurately complete as many questions as possible in the time given. Take time to prepare yourself for the online tests as thoroughly as you prepare for the rest of the hiring process, and you will quickly move along to the final step in the hiring process, the job offer.

 

UK’s Leading Gas, Oil, Energy & Natural Resources Companies:

Scottish & Southern Energy	npower	British Gas	Scottish Power	Randgold Resources
Birmingham and Staffordshire	SSE	EDF Energy	Powergen Retail	Richland Resources
Birmingham Gas Light & Coke Co.	Niccolo	E.ON UK	Total Gas & Power	Attock Oil Company
Imperial Continental Gas Asso.	Bulb	IGas Energy	National Grid	Vedanta Resources
Wandsworth & District Gas Comp.	Aricom	Ovo Energy	African Potash	British Pipeline Agency
Nottingham Corp. Gas Department	Glencore	Banks Group	Anglesey Mining	Dana Petroleum
Berkshire Hathaway Energy	Lonmin	Brazil Iron	Anglo American	Desire Petroleum
Imperial Energy Corporation	Nirex	Gemfields	Anglo Pacific	Eland Oil & Gas
Refined Bitumen Association	BP	BG Group	Beowulf Mining	Emerald Energy
Gas Light & Coke Company	Ervia	Abbot Group	Bolckow, Vaughan	Falkland Oil and Gas
Titanium Resources Group	Afren	Star Energy	British Aluminium	Haltermann Carless
Anglo-Persian Oil Company	Britoil	Petrofac	Foster Yeoman	Hardy Oil and Gas
Consolidated Gold Fields	Lasmo	Greenergy	Burren Energy	JKX Oil & Gas
Rockhopper Exploration	EnQuest	Rio Tinto	Ofir Resources	Lattice Group
Anglo-Saxon Petroleum	RusPetro	Genel Energy	Sirius Minerals	Alferon Management
Northern Gas Networks	Nafta	Premier Oil	Murco Petroleum	British Natural Gas
Mond Nickel Company	Perenco	Tullow Oil	Regal Petroleum	Cuadrilla Resources
John Brogden and Sons	Ultramar	National Grid	Royal Dutch Shell	Moss Bay Hematite
Polymetal International	RWE