Thomson Reuters(Markets) Ltd Interview Questions & Answers

The process had 3 steps.

Firstly, a telephone interview with a recruitment company lasting 30 minutes (presumably Thomson-Reuters outsource recruitment to this company for that initial stage). This was competency based as expected, with the interviewer asking a variety of questions based around my experiences and specifically asking for examples where I could explain instances of fulfilling the competencies required by the role. In addition, the interviewer asked some motivational based questions around why I had applied to TR, and why I had applied to sales specifically. The interview was fast paced but simple enough. It ended with logistical questions based on the role.

Having successfully passed this stage I was invited to a face-to-face interview at the canary wharf office in London. This interview was undertaken by a HR manager and a Sales representative from TR, who took turns to ask motivational and competency based questions. There were also a number of situational type questions around what I would do personally in a difficult sales type scenario etc. I was then asked to perform a 5 minute, on the cuff sales pitch for any item or service I wished (I was given 10 minutes to prepare in private). That was a difficult task, and felt pressured. The face to face interview took around an hour in total, was good natured and other than the sales pitch exercise, not particularly pressured or difficult.

The final stage was a full day assessment centre, detailed in the question below...

I was

The most difficult questions were undoubtedly the situational job-related questions which I was essentially unable to prepare for, because they were presumably designed to test my decision making abilities on the cuff. These included questions like...

"A senior manager (in a different service line) has asked you to prepare a report immediately but you have a particularly full workload, how do you react?" (or along those lines).

Remain calm. Preparation is absolutely essential, including researching the company, role, industry, competition, and latest news relating to the industry - and will give you the confidence to answer in the correct manner. Attempt to establish an early rapport with the interviewer by answering confidently with eye contact and clear, calm speech.

Remain professional throughout and try your very best to show some passion about the job role/industry (In my feedback this was apparently lacking).

The assessment centre was the most difficult of 3 that I have now experienced. A high level of industry and company knowledge was expected and tested at various points. There were 3 tasks.

1. Another face to face interview. This time based around my CV application to TR and why I believed I was suited to the specific sales role I had applied for. This was more formal than previous interviews, and particularly testing. It was fantastic experience. Not quite Apprentice-esque it was nevertheless difficult.

2. A group exercise in which 5 candidates had to together solve a complex logistical question in half an hour and present our solution back to 4 ever-present assessors. The problem was inherently unsolvable (at least I believe it was!) and clearly the aim of the exercise was to test team working skills as well as leadership and presumably some element of problem solving individually.

3. A presentation exercise (on my own) in which I was given a pack of materials and half an hour to prepare a presentation (given to two assessors), without the use of notes. The presentation was on a made up business solution TR had implemented at a made up client.