SEO London: LSEG Application Guidance

2021 SEO London / London Stock Exchange Group

Application Guidance
This document includes information on the following:
1. Guidance on LSEG Application Guidance
2. How to flag yourself to LSEG as an SEO Candidate
3. Support with LSEG motivational questions
4. What to do as your LSEG application progresses
5. Support with LSEG’s Online Tests

Please note in order to be flagged by SEO to LSEG HR recruitment team and be supported
through their application stages you must inform us of your submitted application here.

1. Guidance on LSEG Application Process

The application process for LSEG is very straight forward:

1. Apply online, (CV & motivational statement)
2. Online Psychometric Test
3. Telephone Interview
4. Assessment Centre

LSEG 2021 Opportunities

Summer Internships Graduate Opportunities
Business Internship Business Graduate Programme
Technology Internship* Technology Graduate Programme*

* Students applying for Technology roles should be studying science, technology, engineering or maths

DEADLINE: Midnight 6th December 2020 – apply early as applications are reviewed on a
rolling basis.

2. How to flag yourself to LSEG as an SEO Candidate

Within the application form LSEG ask “How did you hear about us?”. To flag yourself as an
SEO candidate please select the “SEO” option.
SEO London: LSEG Application Guidance

3. Support with LSEG motivational questions

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload your CV (Resume) and answer the
below motivational question.

Access SEO London’s CV Guidance here.

Describe your motivation to apply for this programme and why you think we should consider you?
We encourage to you to include: 1. Your motivation for LSEG, 2. Why you are interested in the
specific programme (Business or Technology), 3. What skills or experience you have that would make
you suited to this role?

Your response should be structured and tailored to demonstrate that you possess the key aptitudes,
attributes and values to excel in the role at LSEG. LSEG are also looking for proof that you want to
work at their firm. It is important you can identify transferrable skills and strong commercial
awareness as well as the fact you have done your research. For technology roles it is essential you
demonstrate an interest and competency in technology. You should explain which programming
languages you have experience in / what exposure to tech you have gained.

Q1: Your motivation for LSEG

Research LSEG and identify what makes you want to work there. It could be their growth and
innovation in the tech space, their philanthropic work (LSEG Foundation), their position in the
marketplace, any awards they have won, someone you met at the firm, their training programme etc

Useful links:
Look through the LSEG Website to understand the company and what it does
• LSEG Annual Reports
• LSEG Graduate Brochure (2021)
• Learning & Development at LSEG.
• Follow the firm’s social media channels (LinkedIn) given they usually post more current news
there.
• LSEG are also hosting multiple virtual events to provide students with further insights into the
firm. These include: LSEG ‘WIN Breakfast Series’ & LSEG ‘Why We Are’ events. To learn more and
apply, click on the links above.

Q2: Why you are interested in the specific programme (Business or Technology)
This question is assessing your motivations for applying to a specific area (Business or Technology).
• Try to show some understanding of what the role involves and how it contributes towards LSEG
as a business.
• Identify the reasons why you are applying for the role and what makes you interested in
business or technology – have you read something recently that sparked your interest, do you
know someone that has partaken in the programme at LSEG before?
• Read the testimonials from previous interns/grads.

Q3: What skills or experience you have that would make you suited to this role?
This question is testing your ability to identify your transferrable or technical skills for the
programme you have applied for. Read the job description to see what the role involves and identify
the key skills that LSEG are looking for; you need to be able to link your strengths and interests to
these skills.
• Look over your CV and write out examples of where you have demonstrated the key skills
SEO London: LSEG Application Guidance
• Try to use examples that bring out your unique story and be sure to articulate your impact
wherever possible
• The financial industry is extremely client-focused so any examples of building either strong
relationship, analytical, entrepreneurial or leadership skills should be flagged.
• You should also flag anything that demonstrates your genuine passion for business or
technology - have you had any professional experience? What did you learn? Have you founded
anything innovative? Have you worked on any interesting projects? Ensure you can articulate
why you are a good fit for the role (using your activities, interests, achievements etc.) and show
that you have researched your preferred division thoroughly.

4. What to do as your LSEG application progresses

SEO London can provide support throughout the LSEG application process. Ensure you have first
informed us of having applied via your application tracker on your candidate portal. (Below)

Ensure you correctly label the programme

you have applied for here.

Please use Awaiting Outcome when you

are waiting to hear from LSEG. If you have
been progressed and not yet completed
the next stage of assessment, then ensure
you select ‘To be completed’.

When progressed to the telephone interview / AC stage please email banking@seo-london.org

stating the following information in the subject heading: [LSEG – Telephone /
AC][Division][Programme Type] along with a brief polite cover note.

SEO London will provide:

• Prep Material
Introduction to a successful alumnus that has been through the process (only for final
rounds)
SEO London: LSEG Application Guidance

Please note, if you have not completed SEO London’s 2021 LSEG Application
Tracker, we will be unable to support or flag you to LSEG!

5. Support with LSEG’s Online Tests

LSEG require you to complete a general ability test usually provided by SHL. This test will cover
multiple cognitive concepts and include questions to test your logical and numerical reasoning.

You may typically be given 30 – 40 minutes to complete the test, with typically 30 questions. The
test provider will usually give you the option to complete some practice questions prior to the actual
test; this will give you an insight into what to expect. It is likely you will need to manage your time
well as may not be able to progress to the next question without answering and you will also be
unable to go back and answer the question later.

Your score will be based on how many questions you can answer correctly. You will receive a score
reduction if you do not complete all of the questions in the test.

Numerical Reasoning
These questions will examine your ability to analyse data quickly and accurately. The data can be
presented to you in various forms including within tables, graphs and text. You will be given multiple
choice answers to the question and required to select the correct answer from the list.

Logical Reasoning
These questions will compromise of a series of questions to do with rules based around shapes and
patterns. Each question will have a missing step and you will be provided with a list of answers to
choose from about which you think is the correct next step in that pattern/shape. You are likely to
have less than a minute to answer each question with the question automatically moving on to the
next once the time is up.

Verbal Reasoning
These questions will require you to read some text and deduce which statement is true or false
based on the information given

How to prepare?
• Ensure you are prepared to analyse data quickly – have a pen, paper and calculator to hand
• If you are running out of time, you are encouraged to select an answer as you do not want to
waste too long on 1 question since the test is timed and following question may be easier
• Practice to increase your comfort and confidence in analysing data within tight time constraints.
o The LSEG test will be very similar to the SHL Practice Tests – Select “General Ability Test”
and take the full-length practice test (36 minutes)
o There are lots of sites to practice online tests. Speak with the Careers team at your
university to see if they are already to subscribed to any which you can access as a
student! Please see below some free tests you can practice.
- http://practice.cappassessments.com/
- https://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/numerical-reasoning-tests/
- https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/free-numerical-reasoning-test
- https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/

After your Test

After taking your tests, LSEG will review your application to determine whether to progress you to
the next stage. If successful you will receive an invitation to a telephone interview and should get in
touch with SEO so we can provide you with support.
SEO London: LSEG Application Guidance

Example questions and support on how to answer:

1. Review the facts below:
• Jane drives a red car.
• Susan drives a blue car.
• There are no red cars in New York.
• Blue cars get 33 miles per gallon of gas.

Based on the information above, which of the following MUST be true?

A. Jane lives in New York.
B. Susan lives in New York.
C. Red cars get 36 miles per gallon of gas.
D. Susan’s car gets 33 miles per gallon of gas.
E. Jane and Susan live in the same state.

The correct answer is D. Since blue cars get 33 miles per gallon of gas, the fact that Susan
drives a blue car means that her car gets 33 miles per gallon of gas.

2. Janet has an MBA and has been in school for 1/2 of her life. Cara is 30 years old and started
school later, having only been in school for five years. If Janet is four years younger than
Cara, how long has she been in school?

A. 13 years
B. 15 years
C. 18 years
D. 20 years
E. 26 years
3.

You need to work to quickly decipher how:

• the arrow moves around the diagram
• shapes change from triangle to circle to square
• the long line is either horizontal or vertical, and then to find the right answer! There is
a lot of time pressure, so you need to work quickly and systematically. This comes from
practice!