The application process for graduate schemes isn’t always designed with disabled applicants in mind. For instance:
- online forms that are challenging to complete due to the format or because of unclear instructions
- inaccessible psychometric tests
- adverts that don’t mention the disability support available for applicants.
It would be unfair if disabled candidates aren’t able to perform to the best of their abilities due to how these forms and tests are formatted and worded. Or if this puts off candidates from applying altogether. With that in mind, hopefully this page will provide you with some useful advice.
Sharing information about your disability
Depending on the nature of your disability, it’s possible that you will need adjustments for at least one of the stages that make up graduate scheme applications. Therefore, you would need to let the employer know that you have a disability (this is sometimes referred to as ‘disclosing’ a disability). You can find more information about when to share information about your disability on our webpage about ‘disclosure’.
Adjustments: where to start
The adjustments you might need will depend on your own individual circumstances. For instance, you might have a newly diagnosed disability and aren’t quite sure how this may or may not impact you in the application process, or you might have two or more conditions meaning that you will potentially require more than one adjustment.
A key thing to bear in mind is that you may only need adjustments for certain stages. For example, you might not need adjustments for the application form, but might require changes to be made for the online psychometric tests stage.
For graduate scheme applications, it’s helpful to think about adjustments as being:
Changes you need the employer to put in place, so that you can complete forms, tests, (individual or group) exercises, interviews, or presentations to the best of your abilities.
Adjustments are also about ensuring you can access these tests and assessments in the first place.
A good starting point would be to think about the adjustments you receive/d (if any) for your studies at LSE. It may be that (some of) those adjustments will be useful for you during the recruitment process.
Similarly, if you are in employment and have some adjustments in place, consider if any of these would be useful for you to have during your graduate scheme application.
Maybe you have made applications for jobs in the past. Think back – when making those applications was there anything that would have been useful for you to have in place at the time?
Tips:
- It’s likely that you will need to be proactive and communicate with the employer when it comes to adjustments. It’s best not to rely on the employer to suggest adjustments. That said, employers may have supported other disabled candidates so may be able to make some suggestions if you are unsure of the changes you need.
- It’s a good idea to think about what adjustments would work for you so that if the employer’s suggestion is not appropriate, you have something else to propose.
The graduate scheme application process
The recruitment for graduate schemes varies but a typical application is comprised of four main stages:
- Application form
- Online psychometric tests
- Video interview
- Assessment centre
Below you will find suggestions and examples of adjustments for each of these stages. We have also included some tips.
Application form
It might be that you need an adjustment for the online application form. Example adjustments:
- A modification such as larger text.
- Different way to complete the form such as a paper version or easy read version.
- The use of a reader or scribe.
- Some example answers which clarify what the employer is looking for.
There are several other adjustments that are available, these are just some examples.
Application form tips:
- It’s worth noting that you may be able to make the adjustment you require yourself, for example changing the web browser font.
- It can take time for the employer to action any changes so if you require any alterations to be made to the application form, it is always a good idea to communicate with the employer well before the application deadline, if possible.
- It’s best to concentrate on the support you need for the specific stage of recruitment, rather than think ahead to adjustments that might be needed in the graduate scheme itself.
Online psychometric tests
Sometimes it’s the case with graduate scheme recruitment that as soon as you submit the application form, or not long after, you get sent an email containing a link inviting you to take online psychometric tests and you usually have a window of between 7 and 10 days to complete these.
Many disabled applicants we work with struggle with these tests or are put off taking them altogether.
Psychometric tests are usually timed and are quite often in multiple-choice format.
There are two common types:
- aptitude tests (eg, numerical, verbal reasoning, situational judgement)
- personality tests
You might only be asked to take one test, or you might be required to complete more than one.
Depending on how your disability impacts you, it might be unfair for you take these tests without an adjustment. For instance, the hypothetical questions asked in situational judgement tests can be tricky for some neurodivergent candidates.
There are many potential adjustments for psychometric tests, and it can be helpful to think of these as falling under these two categories:
Time
The standard adjustment that employers will suggest/provide is 25% extra time. However, 25% extra time might not be an effective adjustment for you, so you might need a different change to be made.
Someone who is, for example, dyslexic or has ADHD might find any psychometric test hard to complete in the allotted time. 25% extra time could be a useful adjustment, but you might feel that you need 50% extra time. It’s important to remember that if you have 25% extra time for your university assessments, this may not be enough time for you to perform to the best of your ability in a psychometric test as it is a completely different type of assessment.
Format, display, and technology
Depending on your disability and how it affects you when completing these tests, instead of the employer giving you extra time, allowing you to do an entirely different assessment may be the best adjustment. It’s unlikely that the employer will suggest an alternative adjustment like this without first exploring whether the more standard adjustments (like 25% extra time) would work.
Example adjustments:
- Taking an alternative psychometric test.
- Completing a written version perhaps with larger font (eg, if online tests aren’t suitable).
- Extending the deadline that you need to complete the test by (employers won’t be keen to do this but it’s perhaps possible if you have had a fair bit of back and forth with the employer and the deadline to take the test is fast approaching.)
- Having a reader or scribe present when taking the test.
- Having a telephone interview instead. If the next stage of the application is a video interview, having a telephone interview might not be acceptable to the employer as it would be an assessment that is too similar.
As with application forms, if the adjustment you need is, for example, to do with the display, it might be you are able to change it yourself without the need to contact the employer.
Lowering the pass mark for a test isn’t likely to be seen as a possible adjustment.
In the email inviting you to take either psychometric test, you may notice that it says something along the lines of ‘please let us know if you require any adjustments or support.’ Even if it doesn’t say this, you are still entitled to adjustments.
It is best to let the employer know as early as possible if you need an adjustment, ideally on the day you get invited to take the test. It wouldn’t be recommended to let the employer know the day before the deadline for example, as it might take some time to identify the right adjustments and take time to put this into place.
The main thing to remember is that if you think taking psychometric tests puts you at a disadvantage because of your disability, ask for an adjustment.
Psychometric tests resources:
Psychometric tests tips:
- Completing a practice psychometric test is a good idea. You would then be able to experience what these tests are like and think about how you found taking it, without having adjustments in place.
- When you begin a psychometric test, there is often a practice question. This practice question tends to be far easier/clearer than what you will experience in the rest of the test. I know of some disabled candidates who, having done the practice question, felt like they would be able to do the rest of the test without needing an adjustment, only to find that practice question wasn’t an accurate representation of the whole test.
- As it’s the case you only get one attempt at psychometric tests, it wouldn’t be recommended to contact the employer to ask for adjustments after you’ve already started, or completed, a test.
- During the application process, you may come across game-based assessments instead of, or as well as, psychometric tests. Although game-based assessments are often described as being more inclusive, they can pose different challenges for disabled candidates. It is also possible to practice this type of test on Graduates First.
Video interview
People with anxiety can find the prospect of having a video interview with someone they have never met quite daunting. However, video interviews in graduate scheme applications are usually not done with a real person. Instead, the video interview will probably consist of you reading the questions and then you’ll have about two minutes for each question to record your answer. This type of video interviews is called an ‘asynchronous’ interview or a ‘pre-recorded’ interview.
Example adjustments:
- Asynchronous video interviews are nearly always timed so you may feel you need an adjustment of extra time, so you have the chance to read the questions and process what’s being asked, before giving your answers. Another reason for needing extra time might be because you feel very restless when faced with the prospect of sitting in once place for long periods of time.
- Others may need the webpage to be compatible with text-to-speech software, so this is also an adjustment that may need to be made.
- It can be stressful for some disabled candidates to complete a video interview by the given deadline. This might be because a candidate finds that they are in pain due to their disability at the time they had planned to take the test. As a result, asking for an extension might be necessary.
- You may need the video format to be done with a real person, rather than pre-recorded. Or it may be possible to have a telephone interview instead.
- If the video interview is with a person rather than pre-recorded, you may prefer using a particular platform. For instance, if you are comfortable using Zoom but the employer sends you a Teams invite for the video interview, you could ask if it’s possible to speak over Zoom instead.
Video interview tips:
- It’s often the case that there will be a technology glitch at some point during one or more of the graduate scheme application stages. Don’t feel that if you made employer aware of an issue it would look bad on you. For example, if the link they have given you to record your video interview isn’t working, then you should get in touch with them. Always keep any communication with the employer polite and professional.
- Some people don’t like video interviews but try and see them as a platform to get your personality, strengths, enthusiasm, and ideas across. Practice video interviews on Shortlist.me or eCareersGrad.
Assessment centre
The final stage of graduate scheme applications is an in-person or online assessment centre. Usually this would take place over one day, but occasionally it might be spread over two.
A typical assessment centre could include:
- A tour or welcome, e-tray exercise, group exercise, presentation and interview, (further) psychometric tests.
- Assessment centres vary so you may well not have to do all these activities, or you might be doing different exercises to the ones listed. Check out this outline of an example assessment day.
Any assessment centre will involve interaction with other candidates.
Group exercise:
Many disabled students are unsure how to approach the group exercise or have concerns about how well they will perform. Each term, LSE Careers runs a practice session on group exercises at assessment centres. You can book you place by going on the ‘events’ section of CareerHub.
There are many reasons why the group exercise can pose a challenge for disabled candidates:
- It could be that you have a stammer and feel like this will impact you during this activity.
- It might be that you are concerned you won’t be able to read and digest the instructions / written material in the time given by the employer.
- Perhaps you are autistic and are not clear on exactly what it is you are supposed to be doing or discussing during the group exercise. Unlike an interview where you can clarify with the interviewer about what the question means, it’s harder to do this during group exercises so you may need to ask for an adjustment because of this.
Example adjustments for the group exercise:
- Having the topic in advance.
- Knowing the details about the length of the activity or more clarity on what will be involved.
- If there is written material to read or refer to, you might want to request a particular font type, size, or having the material printed in colour.
Example adjustments for the assessment centre in general:
- If your assessment centre is in person, you may need adjustments that relate to the environment or may have access requirements.
- You may require a more detailed map outlining how to get there, or a picture of what the room or venue looks like.
- Extra time (eg, for the interview or for the psychometric tests).
- Asking for the names and photos (or links to LinkedIn profiles) of the interviewers sent to you in advance.
- You can find some further examples of interview adjustments on Employment Autism's webpage about reasonable adjustments.
Assessment centre tips:
When invited to an assessment centre, it might be that the employer includes information on what the day will consist of. However, sometimes there will be little detail beyond the start time, date, and location.
If this happens, it’d be a good idea to get in touch with the employer and ask for some further details on what the day will consist of so that you can prepare as best as possible. Knowing what the activities are means you can do some practice before the day, and it’ll be helpful in identifying any adjustments you may need.
You might have been provided with adjustments during an earlier stage of the application process. However, once invited to the assessment centre, it is a good idea to contact the employer to make sure that these adjustments will also be put in place at the assessment centre, if this is something you will need.
Disability Confident
You don’t have to apply for a graduate scheme at a Disability Confident employer just because you have a disability. However, if you’d like to identify Disability Confident employers who have graduate schemes, you might like to check out this blog post by AGCAS.
It’s not a guarantee that an employer signed up to the Disability Confident scheme will be knowledgeable about supporting disabled applicants. However, Disability Confident employers at the ‘Leader’ Level may be particularly well placed to support you.
It’s useful to do your own research on employers by looking out for things like:
- do they have a disability staff network?
- do they have mental health first aiders?
- do they have a policy/commitment to disability or inclusion on their website?
- when invited you to sit a test, complete a form etc., do they include a sentence like ‘if you require adjustments please let us know’?
Support at LSE Careers
If you’d like to learn more about adjustments, navigating graduate scheme applications, or sharing information with employers regarding your disability, you can book a one-to-one appointment with one of our dedicated careers consultants, Viki and Edmund, by emailing careers.disability@lse.ac.uk. Viki provides appointments via Zoom and Edmund’s appointments are in-person and over Teams or Zoom.