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UBS Application Process

UBS Application Process

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All candidates should make applications for graduate-level jobs at UBS via the company's website.

Online Application Form

When you submit your application you will be required to answer questions concerning:

  • Your desire to work for the division to which you have applied;
  • UBS as a company, and;
  • Your hobbies, interests and extra-curricular activities.

Upon submission of your application, you will automatically receive an online numerical test, that you are required to complete as soon as possible.

Online Numerical Test

The online test is the SHL test. This test is assessed.

Online Diagrammatic Reasoning

The Diagrammatic Reasoning comes after the Online Numerical Test.

Cultural Appraiser

The UBS Cultural Appraiser is a multiple-choice test associated with situational judgment. You are required to answer questions about hypothetical situations, choosing the best course of action or ranking options in a particular order.

Questions are provided in both text and video format. The aim is to determine how you react in a pressured environment and whether you align suitably with UBS's work culture and core values.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are several steps to getting hired at UBS. After submitting your online application there are online tests in numerical and logical reasoning.

The first interview is a competency-based interview with a numerical test. After that, you have an assessment center that consists of a written numerical reasoning test, a presentation, another interview and a group exercise.

With so many parts to the application process, it can take UBS 1.5 to two months to complete and review.

You can apply for a maximum of five jobs in the same month. Once you have applied for the first time, your details are stored in the company database, therefore your profile may be a match in the future.

There are two rounds of interviews in the application process. The first interview is competency-based, and you will need some examples of times when you have worked as a team, been motivated to complete a task, been disappointed in failure to complete a task.

You will also be asked why you chose UBS and why you want to work there.

The second interview is also competency-based and covers competencies not covered in the first interview.

Intern applicants typically must be enrolled in a four-year college or university program and have completed their second year. They must also have strong marks in math and English and an interest in business.

Begin by filling in the form as solidly as you can. You will be able to upload supporting documents including your educational history, work history, as well as your CV.

There are a few things you can do to do well in the UBS application process.

  1. Do your research. It is always a good idea to know as much as you can about the company you are applying to. Not only can it help you narrow down your application to a specific area or job, but it can also be beneficial in the interview.

  2. Speak with others who have gone through the process. Talking to someone who successfully obtained a job at UBS can help you learn the ins and outs of the application process.

  3. Prepare for all stages. Think of answers for the competency interviews in advance and practice with someone if possible. Think of your qualities and skills that hope to highlight.

  4. Be confident and know what you want. Sleep well and eat well the day before. Smile and be polite and show that you are smart, fun, and would make a great employee.

As a global wealth management business, UBS is a popular destination for people looking for a career in finance. UBS is an award-winning employer, especially when it comes to gender equality and support for LGBTQ+ and disabled employees.

There are several advantages to working at UBS, not just the competitive salary.

For those looking to grow and develop in the financial industry, UBS has so much to offer – from the UBS University that helps employees with personal growth to a mobile learning app. The career navigator will help employees develop – with an eye on leadership.

Alongside this is a wealth of benefits that focus on employee wellbeing, including both mental and physical health. Financial matters are taken care of, with employee stock options and retirement planning.

One of the biggest focuses of UBS as a business is social responsibility, and through the UBS Optimus Foundation, ideas like matching charity donations and paid leave for volunteering mean that employees can do real good in their communities and around the world.

When you start your application for UBS, you will create a profile that stores all your contact information and your CV.

Here is where you will have access to check the status of your application, easily reached from the dashboard.

All you need to do is log in to your profile, navigate to the dashboard, and the applications section is where your completed applications are stored. The status of each application will be recorded here, so you can easily check what stage it is at and what you can expect to come next.

There are several stages in the UBS application process, and the way your application will be treated depends on the role or program that you have applied for.

To begin with, the online application form needs to be completed, and this is broadly the same whatever position you are looking for.

In many cases, the next stage is the online aptitude tests. These can include numerical reasoning, diagrammatic reasoning, a coding challenge and the cultural appraiser, which is a type of situational judgment test.

The exact assessments that you will face will depend on the role you have applied for, but you will be told what to expect if your application form passes the screening section.

Sometimes the next stage is a telephone interview, or there might be a video interview. These can have questions about your motivation for the role or ask about your previous experience where you can demonstrate that you match the required competencies.

For internships or graduate positions, the final stage is usually the assessment center, which involves several exercises and activities that are used to assess soft skills like communication and leadership. In other cases, the final interview might be the endpoint of the recruitment process, and this is normally a face-to-face event.

The specific skills that are needed for you to be successful in your application depend on the role that you are applying for – some jobs will need coding, while others might need a specific financial qualification.

In general, however, some of the skills that are needed to work at UBS include great communication, an innovative mindset and an analytical way of thinking.

Teamwork and collaboration need to work hand in hand with commitment and drive, and applicants need to be organized and great at planning. Of course, enthusiasm and passion are very important.

There is a monthly limit of five applications that you can make at one time for a role at UBS, and while there might be a few opportunities that you are keen on going for, it is a good idea to consider which would suit you and your skills the best.

This means looking for the roles that you are most interested in, and those where you meet the minimum key requirements – and as many of the desired criteria as you can.

When you apply, your profile and information are stored securely in the recruitment system, which means that if your details match another role, you might be contacted for that instead.

There are several things that UBS looks for in its applicants, and some of these include specific experience, education or qualifications. Aside from this, certain competencies and abilities are also sought after at UBS.

UBS uses what it calls the ‘three keys to success’ – a combination of pillars, principles and behaviors that underpin the business to ensure they are successful.

They are as follows:

  • Pillars: this is what the business is built on, including capital strength, simplification and efficiency, and risk management
  • Principles: What UBS stands for, including client centricity, connectivity and sustainable impact
  • Behaviours: How they do it; accountability with integrity, collaboration and innovation.

UBS looks for applicants who share these values and beliefs and can demonstrate the core competencies which include communication, good judgment, teamwork, commitment, analytical thinking and innovation.

There are seven core competencies that UBS looks for in its prospective employees, and throughout the application process, you should bear these in mind.

As part of the research that you complete before you apply, think of examples from your experience that demonstrate you have competency in these areas – they are likely to come up in some form during the interview and can help you answer situational questions in the pre-employment online aptitude tests.

The core competencies are as follows:

  • Communication
  • Decision making and judgment
  • Drive and commitment
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Innovation
  • Planning and organization
  • Problem analysis