The text below provides a full candidate recruitment, assessment and preparation guide and practice for those applying to jobs, internships and graduate programs at BP across the globe, including in the UK and US.

Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessments tests, interviews and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practice and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process. 

Check here for Free and Premium aptitude assessment tests and video interviews to practice and prepare for BP recruitment.

If you are aiming to apply to BP or have a BP assessment test coming up, our text below is the best place to start.

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for BP assessments? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude tests results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

A recent study (Bradley et al, 2019) found that candidates who do not practise assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers.

BP Hiring Process Glossary

SJQSituational Judgement Questionnaire
SJTSituational Judgement Test

BP recruitment process in a nutshell:

How to prepare for the BP assessment process and tests to get the job?

  1. Complete your BP Online Application
  • Fill in your personal, educational and work history details. 
  • Match your resume to the job description and BP’s key competencies. 
  • Use their language / key words from the job post
  1. Practice for BP Online Assessment Tests

BP uses a variety of aptitude assessment tests. These include: 

You may get rejected already after these aptitude tests; these tests sift out 50-80% candidates at this stage. The only proven way to get to the next round is practice.

  1. Record mock Video Interviews of yourself 

BP uses HireVue to pre-record candidate’s answers to questions. Practice for your BP pre-recorded interview by answering typical interview questions.

Prepare for a telephone or video interview by running mock interviews answering typical interview questions. For BP interview practice, use:

Our video interview practice platform contains predefined competency and industry questions and emulates experience you will have in platforms used for employers’ interviews such as HireVue. Record your answers and watch them to develop your interview technique, timekeeping and words used. Repeat recordings until you feel satisfied.

Use the STAR method for your answers and practice each answer several times.

  1. Prepare for the BP Assessment Centre exercises

BP uses a competitive variety of exercises during the assessment centre which may be hosted virtually or face-to-face. These activities typically consist of:

Ensure that you sharpen your spoken and written communication skills. Research online, prepare and practice presenting as many relevant business case studies as possible.

Be aware, not many get to this stage as the competition is very fierce.

Your BP Final Interview will have 2-3 rounds of interviews with a senior manager, i.e. BP Technical Interview and BP Competency-based Interview. 

Keep up the good work, as they are looking for the best talent. They likely will have interviewed dozens or hundreds of candidates at this final stage.

Hone your technique for your final BP interview to showcase your:

  • deep knowledge 
  • understanding of the role
  • business acumen
  • passion
  • critical thinking and ability to think on your feet

For this final interview, use the video interview platform and record yourself answering the interview questions using the STAR technique.

Continue reading to get answers to 4 critical BP recruitment questions:

  1. How to get a job at BP?
  2. How to prepare for a BP interview?
  3. What questions are asked in a BP video interview?
  4. How to prepare for BP Online Assessment Tests?

Looking into assessments with BP, simply use your fingertips or click in the table below to practice assessments relevant to your assessment process!

Relevant Assessments to BP Practice Now
Situational JudgementStart Practicing
Numerical ReasoningStart Practicing
Verbal ReasoningStart Practicing
Assessment CentreStart Practicing
Video InterviewsStart Practicing

The above table is fully equipped with practice assessments and tools that will help you prepare for your upcoming assessments at BP. 

Contents

  1. Who is BP Plc?
  2. Online Application
  3. Situational Judgement Questionnaire (SJQ)
  4. Online Aptitude Assessment Tests
  5. HireVue Video Interview
  6. Assessment Centre
  7. BP Student and Graduate Programmes
  8. BP Candidate Recruitment FAQs

Before we dive into these assessments, let’s start your road to success with the basics that any aspiring BP candidate should know. 

Who is BP Plc?

British Petroleum, commonly called BP, is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, known as the 7 “supermajors”. The company operates in all areas of oil and gas industry which includes exploration and extraction, refining, distribution and marketing, power generation, and trading. 

The main values of BP stand as follows:

  • Safety
  • Respect
  • Excellence 
  • Courage
  • One Team 

Because of its reputation and work, BP attracts a number of applications each year for many areas. Check out the below job areas which you can apply at BP right now:

Job functions available at BP

FinanceDigital & Technology 
Business SupportProcurement
EngineeringMarketing
HRProject Management
SalesStrategic Planning
Retail Operations 
Supply & Trading Tax
Communication & External AffairsLegal
WellsSubsurface 

We’ll cover how to begin your BP application below, so keep reading!

Throughout your BP hiring process, you are likely to be assessed on your knowledge of the company. To prepare for these questions in your applications and interviews, we recommend that you do your research on BP.

British Petroleum Researching Tips 

Here are some of the most crucial topics that you should research about BP before you begin your BP application process: 

  • The BP Values, Mission and Vision statements
  • BP office and work culture
  • New techniques or methods BP has introduced to make work easier (you could talk to a few BP employees to gather this info) 
  • What problems are being faced by BP in your interested department?
  • How is BP contributing to the world? 
  • Development of BP’s strategies over these past years

Check out this short video to discover more of our best job research tips to help ace your BP application form and interviews:

How to research a company before Interview I Research tips #shorts

So how do I apply to BP? 

Let’s start things off with an overview of the BP assessment process.

BP Recruitment Process

The BP hiring process is made up of five different stages; each requiring you to do your best and outperform your competitors if you want to land your dream job.

The five stages that make up the BP recruitment process are:

  1. BP Assessment: Online Application
  2. BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire
  3. BP Online Aptitude Assessment Tests
  4. BP HireVue Video Interview 
  5. BP Assessment Centre 

BP Assessment: Online Application

The BP Online Application is the first part of the recruitment process and your first chance to impress your recruiters and stand out. Your BP Online Application will require you to fill in the details like: 

  1. Personal information 
  2. Contact details
  3. Educational background 
  4. Work history 
  5. Ethnicity 
  6. Work permit, etc. 

When you apply to BP, you will be required to upload your resume and CV. Consider including a cover letter for the job you are applying for.

BP job application form
BP Job Application Form
Source: BP Careers Website 

Your BP application is your first opportunity to impress the BP talent acquisition team and potential managers through your communication skills. The better you put your achievements and education in your resume, the more chance you have of getting shortlisted. 

How to make your resume get selected at BP 

  1. Throughout your online application, you need to refer to the key BP competencies sought after by the job position you have applied to.
  2. Make sure your achievements and the projects you have worked on reflect the BP values:
  3. Make sure you put in measurable results of your previous work in the Resume. For example: Worked as X and controlled Y functions to bring a 20% growth in Z. 

For more of our best tips on how you can build your perfect BP Resume/CV, don’t miss our super easy to follow CV writing guide to maximise your chances of getting hired with BP! 

Don’t miss out! Watch the video below to know the 3 most common mistakes that you should not repeat while building your Resume/CV.

3 CV Mistakes You Must Avoid (Resume Tips) | CV Writing Guide #shorts

For more first-hand tips on CVs and Resumes, Subscribe to our YouTube channel

BP Application Tip: Apply as early as possible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. By doing so, you increase your chance of progressing through to the next stage of the recruitment process.

After the Online Application stage, comes the BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire

What’s that? Let’s find out!

BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire (SJQ)

The BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire or the BP Situational Judgement Test is a set of real-life work scenarios that you might have to go through as an employee at BP. You are required to analyse the problem proposed and choose the most suitable and the worst course of actions from the options given.

This BP Situational Judgement Test aims to assess your problem-solving skills and your suitability to the role you have applied to by examining you on the basis of your thought process

Discover even more about BP-style situational judgement tests with our short YouTube video:

What are Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs Explained) #shorts

Let’s take a look at the tips and tricks that will bring you a lot closer to succeeding in the BP SJQ.

5 Tips to pass the BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire?

  1. Core Competencies: Go through the job description thoroughly before sitting for the SJQ and keep in mind the core competencies required for the job before answering.
  2. Practice: Practice as many Situational Judgement Tests as you can. Familiarise yourself with the kind of questions to understand them well.  
  3. Find a suitable environment: Sit in a suitable environment with no distractions when starting the BP SJQ. 
  4. Understand the role: Assume the role given to you in the scenario keeping in mind the responsibility, powers and decorum of the role. 
  5. Be honest: Do not go for an answer that your employers would want you to go with. Instead, choose the course of action that you would choose in that situation. 

Think you got it? Check out what your BP-style SJQ exercise question may appear as with our below example question.

bp-situational-judgement-free-question-example
BP-style Situational Judgement Free Question Example

Looking for BP SJQ practice questionsRegister with GF today to get started with practice BP-style Situational Judgement Tests and get worked solutions, tips on how to improve and detailed feedback on your responses. GF is your one stop solution to all your assessment-related problems.

So now you know a little more about Situational Judgement Tests, you may be wondering how to pass these SJTs? We’ve got you covered there. 

Discover more tips and tricks on our YouTube channel, check out this short YouTube video to get the hang of Situational Judgement Tests. 

Ace the SJT! | 5 Situational Judgement Test Tips #shorts

Once you clear the BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire round of the BP application process, you will be invited to the BP Online Assessment Test. What does this round hold for you?

Let’s find out! 

BP Online Assessment Tests

The BP Assessment is the third stage of your BP recruitment process, to which you will be invited within 2-3 weeks after the BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire. 

The BP assessment tests consist of aptitude tests to examine your various cognitive abilities.
Depending on your line of business, this round may include BP’s:

BP Online Assessment Tests Tip: The invite email will carry all the relevant information for these ability tests. The total time required to complete the BP assessment tests is 40 minutes. You are given a period of 5 days to complete the assessments. 

Moving on, let us discuss these BP numerical and verbal tests in detail, starting with the BP numerical test.

BP Numerical Reasoning Test

The BP Numerical Reasoning Test will examine your ability to understand a previously unseen passage – as well as its data. You will be required to perform basic mathematical calculations. Candidates for roles at BP which will require use of numerical skills and interpreting data from tables and charts will be assessed with this assessment.

Do not worry if you have not done any mathematics in a while! The complexity of this does not lie in the knowledge tested but in the time pressure and stress involved. When taking your numerical reasoning test, you will have less than a minute to read the question and analyse data provided including ratios, percentages and charts, performing the necessary calculations.

To understand numerical reasoning tests better, check out this short YouTube Video:

What are Numerical Reasoning tests? #shorts

The only way to ensure your success is by taking practice tests beforehand. By doing so, you familiarise yourself with the types of questions and become more confident

Learn how to manage your stress in a safe environment and you will not have to face rejection – just because you were unfamiliar with the process.

How to pass the BP Numerical Test?

  1. Practice timed numerical tests to familiarise yourself with making calculations quickly and accurately under time pressure
  2. Use performance feedback and reports to discover how you can improve your practice before the real test.
  3. Ensure you are using the correct technology. Use the recommended device and bring a calculator.

Let’s practice some example numerical reasoning questions with worked solutions to prepare for your BP Numerical Reasoning test:

Numerical Reasoning Test Practice Questions & Answers (2024) | 5 Worked Solutions & Tutorial!

You can find more Numerical Reasoning tips on our YouTube channel.
If you are looking for a BP-style Numerical Reasoning Test with answers, worked-solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance – then GF has it covered.

BP-Style Numerical Reasoning Free Question Example

BP-style numerical reasoning free question example

Check if you got the correct answer at the bottom of the page.

For more FREE QUESTIONS similar to BP numerical testsregister with GF and take your FREE Numerical Reasoning Test.

BP Verbal Reasoning Test

BP’s Verbal Reasoning Test strives to identify whether a candidate can accurately extract the relevant information from a previously unseen passage of text, and use this to analyse whether subsequent statements are true, false, or impossible to say based on the information contained in the passage of text.

BP’s Verbal Reasoning Test may be more difficult for non-native speakers of English. Nevertheless, we recommend practicing Verbal Reasoning Test questions as much as you can to understand the specific way in which the texts are built and questions asked. Only then can you be more confident in your ability to succeed at the real thing.

Want to know more about Verbal Reasoning Tests? Do not miss out on the following short video by GF: 

What Is a Verbal Reasoning Test? #shorts

BP Verbal Assessment Tip: Ensure you read all of the passage and the relevant information before attempting the question. Examine the question carefully and make sure to find enough evidence to support your answer. Do not jump to conclusions.

How to pass the BP Verbal Test?

  1. Practice using timed tests. Familiarize yourself with verbal tests under time pressure to reduce stress and anxieties on the day
  2. Read relatively complex information up to the day you take the test. Develop an understanding of the logical flow of the texts
  3. Answer questions only using information provided from the passage

Make notes and practice some of our example verbal reasoning test questions with worked answers with us in the below video:

Verbal Reasoning Test Practice Questions and Answers (2024) | 5 FULLY Worked Solutions!

Remember, you will have around 45 seconds to answer questions like the following:

BP-Style Verbal Reasoning Free Question Example

BP-style verbal reasoning free question example

Got the answer? Check it out at the bottom of the page.

For more FREE QUESTIONS similar to BP verbal reasoning tests, register with GF and take your FREE Verbal Reasoning Test now!

5 Quick Tips to ace your BP verbal and numerical test:

  1. Practice solving these questions with a time limit beforehand to prepare for the real thing.  
  2. Do not dwell on the questions as this wastes time. When you don’t know the answer, skip to the next question and come back to the question later if you have time.
  3. Get organised. Ensure you have the right materials for the test. Ensure you take the test in a quiet place with a strong Wi-Fi connection.
  4. Read each question carefully. Do not assume you know what to do. Some information may not be relevant to the answer.
  5. Take the tests at a time of day when your mind is working at its best performance.

Once you’ve aced your BP online aptitude assessments, you will be invited to the next step: the BP video interview.

BP HireVue Video Interview

The BP HireVue Video Interview is the fourth stage of the BP hiring process, and if you have gotten to this stage, Great! 

So, what is the BP Video Interview

BP Video Interview is an On-demand Video-based Interview, where you are expected to record yourself answering the pre-recorded interview questions by your employer and submit them. BP uses HireVue to conduct these on-demand video interviews. 

For more info on HireVue Video Interviews, check out our short video below: 

What is a Video Interview? #shorts

This will typically be a competency based interview, and will be a final chance for you to demonstrate your passion, skills and enthusiasm to work for BP.

How much time does the BP HireVue Video Interview require? 

The BP Video Interview may last up to 30 minutes, where you will be required to answer various competency-based and behavioural questions related to the job position you have applied to. 

You will get 3 minutes to answer each question and get 30 seconds prep time before starting the recording. 

How do I practice for my BP HireVue Video Interview?

Practice using the below tips with our Video Interviewing tool to prepare for unique Competency-based and Strength-based Interview questions used by BP with our 13 unique video interview sets used across top industries including various the many job functions at BP including finance, HR, marketing construction and engineering. 

BP-Style Video Interview Free Example Question

BP video interview free example questions

Moving on, here are some more top tips to ace your BP Video Interview. 

6 Tips to Ace the BP Video Interview 

  1. Research: Make sure you research BP before you sit down for the BP Video Interview. Go through your job description thoroughly to include the core BP competencies of the job in your answers. 
  2. Practice: You should prepare some ideas of examples that you can use during your interview based on the most common types of interview questions using the STAR+R technique.
  3. Prepare examples: Keep example situations for skills such as management, organisation, teamwork, etc., ready with you.
  4. Keep notes: Make sure you keep the bullet points made from your practice and research that you want to include in your answer ready. 
  5. Check for tech: Make sure you are connected to a secure internet source by checking your internet speed. Also, use external devices such as backlight, microphone, speakers and external webcam to make your interview more effective.
  6. Use the STAR+R Technique: Use the STAR+R technique while answering the questions, i.e., The Situation, the Task, the Action, the Result and what you can Reflect on from the whole scenario. 

Want to understand STAR+R better? Watch the following short video to find out how to use the STAR+R Technique in your BP Behavioural Interview: 

How to Answer Competency-Based Interview Questions (STAR Technique) #shorts

Now that you know the basics of BP HireVue Video Interview, take a look at the following 5 BP Video Interview example questions and answers to get an idea of how you may form answers to BP Video Interview questions. Let’s put the above tips into practice.

Top 5 BP Video Interview Example Questions & Answers

Question 1: Do you consider yourself successful?

Tips to Answer: First things first, DO NOT say no, even if you don’t consider yourself successful at the moment. Bring out the positive approach in your answer. Explain to them what success means to you, i.e., how you define success. Your answer should show pride in what you have struggled to achieve so far and confidence to achieve and work for more.

Good Answer: I define success by the goals you set for yourself and how you surround yourself with people who respect and admire you. So, in some ways I’m both, I have struggled to achieve what I wanted and kept the people who became my inspiration, really close. I haven’t yet achieved everything; I still have some goals and aspirations which I would like to achieve. I have also had my fair share of failures. Therefore, I think it’s safe to say that I am not completely successful, but I would not consider myself unsuccessful too. 

Question 2: What are your weaknesses?

Tips to Answer: Do not include qualities like pleasing people, difficulty in saying no, etc., pick something that is actually true to you. Be honest when answering for weaknesses because your interviewers very well know that no one is perfect, and they want to know more about you as a person. Make sure to tell them something you struggle with at times but try to overcome by putting in effort. Tell them how you are trying to turn your weakness into an opportunity to get more skilled at your job. 

Good Answer: Although I have always met deadlines, I do struggle with procrastination. Because of this, I work all day as the deadline approaches. I used to struggle a lot in my early days as XYZ. Therefore, I started taking project management and time management lectures, in order to learn to manage and organize tasks in a way that I do not get overburdened. And I’m glad to say that I’m getting the hang of this and I think I am successful at the attempt so far. 

And, be sure to check out our further tips on how to answer this behavioural question below:

How to answer “What is Your Greatest Weakness?” | Job Interview Question #shorts

Question 3: What is your ideal work environment?

Tips to Answer: Try to tailor an answer that blends in well with BP’s values and vision. Do not focus your answers solely on the people you will be working with. 

Good Answer: My ideal work environment is the one which is a blend of collaboration and innovation. I am an innovative person and I believe when we work in a collaborative environment, we put together all the great minds and there’s where we can find innovation. The best part about collaboration is that it leads to faster decision-making and diverse ways of problem-solving. 

Question 4: What do you know about BP?

Tips to Answer: Focus on specific facts that you found out during your research about the BP. Show them how their mission and vision fascinates you. Talk about the major milestones and accomplishments of BP that moved you. Keep your answer basic yet reflecting your knowledge about BP.

Good Answer: I know that BP has been in work for more than 100 years now, and providing remarkable service since then. And I love BP for the fact that despite being such a successful organisation, it is working towards a safer planet by investing in low carbon energy to rapidly scale up in solar and offshore wind aiming to reduce emissions by 2030. I’m also delighted and eager to know more about the upcoming Tangguh Expansion project. 

You can also gain further insight into this behavioural question with the video below:

How to answer “What do you know about our company?” | Job Interview Questions #shorts

Question 5: Tell us something that is not on your CV?

Tips to Answer: For this, you can either open with a joke, because in these situations, humour will probably go on the positive side of your candidacy. However, don’t risk it if you don’t believe the joke is appropriate. For this, consider the workplace culture of the company. You can tell them about any casual events or even tell them about a social cause that you feel deeply about and work in your idle time towards that cause. Tell them how far you have gone on that road and how far you would like to reach in the future. 

Good Answer:  Anything that’s not on my resume can get me rejected straightaway (jokingly). Jokes apart, I do feel that the increasing deforestation will have an adverse effect on the planet in the long run, and for that I try to do the bare minimum that I can in my capacity. I run campaigns on vacations to spread awareness in different cities. I have also hosted a number of plantation drives in recent years. I know that these things aren’t enough to save our planet from grave danger, but I do feel that if I can bring change to even one in a thousand people, that’s a win-win. 

Looking for more potential BP interview questions? Go Premium with GF and discover more potential BP interview CBI questions with our Question Identifier Tool

Alternatively, check out this quick video below on the best way to answer the commonly asked BP interview question “Why do you want to work for BP?”: 

How To Answer “Why Do You Want This Job?” | Job Interview Question #shorts

Discover more Tips and tricks to ace Video Interviews, check out our 3 quick video interview tips or below in our short YouTube video:

3 Tips to Ace your Video Interview

  1. Get Familiar – Practice video interviews using our online Video Interview Practice tool and get familiar with how employers assess you during your video interview!
  2. Research the company – Conduct in-depth research into the company values and job description and consider how these align with your own accomplishments and experiences
  3. Make a good impression – Ensure your background and room is clean, the audio and video are clear, and that you have a stable internet connection. Sit facing the window and don’t forget to dress to impress
Epic Video Interview Tips and Tricks #shorts

You are nearing the last stage of the recruitment stage; the BP assessment centre. Congratulations for making it this far! There are only a few things left before you land your dream job.

What does the assessment centre hold for you? Let’s find out!

BP Assessment Centre

The BP Assessment Centre will be a chance for you to network with professionals working at BP, and learn more about the company. It is the perfect time for you to get a better insight into what it is like to work at BP.

The exercises you might be expected to take are:

  1. BP Group Exercise 
  2. BP Presentation Exercise
  3. BP Final Interviews

Quick Tips to Ace Your BP Assessment Centre:

  1. Practice speaking in front of a group of people and develop your presentation skills. Ensure you practice many example case studies to develop a technique to resolve case studies. 
  2. Make sure you don’t raise your voice during the group discussion and calmly listen to what your team members have to say. Encourage your team’s involvement and build from their ideas.
  3. Understand the competencies that you will be assessed on and practice to improve on any less strong areas
  4. Make sure to brush up your written and spoken communication skills. Watch out for good grammar as well. 

With that, let’s go into the details about each of these potential BP assessment centre exercises. First, the group exercise.

BP Group Exercise

The BP Group Exercise requires you to read, observe and solve case studies with your teammates, which will be the fellow shortlisted candidates. Throughout this task, various BP employees will observe you on how you solve problems when required to work with others.

It is important that you are confident to share and argue for your ideas, but also be ready to contribute to somebody else’s input. Most importantly, speak clearly and do not interrupt anyone!

BP Group Exercise Tip: Try to persuade others towards your ideas and also ask critical thought-provoking questions; but only do so when it feels natural. You need to appreciate that other people on the team are just as important. Your goal is to work together as a team to solve the case study.

Discover more about group exercises and the best tricks to pass your BP Assessment Centre with our YouTube video below:

Assessment Centre Group Exercises | How to Pass, with Example Task & Virtual Assessment Day Tips

Now, let’s discover more about the BP presentation exercise together.

BP Presentation Exercise

BP Presentation exercise will mainly test you on your communication skills. Your assessors will be looking at your body language and tone to see how you would cope with delivering professional presentations, taking part in group discussions or explaining your point of view.

How to Excel in your BP Presentation Exercise? 

  • Keep your presentation strictly within the time limit. Keep a check on your timing and avoid finishing the presentation too early.
  • Organise the topics you’ll be talking on in the order that you will be needing them to demonstrate key organisational skills.
  • Check your body and verbal communication. Show that you are listening and keep an eye on your tone and speed. Stand up still and avoid fidgeting to retain the observer’s attention.
  • Maintain eye contact and make sure everyone is getting your point. Involve others through encouraging questions during and at the end of the presentation.

The BP assessment centre will conclude with a series of interviews, which will depend on the role you’ve applied for. Continue reading as we go through these below.

BP Final Interviews

The BP interviews in this final stage of the recruitment process will consist of a number of one-on-one interviews with directors or senior managers from the business area you wish to join. This stage typically consists of two types of interviews:

  1. BP Technical Interview
  2. BP Behavioural Interview

BP Technical Interview

The BP Technical Interview aims at checking your technical knowledge, i.e., the knowledge you possess in your field. The interview will last for an hour. They will ask you basic concept related questions, or ask you to work some solutions in front of them. 

BP Technical Interview Tip: The scope of your BP Technical Interview depends on the role you have applied for. For example: Finance applicants will be asked questions in that field. Similarly, if you have applied for a role in Data Technology, you will be asked the basic conceptual questions.

What kind of questions are there in a BP Technical Interview?

Here are some examples of the questions asked by employers at BP at a Technical Interview:

  1. How comfortable are you with SAP? What is a BOL
  2. How can you decide the age range of your target audience?
  3. What is your experience with Data Engineering pipelines?

Two tips to ace the BP Technical Interview

  1. Revise and Practice:

Make sure you brush up the basics of your job and practice. Revise the fundamentals of your field be it pipelines engineering, finance or HR. Pay special attention to how your field relates to the oil and gas industry. For example: if you’re applying for an engineering role, revise basic principles of fluids, mechanics and materials. Look for advancements that can be made in the oil extraction machinery, ships,etc. However, if you’re applying for a business role such as finance, find out cost cutting solutions in BP case studies. Read BP’s annual reports and see how you can put your business knowledge to make it better by applying basic business formulas. 

  1. Research:

Research about are the companies’ values, goals, and ongoing projects. Discover the key problems being faced and the upcoming tasks that BP has undertaken. Think of several possible solutions on how you will solve the problems being faced through your expertise. 

BP Behavioural Interview

The BP Behavioural Interview focuses on knowing you as a person and understanding how you would react to BP’s problems and solve them with your hard and soft skills. 

You will be asked questions related to your past experiences at work, how would you behave in a certain situation, etc. Your BP interviewers will want to know your motivations and aspirations and try to know you more on the inside as to what kind of a person you are. 

Examples of BP Behavioural Interview questions:  

  1. What have you done that made you proud?
  2. Select one of the company values and describe how you relate to it with an example
  3. Describe how you work in a team
  4. How do you handle stress?

It is important that you keep in mind the core competencies of the job position you have applied to and BP’s values when answering these questions. Let’s see a couple ways in which you can answer the above-mentioned questions. 

How to answer the BP behavioural Interview questions:

  1. What have you done that made you proud?

Good Answer 1: The moment is yet to come in my life, the day I will be able to make it to the ABC position in a great company such as yours and make a real contribution, I will be the proudest. 

Good Answer 2: “I worked at ABC company and once we had to pull all nighters to improve our shipping function, but me and my team really went on with it and covered the gaps that were creating the problems, and my team worked hard with me and we increased our efficiency to 35% which brought us back on the level. I’m proud to be able to motivate my team and see my organisation succeed as a whole”. 

Explanation: Of course in this answer you can add more specifics, as to what was the shipping function that needed attention, what you did to improve it and what were the gaps you filled. This particular answer shows that you are a team-oriented person, and aligns with two of the company’s values, that are ‘One team’ and ‘respect’. 

  1. Describe how you work in a team

Good Answer: “Teamwork comes from motivation and motivation can be derived from small recognitions. Therefore, I make time to appreciate my team members for their work. I also try to communicate more so that I understand my teammates’ thought process. And thus, knowing and supporting each other with their strengths and weaknesses works a great deal in increasing efficiency. One more thing that I consider important is delegating the responsibilities, because that makes my team members feel responsible and important”. 

Explanation: By demonstrating to your interviewer how you work as a team, you are basically showing what leadership skills you have. Because, only a leader knows the value of the team working together, and how to make sure that the team puts efforts in the workplace.

  1. How do you handle stress?

Good Answer: “As a person who has spent the last five years in a xyz role, I understand that stress becomes an integral part when you are in any job. A little stress can behave like a catalyst in getting the work done at the earliest and the best. But, when the stress exceeds the limit I often try to use my organisational skills in order to prioritize the most important thing at that particular hour. I also try to meditate more in such situations to keep my head clear. Because it’s important to make decisions without any pressure in such cases”. 

Explanation: Showcasing that you understand and can handle stress in the workplace demonstrates that you can be trusted with important tasks for the company while maintaining performance under pressure. Additionally, this shows that you are resilient and align with two of the company’s values in ‘Excellence’ and ‘Courage’.

At the end of interviews, you will be given a chance to ask questions. You must definitely use this opportunity! This is a way of showing that you are interested and motivated, so prepare some thought-provoking and interesting questions beforehand. 

Some questions that you can ask your interviewer at BP are: 

  1. What does the job really expect from me?
    • This question shows the employer that you are eager to fit into the organisation and bring in value with your skills.
  2. How was your experience when you first joined? 
    • This enables the employer to connect with you and shows that you’re up for any advice or heads up that they have to offer. 
  3. How do you manage to handle stress coming from such a high post in this company? 
    • Shows the employer that you understand the role and the responsibilities associated with it, and that you are ready to face any challenges that the job has to offer but with a little help. 

For even more questions you can ask in your BP interview, check out our short video below:

5 Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview #shorts

Once you’ve aced your final interview using our best tips and tricks, you will receive an offer from BP shortly. All the best!

Wait, before you go!

Are you a grad student or a fresh graduate interested in early career opportunities? Keep reading to discover the opportunities available for you!

BP Student and Graduate Programmes

BP is not only a great place for experienced professionals to work but it’s also a great place where the graduates and undergraduates can kick start their career. BP offers a number of opportunities for graduates, students and even the people with no professional degree. 

There are three main options for young individuals to get started with BP:

  1. BP Student Programmes
  2. BP Graduate Programmes
  3. BP School Leavers

Below, we will discuss each of these student careers at BP in detail, and then will cover the application process you can expect for these. 

BP Student Programmes

BP student programmes are training and internship programmes for the students who are in the first, second or third year of university or college. This is a great opportunity to earn while you learn. 

BP offers a life changing opportunity to students with the help of these Student Programmes with very basic qualifications and requirements. Let’s take a look at the qualifications required to apply for BP Student Programmes. 

Qualifications to apply for BP Student Programmes

  1. Must be on-track for a 2:1 degree, or towards a relevant degree for certain job positions.
  2. Non-UK nationals are also welcome. 

You can apply to the following career areas at BP, but it’s not limited to this. These areas consist of a vast number of job functions within them. 

Job Functions available for BP Student Programmes

  1. Engineering
  2. Business
  3. Science
  4. Trading and shipping 

Salary and perks of getting into BP Student Programmes

  • Salary of £28,000 (pro-rata for summer interns) plus possible location allowance.
  • Networking opportunities.
  • Personal development and training.

And much more!

BP Graduate Programmes

The BP Graduate Programmes are training and development programmes specially curated for the fresh graduates. These programmes enable the candidates to develop various soft and hard skills while working with BP. 

What qualifications do you need to apply for BP Graduate Programmes? There’s not much. Let’s take a look. 

Qualifications for BP Graduate Programmes

  1. Should have received a 2:1 graduate degree.
  2. Non-UK nationals are also welcome.

BP Graduate Programmes allow you to apply in various career areas, these are discussed below. However, the career opportunities at BP aren’t limited to these areas. 

 Job Functions available at BP for Graduates

  • Business
  • Digital
  • Engineering 
  • Science
  • Trading and shipping

Salary and perks of getting into BP Graduate Programmes

  • Base salary £37,000 – £45,000
  • £3,000 – £5,000 sign on bonus
  • Discretionary yearly bonus

BP School Leavers

BP School leavers Programme comes with three kinds of opportunities, these are:

  1. Apprenticeships
  2. Shipping cadets

You can apply to any three of the above programmes, depending on your area of interest and qualifications. Let us discuss the essentials of a couple of these programmes in detail below. 

BP Apprenticeships

BP apprenticeships enable the school leavers to start their career and get opportunities for training and development from the best mentors at BP. BP offers Level 4 to Level 6 apprenticeships to school leavers in the following areas: 

  • Software development
  • HR
  • Trading and shipping
  • Finance

To get into the BP School Leavers apprenticeships, you need to meet the basic requirements. We will discuss them below, let’s take a look. 

Minimum requirements to get into any BP Apprenticeship 

  1. Applying candidates should hold a valid birth certificate, passport, and residence permit.
  2. National Insurance number. 
  3. The candidate should have lived in the UK or Europe 3 years prior to the application of the apprenticeship. 
  4. The candidate should not be taking any other apprenticeship at the same time.

Having noted that, below are the different programmes that fall under the BP Apprenticeship programme. 

  1. BP Software Developer apprenticeship
  2. HR Degree Apprenticeship
  3. BP Finance Apprenticeship 
  4. BP Training and Shipping Apprenticeship

The applications for BP Apprenticeship Programmes mostly start in the month of September. Make sure to apply on the website as soon as possible.

Next, let’s discuss the BP Shipping Cadets Programme. 

BP Shipping Cadets Programme

BP Shipping Cadets Programme is for those who are interested in working as the crew members of the ship. 

The Shipping Cadets programme lets you understand and contribute to the real strength of the BP transportation wing.  

The BP Shipping Cadets Programme is a 3-year programme, offering a salary that starts at £11,000 per year and offers careers in the following areas:

  • Deck cadet
  • Engineer cadet
  • Electro technical cadet
  • Graduate engineer

To apply to the BP Shipping Cadets Programme, you need to fulfil the minimum requirements of the programme. They are:

  • At least 18 years old by 1st September 2022
  • Be a British citizen               
  • Have a British passport       
  • Applicants will need to pass an industry-standard medical examination in order to complete a placement at sea         
  • For role-specific entry requirements, please refer to deck cadet, engineer cadet or electro technical cadet pages linked below 

What soft skills are expected by a BP Shipping Cadet?

The soft skills BP expects in a shipping cadet are: 

  • Adaptable
  • Respectful
  • Adventurous
  • Self-disciplined
  • Resilient
  • Can-do attitude
  • Aptitude for learning
  • Driven
  • Self-sufficient

How to Apply for the BP Student and Graduate Schemes?

Now that we have discussed the basic requirements, you should know the BP graduate and internship recruitment process. Let’s go through each of these recruitment stages briefly:

  1. BP Online Application: At the first stage of your recruitment process, i.e., the Online Application, you are required to answer questions related to your contact details, ethnicity, education, work history, etc. You will upload your resume and CV at the same stage.  
  2. BP Situational Judgement Questionnaire: The BP SJQ or Situational Judgement Test consists of some work scenarios or problems that you are required to analyse and choose the best and worst of the courses of actions available as options to you, in order to solve them. 
  3. BP Online Aptitude Tests: The BP Online Aptitude Tests consist of numerical and verbal reasoning tests to examine you on the basis of your cognitive skills. 
  4. BP HireVue Video Interview: The BP HireVue Video Interview is a video-based interview, where you have to record yourself answering the pre-recorded questions from your employer. 
  5. BP Assessment Centre: BP Assessment Centre provides a day in that life. You will be called to a BP office and assessed on the basis of your behaviour with your fellow candidates. You will also have to go through a group discussion, a presentation exercise and some tests based on the job function you have applied to. 

Go Premium with GF and practice for your BP graduate scheme application process to get ahead!

Many of the applications for these BP Student and Graduate Careers programmes open on the 5th October, but there are a number of different opportunities they offer on a rolling basis.

Apply to BP on their website as early as possible to boost your chances of an offer and kickstart your professional career with BP today! 

Still looking for answers to some of your burning questions about the BP hiring process? Don’t miss our quick BP FAQs below.

British Petroleum FAQs

What to expect from the BP Assessment Centre?

The BP Assessment Centre will require you to sit for various assessments which are:

  1. Role play exercises
  2. Group exercises 
  3. Presentation Exercises 
  4. Interview  

Practice for your BP assessment centre exercises with GF to get a head start!

How long is the BP graduate program?

BP graduates programs will depend on the location and the graduate job. BP graduate schemes in the US will last between 18 to 36 months with opportunity to explore other areas of the business. Explore the graduate descriptions using the BP candidate matching tool.

What are BP interviews like?

The first round BP interview will be a 30-minute video interview. You will have 3 minutes to answer each question. Depending on the role, candidates will expect 1-2 interviews during the BP assessment centre, with behaviour and technical questions.

How do I check the status of my BP application?

Applicants can check the status of their application at any time. Log into your BP account using your email address and password in order to review the current status of your application.

How do I pass my BP HireVue interview?

  1. Ensure your tech is working beforehand
  2. Research and prepare notes
  3. Answer using the STAR+R Technique
  4. Have multiple examples of each skill ready
  5. Check your body language and tone is positive and natural
  6. Practice talking about your experiences

Practice for your BP video interview with our practice video interview tool.

Practice and Register with GF to get your job with BP first time

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