What Is DSTL?
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is a government organization in the United Kingdom. As an agency of the Ministry of Defence, they use science and technology to benefit the nation and allies. DSTL, formed in 2001, is headquartered in Porton Down, Wiltshire, and has nearly 4,000 employees.
DSTL is an inclusive company that supports its employees in a variety of ways, including providing them with the following benefits:
->Flexible working
->Paid holiday
->Occupational health and sick pay
->Pension
->Family support benefits
->Discounts
->Training and development
Additionally, they have a vibrant graduate program that recruits graduates directly and offers placement opportunities each year.
What Is DSTL’s Hiring Process?
The hiring process for DSTL starts with the online application. You will submit your CV and answer a few pre-employment questions during this time. After that, you will participate in a phone interview to determine if you would be a good fit for the role. Once you pass the initial screening, you will move to the psychometric tests and the assessment day.
DSTL’s Psychometric Tests
DSTL asks their candidates to complete several assessments during the recruiting process to determine their ability to succeed in the role and their fit for the company. An example of an exam you will likely take is the Situational Judgement Test (SJT). The SJT is a timed psychometric test that presents you with a series of hypothetical workplace scenarios. During this test, you must choose how you respond to each situation.
DSTL’s Assessment Centre
Candidates who do well on the online assessments will be invited to participate in an assessment centre day. This day will involve a series of group and individual exercises that allow you to showcase your skills and abilities to the hiring team.
Some examples of activities you may complete during the assessment day include:
->Group Exercise: During the group exercise, you will work with a team of other candidates to complete various tasks and solve problems. The assessors will be observing how well you work with others and your problem-solving skills.
->Written Exercise: You may also have a written exercise where you will read a series of documents and produce a written report on the material. The assessors will judge you on your ability to analyze information and present your argument.
How to Prepare for the DSTL Assessment?
Because DSTL is a government organization, they are looking for their employees to be competent and to showcase values and traits that align with the company mission. To show that you are a good fit for the role, you must do well on the DSTL assessments.
There are a lot of resources online that you can use to help prepare for the assessment portion of the recruitment process. For example, to improve your chances of doing well on the SJT, you can take a free online practice test. Preparing for the assessments ahead of time will help you perform better on the actual test.
