Case Study: How a Successful Candidate Navigated a Major SA Bank’s Graduate Assessment Day

This case study breaks down, step-by-step, how a successful candidate (pseudonym: Thabo) prepared for and performed during a major South African bank’s Graduate Programme Assessment Day. It distils real-world recruiter expectations, best practice tactics and concrete examples you can apply to your own assessment day preparation — especially if you’re preparing for SA graduate programmes, panel interviews and group exercises.

Assessment Day snapshot: what happened and why it matters

The assessment day included:

Group exercise (team problem-solving)
Presentation (5–7 minutes individual presentation)
Psychometric test / in-tray exercise
Panel interview (competency and fit questions)
Informal networking and feedback window

For a detailed timeline of typical assessment days, see: Graduate Programme Assessment Day Timeline: What Happens, What to Prepare and How to Impress.

Timeline (how Thabo’s day unfolded)

Time	Activity	Thabo’s focus
08:00	Registration & ice-breaker	Calm start, short introductions, set rapport
09:00	Psychometric / in-tray task	Time management; read instructions 2x
11:00	Group exercise	Take a visible, helpful role; structure discussion
13:00	Lunch / informal networking	Ask thoughtful questions; observe culture
14:00	Individual presentation	Clear opening, 3 key points, confident close
15:00	Panel interview	Use STAR; align answers to bank values
16:30	Wrap-up / Q&A	Ask insightful questions; express fit and interest

Candidate profile & preparation approach

Thabo is a recent graduate with a finance-related degree, limited formal work experience but several leadership roles at university. His preparation combined:

Targeted research on the bank’s strategy and graduate programme outcomes.
Rehearsed STAR stories mapped to the bank’s competencies (teamwork, problem solving, commercial awareness).
Practice group exercises with peers and timed mock presentations.
Logistics planning (route, outfit, documents) to remove friction on the day.

Useful preparation reads:

Pre-day checklist (what Thabo completed)

Printed copies of CV, ID, and graduate programme brief.
5-minute and 7-minute presentation versions rehearsed.
4 STAR stories written and practiced out loud.
Mock group exercises with time limits.
Outfit prepared and comfort-tested.

Group exercise: the turning point

In most SA assessment days the group exercise is decisive. Thabo used a structured, observable approach rather than trying to dominate.

Key tactics he used:

Open with a 30-second framing: “Let’s clarify the objective and constraints first.”
Volunteer for the facilitator role early when no one else did, steering agenda and time.
Make contributions that synthesise others’ points — assessors reward listening + influence.
Summarise decisions and explicitly check for agreement before moving on.

See tactical guidance:

Role	What assessors watch for	Thabo’s behaviour
Facilitator	Time management, agenda setting	Suggested agenda, kept time checks
Contributor	Quality of ideas, relevance	Offered 2 evidence-based options
Leader	Decision ownership, delegate	Delegated sub-tasks, endorsed team decision
Listener	Active listening, builds on others	Paraphrased others, linked ideas

Sample group-exercise phrases

“Can we restate the problem in one sentence before we dive in?”
“I hear two options: A and B — my concern with B is…”
“If we go with option A, I can lead the benefits assessment while you draft the steps?”

Presentation & individual tasks: clarity and structure win

Thabo’s presentation followed a simple, assessor-friendly structure:

30s hook: direct link to bank’s goals (commercial awareness)
3 key points supported by one slide each
30s conclusion + one clear recommendation

Presentation tips he applied:

Use a maximum of 5 slides (title, 3 content, conclusion).
Practice to finish at 80–90% of the allowed time — gives room for questions.
Bring one physical copy of slides/handout for assessors.

For additional presentation and etiquette tips, review:
Assessment Day Wardrobe, Presentation and Etiquette Guide for South African Candidates.

Panel interview: STAR, specificity and commercial awareness

Thabo used the STAR model (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer competence questions and always linked his answers back to the bank’s values and business outcomes.

Example STAR answer (conflict resolution)

Situation: “On a student finance project, two team members missed deadlines.”
Task: “I needed to align the team and deliver the report on time.”
Action: “I called a short meeting, clarified roles, reallocated tasks based on strengths and set micro-deadlines. I also kept the project sponsor updated.”
Result: “We delivered on time, and the sponsor commended the clear communication; subsequent surveys rated the team’s collaboration 20% higher.”

Practice tough question handling:
Panel Interview Scripts and Responses: Handling Tough Questions from South African Interview Panels

Quick interview success checklist:

Use numbers and outcomes where possible.
Name the competency early in your answer.
Keep answers 60–90 seconds unless asked to expand.

How assessors evaluate — and how to be visible

Assessors look for observable behaviours tied to competencies:

Communication: clarity, tone, structure
Teamwork: listening, influence, respect
Problem solving: structured approach, evidence of impact
Commercial awareness: linking actions to business outcomes
Professionalism: punctuality, presentation, emotional intelligence

After the day, Thabo requested feedback and used it to refine his approach — a best practice recommended here:
Feedback-Friendly Strategies: How to Use Assessor Comments to Improve Your Next SA Interview.

Handling stress and unexpected tasks

When assessors introduce surprises, the best candidates pause, reframe and propose a clear approach. Thabo used these stress-handling tactics:

Take 10 seconds to breathe and outline your approach aloud.
Clarify assumptions and ask one or two concise clarification questions.
Offer a prioritized solution rather than a perfect one.

Key takeaways and action plan

What made Thabo successful — and what you can copy:

Prepare with realistic mock group exercises and timed presentations.
Map 4–6 STAR stories to the graduate programme competencies.
Take a clear, structured role in group tasks and make your contributions visible but collaborative.
Practice short, evidence-backed answers for panel interviews.
Manage logistics and wardrobe to minimise stress on the day.

Actionable 7-day prep plan:

Day 1–2: Research bank, align competencies, craft STAR stories.
Day 3: Practice one mock panel with a friend and get feedback.
Day 4: Run two timed presentations; refine slides.
Day 5: Complete at least three group exercises or role-plays.
Day 6: Rest, logistics check, outfit test.
Day 7: Light rehearsal, early night.

Further practical drills:
Practical Exercises for Group Assessments: Preparation Activities for South African Graduate Applicants and
Survive and Shine in Group Exercises: Tactics for South African Assessment Days and Graduate Programmes.

Final note

A successful assessment day is less about “ace every task” and more about consistent, observable behaviours that align with the role and employer. Follow the structure in this case study, rehearse deliberately, and use feedback loops to improve. For deeper help on panel interviews and scripts, see:
Interview Preparation South Africa: How to Stand Out in Panel Interviews at SA Corporates and Government and
Panel Interview Scripts and Responses: Handling Tough Questions from South African Interview Panels.

Good luck — prepare with purpose, perform with structure, and reflect for continuous improvement.