Aviva, a leader in the insurance and financial services industry, offers a range of career opportunities, attracting numerous applicants each year. To secure a position at Aviva, it’s crucial to understand and effectively navigate its comprehensive application process, which typically includes an initial application, an online assessment, and subsequent interview stages.

The Initial Application

The journey begins with the initial application. This step usually involves submitting a resume and a cover letter through Aviva’s career portal. It’s essential to tailor your resume to highlight skills and experiences that are relevant to the role you are applying for. Aviva values diversity and inclusion, so demonstrating a collaborative spirit and a commitment to these values can be advantageous.

The Aviva Online Assessment

Following the application review, selected candidates are invited to complete the Aviva online assessment. This is a critical stage where Aviva evaluates a candidate’s suitability for the role. The assessment typically includes:

1. Situational Judgment Test (SJT): This test assesses how you handle situations you might encounter in the workplace. It presents various scenarios, asking you to select the most and least effective responses. It measures your problem-solving skills, decision-making, and alignment with Aviva’s work culture.
2. Numerical Reasoning Test: Especially relevant for roles requiring quantitative skills, this test measures your ability to interpret, analyze, and draw conclusions from numerical data. Practice in basic arithmetic, statistics, and data interpretation is crucial.
3. Verbal Reasoning Test: This test evaluates your ability to understand and analyze written information. You’ll be presented with a passage followed by a series of statements. Your task is to determine whether these statements are true, false, or impossible to say based on the information in the passage.
4. Logical Reasoning Test: This assesses your ability to think logically and analytically. It involves identifying patterns, sequences, or the relationship between shapes and symbols.
5. Personality Questionnaire: Although not a test in the traditional sense, this questionnaire helps Aviva understand your work style and how it aligns with the company’s values and culture.

Interviews and Assessment Center

Candidates who perform well in the online assessment are usually invited to the next stages, which can include telephone or video interviews and, for some positions, an assessment center. The assessment center typically involves group exercises, additional tests, and face-to-face interviews. These stages are designed to assess a broader range of skills, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and role-specific competencies.

Why Practice is Essential Before the Assessment

Practicing before the assessment is crucial. It not only familiarizes you with the types of questions and format of the tests but also helps in managing time effectively during the actual assessment. Moreover, practice can significantly reduce test anxiety, allowing you to perform at your best. Remember, preparation is key to demonstrating your capabilities and securing a position at Aviva.

The Aviva Situational Strengths Test (SST)

The SST is an innovative assessment tool used by Aviva to gauge how applicants might respond to the scenarios they would encounter in the role. Unlike traditional aptitude tests, the SST focuses more on your behavioural and situational responses rather than just cognitive abilities.

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