Lloyds Banking Group is to use virtual reality technology to test the mettle of its 2017 graduate intake, placing candidates in a computer-generated simulation to assess their reactions.
Lloyds annually receives over 20,000 applications from graduate applicants, seeking one of just 14 placements in its Graduate Leadership Programmes.
The bank says it will use virtual reality technology on those candidates interested in joining its digital and IT schemes to present them with situations that would otherwise be impossible to test in a conventional assessment. The candidate will have complete freedom of movement within a 360 degree virtual world and will be able to move virtual objects using tracked motion controls.
While not disclosing the nature of the tasks, Lloyds says the cohort will be presented with a series of puzzles designed to draw out their strengths and capabilities and earmark potential future leaders.
Chris Jackson, performance, talent & development director, says: “Adopting virtual reality into the assessment process demonstrates the Group’s commitment to digital transformation. We are the first organisation to use this pioneering technology to assess the strengths of potential future leaders of our organisation.”