One of the initial stages of the selection process will see a requirement for you to sit the British Army Recruit Battery Test. The test is more commonly known as the ‘BARB test’ and it has been in use for many years. It is a tried and tested method that the Army will use to determine what career(s) you are most likely to be suited to. It is important that you aim for the highest score possible on the test and this can only be achieved through ‘deliberate’ and ‘repetitive’ practice.

Your choice of trade will be dependant upon the score you achieve during the BARB test. Basically, the higher your score, the more career options you will have. This is a good incentive for you to work hard and prepare fully.

Reasoning tests form an integral part of the BARB selection test within the British Army selection process. These tests are relatively simple to understand once you fully appreciate what is required. The reasoning tests are basically a form of problem solving and you will be asked a number of questions, usually about a relationship between two people. For example, you could be asked a question along the following lines:

Sample question

Stuart is taller than Mark. Who is shorter?

The answer in this case would be Mark as the statement suggests that Stuart is taller than Mark. Therefore Mark is the shorter of the two.

Answer: Mark

Here is another example:

Sample question

Michelle is not as wealthy as Owen. Who has less money?

Answer: Michelle

The statement suggests that Michelle is not as wealthy as Owen, therefore Owen has more money.

When answering these questions it is important to READ each question thoroughly. The questions are relatively simple to answer but they can catch you out if you do not understand exactly what the question is asking.

Computer based version of the test

When you attend the careers office to sit the BARB test you may be asked to take the test on a computer. The computer version of the test will require you to use ‘touch screen’ answers, which means that instead of using a pen and paper to mark down your answers you will have to touch the computer screen instead. Whilst this is far quicker than writing down your answers, you will need to understand the questions fully before giving your answer.

Have a go at the following sample 10 questions to see how you get on:

Question 1

Sophie is not as tall as Andrew. Who is shorter?

Question 2

Peter is wealthier than Roman. Who is the poorest?

Question 3

Grace runs faster than Julie. Who runs the slowest?

Question 4

Thomas is heavier than Fred. Who weighs the most?

Question 5

Charlotte’s house was less expensive than Margaret’s. Whose house cost less?

Question 6

Michael runs slower than his sister Paris. Who runs the fastest?

Question 7

Lily has more money than Hugh. Who is poorer?

Question 8

Amelia is stronger than Brian. Who is the strongest?

Question 9

The red car is older than the green car. Which car is the youngest?

Question 10

Ella’s shoe size is 5 and Mary’s is 8. Who needs the smaller size shoes?

Whilst the above sample questions are relatively easy to answer they will give you a good indication of the type of question you will encounter during the BARB test.

You can obtain instant access to our online Army BARB Test facility please go to the following link =>

Army BARB Test Questions

Answers

Question 1 – Sophie

Question 2 – Roman

Question 3 – Julie

Question 4 – Thomas

Question 5 – Charlotte’s

Question 6 – Paris

Question 7 – Hugh

Question 8 – Amelia

Question 9 – Green car

Question 10 – Ella

During the RAF selection process you will be required to sit a number of interviews depending on the choice of career you make. For some of the more technical or demanding posts you will be required to attend a specialist interview which will be at an RAF base. These can last up to three days depending on the career. This is also an opportunity for you to see what the job is like and meet some of the people you’d be expected to work with once you have passed your initial training.

The first interview, however, will be held at your local Armed Forces Careers Officer and will be undertaken with a member of the RAF recruitment team. The duration of the interview will very much depend on your responses to the questions. However, you can expect the interview to last for approximately 30 minutes. The questions that you will be assessed against during the initial interview will normally be taken from the following areas:

- The reasons why you want to join the RAF;

- What choice of career you are most interested in, the reason for choosing that career, and the skills you have to match the role;

- What information you already know about the RAF, its lifestyle and training;

- Information relating to your hobbies and interests including sporting/team activities;

- Any personal responsibilities that you currently have at home, in your education or at work;

- Information about your family and your partner and what they think about you joining.

- Information based around your initial application;

- Your experience of work and education;

- Your emotional stability and your maturity;

- Your drive and determination to succeed.

- Having a positive reaction to a disciplined environment and towards people in positions of authority.

In order to help you during your preparation allow me to provide you with a sample response to one of the more common interview questions.

SAMPLE RAF INTERVIEW QUESTION

Why do you want to join the Royal Air Force?

This is an almost guaranteed question during the selection interview so there should be no reason why you can’t answer it in a positive manner. Only you will know the real reason why you want to join but consider the following benefits before you construct your response:

- A career in the RAF presents a challenge that is not available in the majority of other jobs or careers;

- A career in the RAF will provide you with professional training and ongoing personal development;

- A career in the RAF will offer you the chance to work in a highly professional organisation that prides itself on high standards;

- The RAF is an organisation that people have a huge amount of respect for. Therefore those people who join it are very proud to be a part of such a team.

Try to display a good level of motivation when answering questions of this nature. The Royal Air Force is looking for people who want to become a professional member of their team and who understand their way of life. It should be your own decision to join the Royal Air Force and you should be attracted to what this career has to offer. If you have been pushed into joining by your family then you shouldn’t be there!

Here’s a sample response to this question to assist you.

Why do you want to join the Royal Air Force?

‘I have wanted to join the Royal Air Force for a couple of years now and I have been working very hard to pass selection. Having studied the RAF recruitment literature and the RAF website I am impressed by the professionalism and standards the service sets itself. I would like a career that is fulfilling, challenging and rewarding and I believe that the RAF would provide all of these. During my research I have spoken to serving members of the RAF and every single one of them has had positive things to say about the service. The fact that I would be improving my education and ending up with a trade is just another example of why I want to join the RAF.

Over the last few years I have become more aware of my own skills and qualities and I believe these would be very well suited to the RAF. I enjoy being away from home and I also like to take responsibility. For example, I was recently made captain of my football team and this involves organising team trips and fixtures. I am also a good team player and I like working with different groups of people who have different experiences in life. There is always something to learn in life and I would love to be a part of a service such as the RAF where I would be continually learning new skills.

I have seriously considered the implications that joining a service such as the RAF would have on both my personal life and social life and I have discussed these with my family and my partner. They have given me their full support and they promise to help me achieve my goal of joining the Royal Air Force. Even though I know the training will be hard I am certain I can pass it with flying colours and if I am successful I promise that I will work very hard to pass every exam.’

If you structure your responses in a positive and motivated manner then your chances of success will increase.

To find out more about how to pass the RAF selection process, go to =>

How To Pass The RAF Interview

During your preparation for the Army interview I would strongly recommend that you concentrate on the following key areas:

- The reasons why you have applied and why you want to join.

- Explaining why you have chosen your particular trade or Regiment.

- The information you already about the Army, the training you will undergo and Army lifestyle.

- Your sporting interests, general interests, hobbies and what you do in your spare time.

- Details of responsibilities you currently have either at home, in education or at work.

- What your family think about you wanting to join the Army.

- Your experiences so far of work and also your educational background.

- How stable and mature you are as a person.

- How determined you are to succeed in life.

- What you understand about ‘teamwork’ and what experience you have of it.

- Your attitude towards physical exercise and team sports.

- How you react to discipline.

If you concentrate on the above key areas then you will certainly be increasing your chances of success during the Army interview. In order to assist you further I will now provide you with sample responses to two interview questions

INTERVIEW QUESTION #1

What qualities do you think you need to be a good team player?

The Army needs effective and competent team players. If you already have some experience of working in a team environment then this will work in your favour. Try to think of examples where you have already successfully contributed to a team task either at work or during your education. There are many different qualities required to work as an effective team player. Here are just a few:

- Enthusiastic;

- A good communicator;

- Motivated;

- Supportive of the other team members;

- Providing other team members with encouragement;

- Determined to complete the task;

- Professional and competent;

- Always focused on the wider team objective.

Now take a look at the following sample response to this question.

What qualities do you think you need to be a good team player?

‘First of all I believe a team player must be focused purely on the task that the team is trying to achieve. You must always be professional and supportive of the other team members. For example, if one of the team members is struggling then you should try to help them and support them with their role within the team. It is important as a team player to listen to the brief or details of the task and to communicate properly with everyone else in the team. You must always put the needs of the team before your own and be totally committed to completing the task in hand.’

INTERVIEW QUESTION #2

What is your biggest weakness?

Now there’s a question! If we were all totally honest with ourselves we could probably write a whole list of weaknesses. Now I wouldn’t advise that you reel off a whole list of weaknesses in your interview, as you could do yourself a lot of harm! Conversely, those people who say that they don’t have any weaknesses are probably not telling the truth.

If you are asked a question of this nature then it is important that you give at least one weakness. The trick here is to make the weakness come across as a strength. For example, a person may say that one of their weaknesses is that their own personal standards are too high sometimes and they expect this of others. Or another one is that a person doesn’t know when to relax. They are always on the go achieving and making things happen when they should take more time out to relax and recuperate.

Now take a look at the following sample response to this question.

What is your biggest weakness?

‘That’s a difficult question but I know that I do have a particular weakness. The standards that I always set myself are quite high and unfortunately I get frustrated when other peoples aren’t. For example, I am hardly ever late for anything and believe that punctuality is important. However, if I’m left waiting for other people who are late I usually have to say something to them when they finally arrive, which isn’t always a good thing. I need to understand that not everyone is the same and let some things go over my head.’

Use the above tips when preparing for your Army interview and you won’t go too far wrong.

To find out more Army Interview tips go to =

How To Pass The Army Interview

In this article I will explain 5 important tips that will go a long way to helping you pass the Royal Marines selection process.

Tip 1 – The right mental approach

Without the correct mental approach your chances of passing selection will be limited. The majority of people who fail the Potential Royal Marines Course do so during the first 3-mile run of the first day. Even though they are told that they must pass this, many candidates turn up unprepared. This basically means that they don’t have the right mental approach. If they can’t be arsed to make sure they are capable of running 1.5 miles in a certain time, then what chance do they have of passing the training course?

It is vital that you approach your preparation for selection in the right frame of mind. This means getting up early every morning and making sure you can easily pass all of the minimum standards expected during selection. It is also about having the mindset that you will not give in, despite what your body will be telling you. There will be times during selection when you’ve simply had enough. These are the times when you must push yourself forward and keep going despite the fatigue and the physical agony.

Tip 2 – Use an action plan to ensure success

Action plans are a great way to measure your progress during pre-selection preparation. I use an action plan in just about everything I do that is work related. An action plan basically sets out what you intend to do, and when you intend to do it. An example of a very basic action plan that is focused on fitness preparation might look like this:

Monday – 6am start, run 3 miles (best effort), record my time.

Tuesday – 6 am start, 50 press-ups, 50 sit-ups, making sure I concentrate on the correct technique.

Wednesday – 10-mile run, then 50 sit-ups and 50 press-ups, making sure I concentrate on the correct technique.

Thursday – Swim 25 lengths of my local swimming pool (breaststroke).

Friday – 6am start, 10 pull-ups, 50 press-ups and 50 sit-ups, making sure I concentrate on the correct technique.

Saturday – Rest day.

Sunday – 5-mile brisk walk.

During the next week you may decide to increase the intensity of your workouts and the number of repetitions that you are performing.

The point I am trying to make here is that if you use an action plan, you are far more likely to make significant progress. If you stick the action plan in a prominent position at home, such as the fridge door, then it will act as a reminder of what you need to do the following day.

Tip 3 – Don’t neglect your aptitude testing ability

Whilst I recommend that you spend the majority of your pre-selection preparation working hard on your fitness, you should not neglect the important area of aptitude testing. During the selection process you will be required to pass an aptitude test, which will consist of a number of tests including numerical reasoning, verbal ability and mechanical comprehension. I recommend that you spend at least 30 minutes every evening of the week working on your ability to pass these tests. You may decide to obtain a helpful testing resource through the website www.how2become.co.uk. Just look for ‘Armed Forces Tests’ and you will find plenty of sample test questions.

Tip 4 – Train hard, race easy

If somebody finds a test or assessment easy, it generally means that they have prepared hard for it. If you work hard in the weeks leading up to the PRMC, then you should find that you pass it with very few problems. Yes, you will find it tough, but if you’ve trained above the minimum standards that are required, then you will pass with flying colours.

When I was 26 I decided to carry out an Iron Man challenge for a local charity. This involved swimming 2 miles, then running a marathon, before finishing off with a 120-mile cycle ride. I managed to achieve all of this within 9 hours. Whilst it was mentally tough, the physical aspect was easy. It was easy because I’d trained extremely hard in the 6 months leading up to the challenge. Train hard in the build up to selection, and you will certainly race easy!

Tip 5 – Technique is crucial

During the PRMC you will be required to carry out a number of sit-ups, press-ups and pull-ups within a two-minute period. Being able to reach the minimum standard is only part of it; you must also perform them using the correct technique. During the build up to selection make sure you practise each of the above utilising the correct technique. This will not only make your life a lot easier during the PRMC, but it will also impress the instructors and show them that you have really gone out of your way to meet their requirements.

To find out more about how to prepare for the Royal Marines Commando selection process, go to =>

How To Become A Royal Marines Commando

Essential interview skills tips from Richard McMunn – The UK’s leading career advice expert.

A job interview is your opportunity to shine. It is your chance to show the employer that you are the person for the job and that you will do all that you can to perform above and beyond expectations if successful. Just by being at the interview you should naturally be enthusiastic about the prospect of working for the company. Why be there, if your heart is not in it?

The psychological element of an interview is very important. Preparing emotionally for the interview is just as important as researching the company. Being in the right mindset will help you to perform at your best. There are many things that you can do to ensure you are in the right frame of mind, both immediately prior to the interview, and in the weeks and days leading up to it.

Some of these include walking, running, swimming or general exercise, eating healthily and also avoiding alcohol or junk food. To the majority of people, these small changes won’t seem worth the effort. However, through personal experience, these small changes can make a massive difference to your mindset and self-confidence.

Matching the job description and/or the person specification

Before you start preparing for the interview you must get a copy of the job description and person specification for the job you are applying for. The vast majority of employers will assess you primarily against these important documents. Your first task is to try to think of areas where you match the job description and person specification. It is vital that you can provide evidence of where you match the job description for the role that you are applying for.

This carries far more weight than people think. First impressions are so important. It says a lot about who you are. Remember that you only get one opportunity to create a first impression. Unless it is specifically not required you should always dress in proper business attire such as a suit and tie or equivalent if you are female. Your shoes must be clean too, and if you need a haircut, then get it done a few days before. I always advise people to prepare the night before the interview and lay everything out pressed and ready for the morning. Even down to your underwear, which sounds ridiculous, but it is all about limiting the stress that you will already be under on the day of your interview. The last thing you want to be doing is rushing around for your clothes or shoes on the big day only to find you threw away those smart shoes months ago!

Travelling to the interview

• How are you going to get to the interview?
• Do you know where you are going to park?
• Are the trains or buses running on time?
• Do you need a congestion charge ticket if in London?

These are all obvious questions but important nonetheless. Again it is all down to preparation. Remember to take a contact number with you just in case you are going to be late for the interview. Then you can call them well in advance to tell them you will be late due to a breakdown or traffic congestion. If you are travelling by car, don’t wear your jacket. Hang it up on a coat hanger so that it is not creased when you arrive for the interview.

Punctuality

This can be related to the above subject but is still just as important. Make sure you leave with plenty of time to spare before your interview. It’s far better to arrive an hour early than 5 minutes late! I usually arrive 30 minutes before my interview and sit in the car and re-read the job description for the role or information about the company that I am applying to join.

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