Selection Process

The stages of the interview process are as follows:

Timeline

9 September 2019: Programme promoted through universities; Students apply via the website before midnight on the 13th of October 2019.

Mid-November 2019: Telephone interview with selected students.

Late November 2019: Semi-finalist students invited to complete an online assessment.

Late November - Mid December 2019: Finalist students invited to Odgers Berndtson office for a face-to-face interview and debriefing the result of the online assessment.

Early January 2020: Finalists are informed of the CEO they will shadow.

February-March 2020: Finalists spend a day working with a CEO.

Closing date for applications

Applications for 2019 close at Midnight on 13th October 2019.

Eligibility

The programme is open to 3rd and 4th year undergraduates in Singapore.

The three phases of the selection process

Phase 1: Applying for CEOx1Day

Eligible students must complete and submit an online application, which will be reviewed by Odgers Berndtson’s team of executive search experts.

The online application requires the following:

• The student's contact information
  
• University or college name and program
  
• A resumé summarising the student’s paid and unpaid work experience, extracurricular activities, community involvement or charity work, and awards
  
• Completion of two short-answer questions and 10 multiple choice questions.

Evaluation Criteria for Phase 1: Applications will be evaluated based on each student’s breadth of their work, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities and the quality of short-answer questions.

Timing for Phase 1: September 9 – October 13, 2019 (Application)
Approximate Time Commitment: 1h

Phase 2: Telephone Interview

Shortlisted students from Phase 1 will be contacted to schedule a telephone interview with one of Odgers Berndtson’s Consultants.

Evaluation Criteria for Phase 2: Applications will be evaluated based on their charisma, communication, inquisitive and motivation.
Timing for Phase 2: Early to mid November (telephone interview)
Approximate Time Commitment: 5 - 15mins

Phase 3: Semi-Finalists - Leadership Profile Assessment and In-Person Interview/Evaluation

Semi-finalists will be asked to complete an online assessment, Saville Wave assessment that profiles their skills, competencies and leadership potential. They will also be invited to Odgers Berndtson Singapore office for an in-person interviewing session and receive feedback on the Saville Wave assessment completed before the interview.

Evaluation Criteria for Phase 3: Odgers Berndtson has developed a custom leadership assessment for CEOx1Day applicants that identifies the strengths and competencies that reflect confident and ambitious individuals who handle stress effectively, are politically astute, dependable, and who value learning and developing new skills. For the in-person interview, semi-finalists will be assessed on how well they’re able to think on their feet as well as based on their overall fit with participating CEOs.

Timing for Phase 3: Late November - mid December
Approximate Time Commitment for online assessment: 30 minutes
Time Commitment for In-Person Interview: 1.5h

 

Pre-CEOx1Day preparation:

Semi-finalists to be informed of their matched CEOs and final preparation at our Odgers Berndtson office with our consultants.

Timing: Early to mid January 2020
Approximate Time Commitment: 1.5h

 

CEOx1Day Event

Each finalist will spend a full working day shadowing a CEO and learning about their background, career path, and how they create value in their organisation. Finalists will have an opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the CEO, attend meetings with their leadership team and tour the company’s Asia Pacific headquarters and site facilities. Each CEOx1Day experience is unique to the participating organisation, which ensures an even more meaningful and memorable experience for both the student and the CEO.

Duration: 1 day (any day between late January to March 2020)

CEOx1Day partners