I attended the Graduate Actuarial Analyst assessment centre in London in November 2024 and was appalled by the experience. The day consisted of a timed group case study (the only assessed part), an informal Q&A with employees, and a group activity. It was an utter waste of time and demonstrated complete disrespect for candidates. From the outset, it was clear that decisions about who would progress had likely been made before the day began. During the group case study, assessors only took notes on select individuals while ignoring others, including myself. The informal Q&A was equally disappointing. Most employees present were recent hires with just two months at the firm and were unable to answer basic questions, making the session feel pointless. The second group task involved building a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows. This task was insulting to our intelligence and unfit for a professional setting, more appropriate for schoolchildren than degree-holding candidates interviewing for a City firm. Adding further insult, I received an automated rejection email—sent by a third-party service—on a Saturday at noon. I only found it by chance in my junk folder. Feedback was nonexistent, which is unsurprising given the lack of note-taking during the day. On top of all this, it took over a month, after multiple emails and phone calls, to recover my travel expenses. This process was unprofessional, dismissive, and outright disrespectful. Graduates should think twice before applying to this company. It’s evident they have no regard for the time, effort, or dignity of their candidates. This was without doubt the worst recruitment process I have experienced in my job search.