... this Thursday/Friday with Barclays Capital for a graduate Technology analyst role.

I have to go to London on Thursday and check into the hilton canary wharf then have dinner and drinks with Barcalys. Next day is the assesment day which is "a series of technical and competency interviews, group exercises and case study."

Im pretty apprehensive. I chose to do my technical interview on Java but I really cant remember much of it.

Anyone know any good revision site that basically define things like inheritance, serialization, beans etc.

Also what am I likly to have to do in a case study?

Dinner and drinks, the most important test.

Loads of people can do the technical stuff, you have to be social, interesting - and not drunk!

if theyre paying.. get loaded & pull a bar maid... & drag everyone to a nightclub

Then find a better placement

probably the worst advice.

do it, remain very pleasant, polite and honest, people will like you then.

Well ...

I went to the Hilton Canary Wharf on Thursday night and had a great meal.
Lovely food and got to chat with 8 or so high level employees inc the CIO of Europe. Was really good fun and interesting. Lots of wine and lots of stimulating conversation.

Then on Friday i had a technical interview, a competency interview, a group exersise (read a booklet and do a group discussion/presentation), a priororitisation test and interview and a few presentations on what Barclays Capital are offering.

I felt it went well overall. I got on really well with everyone I met. I wasnt as prepared on the technical interview as I could have been, I chose the topic of Java but it was more on project development and software design.

Had the dreaded phone call and I wasnt offered a full time place. They offered me a place on their intern programe for 10 weeks in July 08 at full pay with a high chance of being offered a full time place in early 09.

Not what I was hoping for but hey. Not bad for a first interview. Cheers for that tips, on the day I just did what felt right.

Maybe worth doing the internship then doing a masters for a year?

Before I started work at my last job they invited me to the christmas party to meet the team before I started. I got very drunk, started a shots drinking game with 4 of the guys and then went to a night club wiht a couple.

When I started a month later the IT director said I was just what the team needed and put me in charge of organizing social events

Grats on the interview, sounded like it went well! best of luck.

I think I have to really seeing as I dont have any other jobs in the pipe-line.

Its just a pain that its not full time work until 09, and its also not guaranteed. On the up-side that pay is WAY more that I was expecting.