Assessment centres
What happens at assessments centres?
To watch a video about assessment centres, login to UDo and click on "Careers" tab.
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Assessment centres are one of the most reliable methods of assessing candidates, often offered by larger employers either before or after an initial interview.
By giving candidates the chance to demonstrate their potential in a variety of exercises and settings, both individually and as a group, employers hope to gain a more complete picture of your skills and abilities.
Going to assessment centres can be a demanding experience. You may want to meet a careers adviser to help you prepare.
Assessment Centre activities
- Interviews - All assessment centres include at least one interview.
- Psychometric tests - Find out about the types of psychometric tests you may face.
- Presentations - You could be asked to present to other candidates and/or recruiters to assess your communication skills. The following modules will help you with your presentation skills and communicating confidently
- Group discussions - You will be asked to discuss a topic or topics with a group of other candidates and possibly also recruiters. Observers will take notes on candidates behaviour and contribution.
- Teamwork exercises - This could be a physical task, such as putting together a jigsaw, or a paper-based task, such as making group decisions about a business scenario. Recruiters are looking above all for assertive behaviour in working with others and working in teams
- Role play - You may be asked to role-play a situation similar to those encountered in the job you are seeking - particularly common in customer service and sales roles.
- Work-simulation - Role-play is one kind of simulation used in jobs involving people, but other simulations can be used according to the role. This could include practice in-tray exercises.
- Passive activities - This may be a company presentation, from which you are simply expected to absorb information which the company requires you to know.
- Semi-passive activities - Could include meeting recent graduates, company tour, social event, etc. You will be observed during all these activities and feedback given on your behaviour, social ease, use of conversation, etc.
What happens after assessment centres?
Ask about feedback on your performance if it hasn't already been offered. If you do not hear from the employer for 2/3 weeks, write or telephone to enquire whether a decision has been made.
