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Assessment centres

Assessment centres provide recruiters with the ideal opportunity to see how you would cope with a number of different situations designed to replicate the tasks and demands of the job.

The assessment centre will be formed of exercises or simulations which have been designed to replicate the tasks and demands of the job for which a candidate is being considered. These exercises or simulations will have been designed in such a way that a candidate can undertake them both singly and together and they will be observed by assessors while they are doing the exercises.

They can last up to a couple of days so try to be yourself – keeping up a façade for more than a couple of hours will be almost impossible. Remain confident and calm throughout and prepare by practicing some of the below exercises with your friends and family.

There are many different elements of an assessment centre including psychometric tests, presentations, group exercises and social events.

Assessors will not just be looking to see what you have to contribute, but how you do it. Be aware of you other group members and try to involve quiet individuals, whilst putting your points forward constructively, yet firmly.

These will often be something you have to put together on the day, however more often than not assessors will be looking at your presentation style rather than the content. This is something you can practice beforehand. Become accustomed to speaking in front of others and practice speaking clearly, slowly and confidently. Avoid reading off your notes with your eyes down and try to make eye contact with your audience by periodically looking up and scanning the room.

This is so potential employers can see how you interact with people socially. Whilst the assessors may say they are not testing you anymore, they will still be watching to see how to approach this activity. Avoid too many free drinks and potentially offensive opinions and remain confident but not over the top!

Just be yourself and remain good-natured and focused throughout the day and remember that to get to the assessment centre stage in itself is a big achievement.