Press Releases
Assessment Centres

05 April 2007

With employers increasingly using Assessment Centres as a selection method in their recruitment process, we explain what an Assessment Centre is and what to expect as a candidate.

Assessment Centres are an ideal way for employers to combine a number of selection methods to test candidates' competencies and suitability. They can be tailored to any stage of the recruitment process, whether as a tool for shortlisting for interview or even at the final stage of the selection process. Assessment Centres can vary from a couple of hours to a whole day and usually involve participation in a range of exercises. These may be group activities, psychometric testing, individual aptitude tests and even interviews.

As a participant, attending an Assessment Centre is an ideal opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills and strengths to show the potential employer that you are the right person for the job.

How can you prepare for an Assessment Centre?

Research the company. This will provide you with an indication of the organisation's value and culture and may give you an idea of the style in which the Assessment Centre will be conducted and managed.
Research the job role. This will provide you with an idea of what the key competencies are and thus what you will be evaluated against.
Dress as you would for an interview, first impressions do count.
If an agenda is not provided, do not be afraid to ask the employer for an outline of what is involved. What kind of exercises will you have to take part in? Are they group or individual activities? How long will they last? Are there any outdoor activities? Will the interview be on the same day? What is the next stage after the Assessment Centre?
What techniques can I use?

Relax and enjoy yourself, aim to do your best and learn from the experience.
Have the right attitude. Whilst there is a certain element of "competition" do not approach the activities with the attitude that you have to "win" against the other attendees.
Be yourself, you may appear insincere if you try to be the person you think the assessors are looking for.
Whilst the criteria against which you are being assessed will depend on the job in question, you may be assessed against "people" skills, such as team working, communication, listening, initiative and motivation. Therefore, you will need to show that you can work effectively with others.
Participate and get involved in all the exercises.
Don't be put off by the other participants and how you think they are performing; everyone will do better in some exercises than others, so concentrate on demonstrating your own strengths.
What will happen after the Assessment Centre?

Take some time to reflect upon your performance and ask yourself what went well and not so well.
If the next stage is an interview, you may be asked how you feel you performed and how the day went.
If you are not successful, contact the employer to request feedback on your performance.
Finally, remember that even if you are not successful in securing the job, treat the Assessment Centre as a learning opportunity, which you can use to benefit from for the future.