Assessment centres
Employers may invite you to an assessment centre as part of the recruitment process. You may be asked to perform various group and individual tasks, as well as an interview.
Support to prepare for assessment centres
We offer lots of support to help you prepare for assessment centres, including:
- workshops on interviews, group exercises and presentations
- assessment centre advice though bookable appointments.
You may also find the following resources helpful:
- Assessment centre exercises and examples
- What to expect at a virtual assessment centre
- Deliver a presentation worthy of a graduate job
- Six steps to a successful presentation
Group exercises
Assessment centres usually include one or more group exercises. These usually fall into four main categories:
- Group discussion on a general topic.
- Debating a work-related problem and reaching a joint decision.
- Deciding as a group on a list of priorities – for example, who to rescue from a cave or desert island.
- Completing a practical task together – for example, building a bridge out of straws and paper.
What assessors are looking for
- Whether you reach their competencies for the role
- Whether you are a good fit for their organisational values
- How you work as part of a team
- How you would fit into the organisation's work culture
How to make a good impression
- Understand the instructions
- Agree on objectives and priorities
- Be confident but not too assertive
- Actively listen by nodding, smiling and making eye contact
- Try to include quieter members of the group
- Keep an eye on the time and remind your group of how long you have left
- Be positive, even if the task seems trivial
- Put forward creative ideas
- Work well with other candidates to complete the task and reach a joint decision
Presentations
For your individual task, you may be required to give a presentation. You might be given a topic in advance or be given an allocated amount of time to prepare on the day.
What assessors are looking for
- Good presentation skills
- Strong non-verbal communication skills
- A clear and logical structure
- A good understanding of the topic
- Confidence and personality
- Your ability to keep to the time limit
How to make a good impression
- Use a clear, logical structure
- Identify key points to get across
- Make sure you have a strong beginning and ending
- Include interactive elements if you can
- Speak confidently and clearly
- Be yourself