How to Succeed at Assessment Centres

Assessment centres are not reality TV shows — you won’t be seen in the boardroom a la The Apprentice and you won’t be the victim of an onscreen sacking, either. So don’t feel obliged to behave like you’re taking part in a television show.

You’re put into a room with a group of strangers, asked to play games and then observed to see whether you will go through to the next round or if your progress ends there. The situation is ripe with uncertainty and it sounds just like a scene from The Apprentice. Unfortunately, that’s where some participants at assessment centres take their cue from and that’s also where they come undone. Here's why being at an assessment centre is, frankly, not at all like being in a reality TV show. First ofall, and most importantly, there is usuallymore than one winnerat an assessment centre — you are not in direct competition with the other candidates.

You are being assessed against the employers’ criteria, not against each other, and it’s important for you to show how well you can work in a team. You need to find a way to work together with your “colleagues” to achieve the goals and tasks set. Secondly, remember that assessment centres are also a two-way street — this is your chance to evaluate a prospective employer and see if the shoe fits. Better to find out now than a few months down the line!

Reality TV Shows Assessment Centres

There are group tasks for you to complete There are group tasks for you to complete

You need to strike a balance between fitting in and standing out from the crowd

You need to strike a balance between fitting in and standing out from the crowd

You entertain a mass audience You entertain no one

Your host reveals the rules of the game The task is described but not the underlying rules

At some point, you will face a judge on the show You will probably never meet the people who write the assessment about you

You will need to get on the right side of the judge

You are tempted into undermining your colleagues You are judged by how you performed doing the tasks. There isn’t a boardroom “execution”

The secret is to be who you are and get on with your colleagues

You know you’re on track when: • You’ve achieved a mix of taking charge and taking a back seat. • At the end of the day, you realise you actually managed to enjoy yourself.

Things aren’t going so well if: • You don’t meet anyone, fellow candidates and assessors, whose company you enjoy. • You walk away feeling suspicious, judged and anxious.

Graduate employers design their own assessment centres to test for skills and aptitudes that are right for their own organisations. However, most of these assessments typically contain similar elements and exercises. You can expect to do a combination of the following in most assessment centres: • Group work exercises • Presentations • Aptitude and psychometric tests • In-tray/e-tray exercises • Case studies linked to the job function

Recruiters will assess you for a number of things, including how you demonstrate core graduate skills and competencies such as communication, teamworkand problem-solving skills. The group setting also makes it easier for them to assess how well you work with others, how you influence and persuade and how others respond to you.

The good news is that these exercises make it much easier for you to showcase a broader range of skills and competencies than you could at a one-on-one interview (most assessment centres will also include at least one personal interview anyway).

This is why some employers feel that assessment centres are a fairerand more effective wayto select graduates than traditional interviews. Feeling worried? Don’t be! We’ll show you how you can get past these various exercises and even have some fun in the process!

• Don’t lose concentration

It’s going to be a long and tiring day, so try to make sure you have a good night’s sleep beforehand as you’ll need to stay alert and engaged.

Even if you are assured that the informal food and drinks do not play any part in the selection process, you should be careful not to gorge yourself. It’s best to assume that if you let your hair down too far, someone will notice.

• Get your hands dirty

Don’t stand back and turn your nose up. Group exercises are designed to see how well you work with others, so make sure you take part. Be enthusiasticand make an effort, whateverthe task. Besides, concentrating on the task at hand will help you to forget your nerves.

• Be professional

Arrive on time and look the part. Be friendly but polite. The assessment centre is partly a social exercise, so do chat with the other candidates during breaks and over lunch. Be prepared to initiate conversations. While it’s fine to make small talk with assessors, don’t be too familiar with them.

• Don’t fake it to make it

Be yourself but be the most positive version of yourself. Try to relax and behave naturally. You might even find it’s possible to enjoy yourself despite the inevitable nerves. A smile is more likely to make a better impression than a face frozen in fear.