Job Search - Interviews - Assessment Centres

Assessment centres use a range of techniques that are designed to simulate work situations. They give the company an opportunity to learn about your behaviour in an intensive situation.
The assessment can be anything from half a day to two days in duration. Usually you get an extended form of interview and are asked to participate in a series of exercises.

A Typical Day in Assessment Centre

1. Arrival and briefing session with the Personnel Manager
2. Group Exercise (observed by two assessors)
   e.g. to assess interpersonal and teamwork skills
3. Coffee
4. Work sampling exercise – to assess how well the candidate would be able to handle the job e.g. handling correspondence
5. Lunch with the manager and other candidates
6. Aptitude Test e.g. verbal and numerical ability
7. Coffee
8. Panel Interview

Remember: you may be under observation from the moment that you step inside the gate of the assessment venue!

Action Plan:

Visit the Career Development Centre, research the career area in the Occupations Section, get a copy of ’How to Succeed at Interviews and Other Selection Methods’, ask for books on selection methods and videos such as ’Two Whole Days’, practice by doing sample questions on our web site.

Group Assessment / Discussion:

Employers want to test interpersonal and teamwork skills by assessing how you relate with five to eight other candidates for the job. You will be given a topic or case study to discuss or a puzzle to solve in the group. The group may be leaderless or a chairperson may be nominated.

Students are usually advised:

• To assess the traits usually associated with the job, the culture of the organisation and the people employed there already
• Not to remain silent or non-participative
• Unless you are sure the job requires a very strong, brash character steer a ’middle track’ where you do not stand out too much

The solution agreed is not necessarily as important as the methods used and the ways individual members become involved in the exercise. If leadership is required for the job, for example, they may look out for the ability to use the strength of others and take decisions.

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