Transcript 2nd Interviews - UL University of Limerick

Assessment
Centres
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Why do Employers Use
Assessment Centres
• Used to assess if a candidate has the personal
qualities needed
• Used to predict future work performance
• Used to see if you fit in the organisational
culture
University of Limerick
Careers Service
What is an Assessment Centre
• Usually a 1 or 2 day selection process
• Attended by a group in the company premises
or a neutral venue
• Includes: Group exercises, In tray exercises,
Role plays, presentations, aptitude test &
interview
University of Limerick
Careers Service
What is an Assessment Centre?
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Usually a 1 or 2 day selection process
Company premises or neutral venue
Includes social or informal events
Meeting with recent graduates or
managers
• Simulates real work environment
• Varied activities to assess different attributes
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Typical Asssessment Criteria
• Teamwork
• Ledership
• Interpersonal skills – Communication, Networking
• Problem-solving/logical reasoning
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to think quickly on your feet
• Ability to cope with uncertainty
• Ability to see the big picture
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Diary of an Assessment Centre
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9.30
10.00
10.30
11.30
12.00
12.30
1.30
2.30
2.45
4.45
5.15
Meet other candidates over coffee
Group discussion
Fact-finding exercise
Interview
Aptitude test
Lunch
Case study exercise
Case study presentation
Group exercise
Company presentation by senior managers
Depart
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Careers Service
Assessment Exercises
• Group
– Group Discussion/Chaired Discussion Group
– Case Studies/Business Games/Outdoor exercises
– Informal Discussion with Employees
• Individual
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Personality and Aptitude Tests
In-tray Exercises/Written Exercises
Presentation skills
In-depth Interviews
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Informal Discussion with
Employees
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Network with other candidates and employers
Ask intelligent questions
Show interest in their work
Don’t drink too much
Don’t boast about what you can do for them
University of Limerick
Careers Service
In-tray Exercises
• Measures competencies such as Organisational
Skills, Planning, Communication Skills, Problem
Solving, Client Focus
• Based on typical day to day issues that may arise
• The contents of your “in-tray” might include faxes,
meeting minutes, emails, letters etc.
• Your task is to prioritise the tasks, take action and
give reasons
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Careers Service
In – tray exercise
Do
• Try to be clear about the instructions.
• Keep a sense of proportion - balance the urgency against how important
something actually is.
• Aim to focus on the essential points about the tasks not every minor detail
involved.
• Be specific when giving your reasons.
Don't
• Get distracted by irrelevant information or 'errors'.
• Spend too much time analysing the information.
• Over scrutinize the details.
• Try to do everything yourself - use other people in the organisation!
• DON'T PANIC!
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Group Discussions
• Given a topic to discuss – may be the
company, the industry, current affairs, recent
news headlines, university life etc.
• Usually a time period is given e.g. 30 minutes
• Observed by 2 or more staff members
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Group Discussion Exercise
• Working in groups of 6, you have two hours to
decide how to spend €1m for the benefit of the
business. Your company has acquired this through
selling off one of its chains of Italian-style
restaurants and you have to decide which parts of the
remaining business could benefit. You have a chain
of hotels, a small chain of up-market pubs, a chain of
travel agencies and five new leisure complexes. (You
will be given data about the performance of each of these
groups and you may be allocated a role as representing one of
these sections.)
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Case Study
• As an individual, you have 15 minutes to study the
following example of a problem which may face a
manager in our company. You may make notes if you
wish.
• As a group you will be asked to discuss the problem
and reach conclusions on it. These conclusions should
be unanimous and not decided by voting.
(45 minutes allowed for discussion)
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Careers Service
Group Discussions
• Be prepared – research the company, use websites,
brochures, trade journals etc.
• Be prepared – be up to date with any relevant
developments in the news – read the ‘quality’
newspapers
• Be prepared - Get some practices speaking up in
tutorials, clubs, societies etc.
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Chaired Group Discussions
• Candidates are chosen in turn to lead a group discussion
on a given topic
• Usually about 10 minutes each
Your role:
 Introduce the topic – manage the time
 Encourage contribution from participants
 Help to maintain the flow of discussion
 Summarise when neccessary
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Group Exercises
• How do you perform in a group setting?
• Are you a regular team player, a natural leader
or a maverick?
• Do you tend to be the ice-breaker, the
protagonist or the ideas generator in the
group?
• Employers are interested in the right balance
of characteristics
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Group Discussion Exercise
• Working in groups of 6, you have two hours to
decide how to spend €1m for the benefit of the
business. Your company has acquired this through
selling off one of its chains of Italian-style
restaurants and you have to decide which parts of the
remaining business could benefit. You have a chain
of hotels, a small chain of up-market pubs, a chain of
travel agencies and five new leisure complexes. (You
will be given data about the performance of each of these
groups and you may be allocated a role as representing one of
these sections.)
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Group Discussion
• Notice:
– Who talks the most
– Who strays from the
subject
– Whose arguments are
ignored
– Who insists on being
dominant, interrupts or
squashes other contributors
– Who doesn’t talk at all
+ Whose points are accepted
+ Who encourages others to
join in
+ Who introduces new ideas
+ Who listens before
contributing
+ Who builds on the ideas of
others
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Psychometric Tests
• Aptitude Tests - measure skills relevant to position
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Verbal comprehension - evaluate logic of text
Numerical reasoning - interpret statistical data
Diagrammatic reasoning - recognise patterns
Watch timing – complete as many as possible
• Personality Questionnaires
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Look at personality style
No right or wrong answers
Be spontaneous, don’t try to second-guess
Tests include built-in checks
Employers may be looking for different personality profiles
• Practice using online tests on www.ul.ie/careers
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Before the test
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Practice, Practice, Practice!
Get a good nights sleep
Do some basic maths revision
Listen to/Read the instructions carefully
Avoid spending too long on a question
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Careers Service
Presentations
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Prepare and practise
Have a structure
Think about the audience
Use some visuals
Have 4-5 main points
Don’t overload with information
Give an outline and summarize at the end
Watch the time
Finish on a strong note
University of Limerick
Careers Service
In-Depth Interviews
• Prepare
• Review CV, company information, job description
• Review skills checklist and think about evidence
• Prepare questions to ask
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Interview more related to work you will be doing
Interviewers much more technical in their questions
Interviewer might refer to some of the exercises
Person you might be working for will probably be
highly influential
University of Limerick
Careers Service
Resources
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www.ul.ie/careers - Destinations
www. targetjob.com
www.shl.com
www.realworldmagazine.com
www.gradirealand.com
DVD on Assessment Centres from Careers
Service
University of Limerick
Careers Service