Transcript Introduction to Assessment Centres – Preparing For

© Career Development and Employment
Service
Introduction to assessment
centres – preparing for graduate
recruitment
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Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
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understand the purpose of assessment centres in
the graduate recruitment process
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identify the range of activities commonly included
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identify steps you can take to prepare for
assessment centre activities
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What is an Assessment Centre?
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It is a series of activities, not a location
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Generally the last part of a selection process &
can last for 1 or occasionally 2 days
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May consist of interviews, ability tests & personality
questionnaires, group and team exercises, in-tray
exercises, presentations, social events & a site
visit/tour
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Why do employers use
them?
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More rigorous than a traditional interview as it gives
a more rounded picture of a candidate
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Allows employers to form an opinion of candidates’
potential future performance & suitability for the role
and organisation
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A chance for candidates to find out more about the
employer/organisation
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Interviews
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Possibly one-to-one and/or a panel looking for
evidence to show how candidates meet specific
selection criteria, therefore you need to give
examples to illustrate your suitability
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May address specific aspects of your performance
during the assessment centre process
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Preparing for Interviews at
Assessment Centres
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Similar to standard interviews
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Re-read important documents – job description and
person specification, your application, company
information
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Reflect on first interview and on assessment centre
activities (if applicable)
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Questions – what are they likely to ask?; what do
you want to know?
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Group exercises
Different types:
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Leaderless group discussion, maybe on a current topic
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Led discussion with candidates taking turns to chair the
meeting
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Role play – candidates allocated a role and a brief to “act out”
in the discussion
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Team tasks - problem solving using case studies/tasks
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Team games – competing against another team to complete
a task
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What is being assessed?
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Communication skills - how well you express
yourself, listen to others, participate and contribute
to the exercise
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Leadership/ Team working - supporting &
encouraging other team members
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Problem solving- ability to analyse a situation &
generate solutions
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Group exercises
Do’s
u Listen to others and
acknowledge their contribution
u Build on what others have said
u Be aware of body language
and tone of voice
u If you think the discussion is
straying from the point,
tactfully steer the group back
towards its goal
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Don’ts
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Talk across other people
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Ignore what someone else has
said
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Shout or appear aggressive
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Display negative body
language
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Opt out/not join in
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Presentations – What is
being assessed?
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Style of delivery and speaking – ability to engage
the audience
Structure (ie a beginning, middle and end)
Preparation and analysis of ideas
How well you convey information, knowledge and
understanding of the topic
Ability to use audiovisual aids/equipment effectively
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Presentations
Do’s
u Have a clear structure –
beginning, middle and end
u Use positive, open body
language and smile
u Rehearse beforehand and
check timing ( if possible)
u Find out what equipment will
be available for use
u Speak clearly and at an even
pace
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Don’ts
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Over-run the time allocated
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Obsess about the content –
how you do the presentation is
more important
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Use complicated visual
presentation techniques
unless you’re very competent
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Psychometric tests
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Tests typically used to measure abilities, aptitudes,
interests and temperament
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Generally 2 main types used in recruitment –
aptitude tests and personality inventories
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Aptitude tests likely to have strict time limits
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May be “pencil and paper” or online
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Psychometric tests
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Aptitude tests typically measure ability in:
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numerical reasoning
verbal reasoning
problem solving
diagrammatic or spatial reasoning
Personality questionnaires are used to gauge how
an individual might react in a particular situation and
relate this to potential “fit” within a team or
organisation.
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How to prepare
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Familiarise yourself with different types of tests.
Practice books may be found in bookshops and
libraries and are available for reference within the
University Careers Service.
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On line examples for practice can be found on the
Careers Service website:
https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/curr
ent/csmarket/testing/testing_home.cfm
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Social activities
This may include:
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Meals and coffee breaks
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Visits eg. visits to offices or ‘shop floor’
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Informal meetings with current staff
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Social activities
Do
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mix and engage with a
range of people
Don’t
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dominate conversation
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relax too much!
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listen and respond
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say anything indiscreet!
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network
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be careful around alcohol
reveal anything of a
personal nature
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be aware that your
behaviour is being observed
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In-tray exercises - what
are they?
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A timed simulated exercise in which candidates
assume a given role in a company
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Involves dealing with typical in-tray tasks - e mails,
letters, faxes, memos, reports, telephone
messages. Information needs to be assimilated,
tasks prioritised and appropriate action suggested.
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What is being assessed
Ability to:
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Analyse and make decisions
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Organise and prioritise workload
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Read and assimilate information quickly, identifying
key points
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Write effectively using appropriate format and
language
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Summary
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An assessment centre involves a variety of activities typically including
group exercises, psychometric tests, presentations, in-tray exercises and
interviews
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You should be notified in advance about the tasks included
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Preparation is essential – always consider what the employer is looking
for in each element
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For more information on activities and how to prepare see:
http//:www.prospects.ac.uk/interview_tests.htm
http//:www.targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/assessment-centres
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Career Development & Employment Service
(CDES)
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This service has a presence at both City and North campuses and offers
guidance and support to all students and to graduates for up to 3 years
after they leave. This includes:
The opportunity for individual discussion on areas such as career
planning and job/work experience search
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Workshops on a variety of job search topics
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Information on careers events and activities
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For more details on the services offered and on how and where to
access them please refer to the website:
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https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/
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Career Development & Employment Service
(CDES)
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The university Employment Service provides access to vacancy
information for full time and part-time opportunities, vacation work and
internships.
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For details on how to register go to:
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https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/theemployment-service/home.cfm
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CDES Contact information:
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North Campus: 1st Floor, Tower Building, Tel: 0207 133 2094
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City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: 0207 320 2380
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email: [email protected]
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