Assessment Centre Guide

What is an assessment centre?

An assessment centre — or assessment day — is a recruitment process used by some firms to compare and evaluate a group of candidates through a series of activities. It is usually held at the firm's office and combines individual and group tasks. It can run anywhere from an afternoon to two days, though a single day from 9:00 to 17:30 is typical. The purpose is a comprehensive read of your skills and your suitability for the role, against the other people in the room.

A typical itinerary

• 9:00 — arrival and introduction
• 9:15 — employer presentation and group ice-breaker
• 10:00 — psychometric tests
• 11:30 — individual task: in-tray exercise
• 12:45 — lunch
• 13:45 — group exercise: case study
• 14:45 — assessment interview
• 16:15 — individual presentations
• 17:15 — evaluation
• 17:30 — finish

Types of exercise

• Case studies
• Group discussions
• In-tray exercises
• Presentations
• Psychometric tests
• Role play
• Social events
• Written tests

Preparation

• Read the invitation email carefully. Note the arrival time, the location and anything you need to bring, and complete any preparation tasks in advance.
• Prepare for icebreakers. Have a few interesting facts about yourself ready, and questions for both the employer and the other candidates.
• Research the organisation. Its website, its social media, its key literature — business plan, financial reports, CSR strategy — and the trends, competitors and opportunities in its industry.
• Review your CV and application. You will be asked about both in the face-to-face stages.
• Use your careers service. University careers and employability services run practice resources, coaching and mock assessment centre interviews.

How to excel in group exercises

• Manage time effectively. Track the time allocated to each task so the group finishes within it.
• Encourage inclusive discussion. Make sure every voice is heard, and do not talk over people.
• Assign a scribe. One person taking notes lets everyone else focus on generating ideas.
• Balance leadership and teamwork. Strong leadership counts, but so does making sure every member contributes, every idea is considered, and everyone is acknowledged.
• Introduce yourselves first. A moment on each other's backgrounds before the discussion starts can change how the task is divided.

Presentations

• Support your main ideas. Concise anecdotes, relevant examples, statistics and facts make a point land.
• Speak clearly and confidently. Hold a steady pace, and practise by recording yourself.
• Maintain eye contact. With individuals in a small group; scanning across sections in a larger room.
• Use confident body language. Feet hip-width apart for a stable stance, and avoid crossing your legs.
• Use visual aids properly. They reinforce what you are saying — do not read from them.
• Conclude with impact. Invite questions, and thank the room for its time.

Things to be mindful of

• Stay focused on the next task. Do not dwell on a mistake — the exercises are scored separately.
• Show your working. Assessors want to see how you think and how you approach a task.
• Balance your participation. You do not have to be the loudest person in the room, but you do have to contribute meaningfully.
• Engage in the informal parts. Lunch and breaks are part of the day. If you are unsure what to say, ask the other candidates about university or their plans.
• Be yourself. Relax and let your personality show — assessors are looking for a person, not a performance.
• Find the balance. Not over-dominating, but not too quiet either.
• Show your problem-solving approach. Even a wrong answer scores if it demonstrates how you apply your skills.
• Dress appropriately. Smart business attire, as for an interview, unless you are told otherwise.

Practice scenarios

• In-tray exercise: practise here.
• Group exercise: AssessmentDay's recommendations.
• Case study: free sample cases.

All three, and the interview practice tools, are collected in the Resources tab.