assessment centres

ASSESSMENT CENTRES
Many recruiters use assessment centres as part of their recruitment process, both for graduate and industrial placement recruitment. These events are held over one or two days, usually at the employers premises or in a hotel. Employers like these because they are a more objective way to assess candidates, as opposed to relying upon a single interview. You are observed and assessed against a companys predetermined criteria, rather than measured against other candidates. You will have a range of tasks and assignments to complete, some individual and some in groups. In each case, the assessors will be looking for you to demonstrate that you have the particular skills and qualities to be able to perform well in specific areas of employment. A range of resources is available to help you prepare for this adventure, including leaflets, workshops, talks, website pages and videos. You can also find student feedback forms in some employer files in the Careers Resource Room.

Why are assessment centres used?

Assessment centres are a fairer and more effective selection process compared to an interview alone, which is likely to be more subjective. They also give you the opportunity to demonstrate a range of skills, not just your interview skills. Assessment Centres give you the opportunity to shine in a variety of settings, and are proven to be a more accurate way to recruit the best individuals for that particular job. The advantage for you is that if you dont perform well on one of the exercises, you can compensate for it in others. The employer wants to know: Can this person do the job? Will this person do the job? Will this person fit in? For you, the assessment centre is a chance to show why you should be chosen. It also enables you to find out about the job and the organisation remember that this is a two-way process.

Good news and bad news - Tips from a graduate employer:

Good news about assessment centres Youre one step closer to getting the job - Many other applicants will have been rejected before this stage. You are employable - Assessment centres are expensive, so everyone who gets invited is being considered seriously by the employer. You can mess up occasionally as long as you are OK overall. So theyre fairer than interviews. Bad news about assessment centres You are going to have to find out even more about the organisation before you get there. You cant get drunk, even if the drink is free! You may have to do a presentation. Good behaviour at assessment centres Being nice to other people. Dont see them as competition because you could all be selected. Contributing quality not quantity showing originality, making decisions, building on others contributions. Entering into everything with a cheery smile - even if they ask you to do strange things. Bad behaviour at assessment centres Being rude, dismissive or overly competitive with other candidates it will make the day harder for you, and the assessors will mark you down for it! Being over-enthusiastic. Its good to be keen, but dont overdo it. Talking too much - remember, assessors look for quality not quantity!

What to expect at assessment centres:

Assessment centres typically consist of a number of components, which may include: Social events, where you could meet a variety of people, including other candidates, the selectors, recent graduates and senior management. This is an excellent opportunity for you to find out more about the organisation, and to ask questions in a more informal setting. Information sessions, which provide more details about the organisation and the roles available. Listen carefully, as it is likely to be more up-to-date than your previous research. If you are unclear about anything, ask. Tests and exercises designed to reveal your potential.

The chart overleaf gives an indication of the range of activities involved, though not all of these will form part of every assessment centre.

What to expect at an assessment centre:

Activity
Business games, case studies, discussion You may have a leaderless discussion, a practical task to undertake, an itinerary to plan or something completely different. The most important aspect is how you all work together in a group. Assessors will be observing you.

Tips for success

Its vital to contribute so the assessors have something to assess! Dont dominate proceedings Be enthusiastic and listen to what other people are suggesting Be assertive but not aggressive Be prepared to compromise Be aware of the various roles others are playing and be prepared to fill in the gaps. See the tips below for individual presentations, but make sure that everyone knows what they have to do. Analyse the information Plan the structure of your report Think about using headings and bullet points for clarity Write clearly ensure you meet the requirements of the task. There is often a time limit pay attention to it Skim through all the items and prioritise Pay particular attention to the dates of items and the sender/nature of report, etc Be prepared to discuss your decisions. If you can, choose a topic you know well Think about your audience and how you can keep their attention Structure your presentation well and stick to it Dont read from a prepared script, but use prompts or overheads as reminders Practise beforehand if you can and familiarise yourself with the AV equipment Dont go into too much detail, but be clear and concise and keep to time. Get as much practice as you can Attend the sessions run by the Careers and Employability Centre Try the examples on www.careers.lboro.ac.uk under Applications and Interviews If you have special requirements, you must let the employer know in advance Listen carefully to the instructions Ask questions if you are unsure about the procedure Keep an eye on the time you might not be told how long you have left If you get stuck on a question, leave it and go on to the next Dont worry if you dont finish, just work as quickly and accurately as you can. Be positive in your responses Dont try and guess the right answer therell be other questions on similar lines which could catch you out. All the tips for first interviews apply make sure you prepare in advance. If its a panel interview, direct your answers to the person asking the question, but maintain eye contact with all the members from time to time. Designed to see how you cope with social situations. Dont drink too much, remain interested and make intelligent conversation.

Group events

Presentations

Following a group exercise, you may all be asked to present your findings.

Report-writing, case-studies

In-tray exercises

Presentations

Designed to test your written communication skills written reports and data could be provided. You may be required to recommend a particular course of action from the information you are given. You are provided with a selection of typical in-tray items and youre also often given the context, ie your position, reporting lines or type of business. You will need to recommend appropriate responses. You may be given a topic to prepare beforehand or on the day. You will make your presentation in front of selectors and possibly in front of other candidates.

Individual activities

Tests

Formal, timed tests, usually covering verbal and numerical reasoning, but might also include spatial and diagrammatic tests. They take the form of multiple choice questions in most cases. You will be given full instructions before you start the test and some example questions to try.

Personality questionnaires

Interview

These are not tests, but may have a time limit. There are no right or wrong answers the tests are intended to give the employer a profile of your interests and working style. There may be a panel interview at this stage, which could concentrate on earlier exercises or could be technically- or business-focused. Dinner or lunch with recent graduates and a tour of the premises.

Socialising, tour

The candidates view:

An Assessment Centre for a Tax Position The assessment centre I attended for a tax position included a brainstorming group activity based on the question what would happen if a law were passed forcing all able-bodied people to do an hours exercise every day? Its important to practise this sort of thing beforehand remember to think about business and industry implications as well as social and legal consequences. Use your imagination and be concise. After this, I had over an hour to read information about four possible sites for a company expansion and give arguments for and against each recommendation. There is no right or wrong answer - its your technique thats important, and the way in which you analyse and present your information. I thought Id done badly but was told later that it was good, so its obviously sometimes difficult to tell how things are going. Over lunch with a recent graduate, I used the time to find out exactly what the position involved, what the company culture was like and how to survive the first two years. Although this is informal, keep your guard up, behave professionally and be as charming as you can. You never know what might be repeated.
Harry Cheng - Business Administration with German

An Assessment Centre for a Human Resources Position From my experience at an assessment centre for a human resources position, I would suggest the following: Role-play exercises - use the time well, try not to run out of things to say, and at the same time make sure that you say what you really want to. Group discussions - demonstrate not only leadership qualities, but also listening skills. Put forward ideas, try to get others to build on them with you and make sure that everyone is involved by asking questions like what do you think? Oh yes, and dont interrupt people or try to speak over them. All in all, I would say try and relax. It might seem like a long day, but time does go quickly and everyone is very friendly. Make sure you use the day to find out more about the company and the job.
Miranda Lacey - Psychology

What are the assessors looking for?

In virtually all assessment centres you will be assessed against a set of pre-determined criteria. The company will have decided upon the skills and qualities they believe to be essential in successful candidates. These are some of the skills most employers seek: Communication Skills (spoken) Job Motivation/Enthusiasm Written Communication Skills Assertiveness Innovation & Creativity Teamwork Skills Planning/Organisational Skills Decision-Making Leadership Potential Flexibility Analytical Ability Different skills will be assessed in different exercises. For example, it is clear that in a group work exercise assessors will be looking for evidence of teamwork, good time-management and communication skills. In an in-tray exercise, written communication, planning and analytical skills and decision-making ability are all assessed. Assessors are usually assigned to different candidates for different exercises to maintain objectivity. They will often use assessment sheets and score candidates against the criteria for each exercise. Try your hardest to forget that the assessors are in the room. Just be yourself and do the best you can!

Top tips for success:

Revisit your application form to ensure you know how you answered those initial questions Brush up on your interview techniques which have probably served you well already Ensure that you know as much as you possibly can about the company Identify which skills and qualities the organisation is seeking and how you can demonstrate that you have these and could apply them to a work situation Be friendly and positive and make a contribution - the assessors need something to go on! Make the most of talking to recent graduates about the company Join in, even at meal times. If you find small talk difficult ask about the other candidates courses and where they are studying Prepare yourself as thoroughly as you can. The Careers and Employability Centre has lots of resources to help you (see list overleaf) Ask for feedback whether or not you are successful - you need to know how you could improve your performance Be yourself - if you put on an act, youll find it hard to keep up, especially if you get the job!

Further information and resources:

Takeaway Careers and Employability Centre Leaflets: Preparing for Interviews Interview questions Psychometric tests Other Resources: Intray exercise (can be borrowed overnight) Practice psychometric tests, on sale at the Information Desk AGCAS DVDs: Workshops and Talks Making an impact - the graduate job interview. At the Assessment Centre Reference books: Succeeding at Assessment Centres for Dummies Job Interviews - top answers to tough questions How to succeed at Interviews and other selection methods Practice Psychometric Tests See our Careers Events Programme available in the Careers and Employability Centre and on our website. The Careers Guide - Loughborough - section on interviews. Collect your free copy of the Guide from the Careers and Employability Centre. Careers and Employability Centre website www.careers.lboro.ac.uk > Advice and Guidance > Applying for Jobs > Interviews www.careers.lboro.ac.uk > Advice and Guidance > Applying for Jobs > Skills Employers Seek www.targetjobs.co.uk - tips on interview techniques. www.prospects.ac.uk > Careers Advice > Interview tests and exercises

Careers and Employability Centre Herbert Manzoni Building Opening times: Monday to Thursday 9.00am-5.30pm Friday 9.00am-5.00pm (closed 12.30pm-1.30pm during vacations) September 2010