What to expect?
Some companies run a series of extended selection procedures, called assessment centres, each lasting 4 hours or sometimes longer. Usually, these are after the first round of interviews and before the final selection but they can be used as an initial selection process. They are commonly held either on employers' premises or in a hotel and are considered by many organisations to be the fairest and most accurate method of selecting staff. This is because a number of different selectors get to see you over a longer period of time and have the chance to see what you can do, rather than what you say you can do, in a variety of situations.
Keep in mind the selection criteria you identified in your first interview or application form - every test, exercise and interview will match you against these criteria. Most assessment centres consist of a number of exercises, which will include a presentation, an individual exercise, group work and an interview. The exercises are designed to measure the skills and behaviours required to be successful, including flexibility, challenge, customer focus, cooperative commitment and results focus. Don't try and guess the type of person they are looking for and don't present yourself in a way that is not genuine.
Typical elements
Assessment centres typically include a number of elements:
- Social/informal events - where you could meet a variety of people, including other candidates, the selectors, recent graduates and senior management. This is presented as an opportunity for you to find out about the organisation and to ask questions in a more casual setting. These events may appear informal and not part of the true assessment procedure but you should behave in a way that reflects well on you.
- Information sessions - which provide more details about the organisation and the roles available. Listen carefully, as the information provided is likely to be more up to date than your previous research. If you are unclear about anything, ask. It is useful to have a question prepared for these sessions but make sure that the answer has not already been covered. Asking inappropriate questions just to get noticed will not impress the selectors.
- Tests and exercises - designed to reveal your potential. Selectors at assessment centres measure you against a set of competencies and each exercise is designed to assess one or more of these areas. Don't worry if you think you have performed badly at any stage; it is likely that you will have the chance to compensate later on.
The assessment centre is not a competition. Employers are not looking for how well you perform at the expense of other candidates; they are looking at your individual performance.
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