Assessment Centre...advice please?

Acapella

Hi everyone...

I just got invited to my first assessment centre this Friday. I feel really anxious about the whole thing as I have previously only completed online psychometric tests!!

They said we will be doing 'objective ability tests' by paper and pencil so I am guessing numerical and verbal etc....

Does anyone have any advice on what to expect at these centres? Or any advice at all really?!:pac:

All the Best,

Acapella

the_syco

Is this as part of an interview process, or are you paying them to assess you?

Acapella

Sorry I should have said, its part of the recruitment process for a graduate job.

Its the first step really since the initial application consisted only of a cover letter and CV.

didntgotoplan

I've been to a few graduate assessment centre's. My first one was very daunting as I was the only newly no experience graduate there, while others had a good 5-10 years work experience on me as well. This kind of threw me a bit as I expected people my age and just finished college.

Usually the company will go through a presentation of what the company does (may ask questions, generally I found they didn't), then about the job and what they expect of you in the job and then they will tell you what is going to happen at the assessment centre.

They might pair you up with another candidate and prepare a career/education profile of that person. It shows listening, speaking to people, and remembering facts of another person. Other companies might let you have a chance to talk to other candidates, while they set up the assessment, instead. Then they might ask someone if anyone can introduce another candidate.

About written assessments- beforehand I googled a few and tried out some online. Sometimes you find some of the questions are they same but then other times you don't.

Generally written assessments I had:
personality questions- the way you think, relate to others, how you are motivated and what you want in the job
numerical questions- calculate the best price of a project, or data which you have to work out which one would be financially better for the company
reasoning/ situational questions- they give you a situation, what way you approach it
skill questions- you might need a certain skill for the job, like customer understanding skills and they asked questions based on what customers want.
competitors/commercial awareness-try and have a little knowledge about the outside environment of the company. I found it to be unusual generally, but one assessment question I got asked was about overcoming a competitor who had a better service than the company I was applying to :rolleyes:

Then they might divide you up for a team exercise. I found these fun to be honest!
My advice would be to:
listen to everyone on the team,
participate,
be friendly and polite (don't try to be overpowering/bossy)
be calm and don't panic, even if you are stuck for time (while completing the exercise is ideal, don't worry if you don't. They are looking at your interaction,leadership and teamwork skills)

General advice:
turn up looking nice and business-like,
better being early than late,
talk to the other candidates-they could be your fellow co-workers in the future
be yourself,
do the preparation about the company, skills company want and about the job,
be polite to everyone (recruitment team, other candidates, receptionist)
and remember why you want to work at the company.

Good luck!

tinnuvial

Regarding the written tests (numerical, verbal etc), there are lots of books with practice tests in them to help you prepare. Check your local library or book shop. Eason's certainly stock a few. SHL also has assessment center advice and practice tests. Good luck.

Acapella

Thanks guys for yer replies, there is some really good info there. I invested in a couple of those books a while back for some online psycho tests and found them really helpful!

I am just worrying about the numerical section of the test, without a calculator I fear I will fail miserably even though I have a high knowledge (Higher Level in Leaving) of maths, I am truly awful at adding and subtracting!! A blemish on an otherwise perfect record.......:pac: haha

Thanks for the best wishes guys...it really is much appreciated

All the Best,

Acapella