Assessment centres

Welcome to theCareers andEmployability Centre

Information about……

• Assessment centres - what to expect

• How to prepare beforehand

• How to deal with tasks on the day

• Resources and further information

Assessment centres- what to expect

Assessment centres- what to expect

Assessment centres vary widely but typically include:

• Selection Tests and exercises including ‘in’ or ‘e tray’ - individually or

in groups you will answer questions, solve problems, make  decisions

• Giving a presentation – address the audience, clearly and confidently

• Group tasks, role play and case studies - get everyone involved.

• An Interview - which may be in depth so prepare well.

• Social/informal events – also part of the selection process

e tray/in tray exercise

It's a typical Monday morning the work has piled up and you have to

prioritise your tasks before a big meeting at 9.30 am………• In your ‘tray’ there will be a selection of requests, memos, phone messages and

information for you to deal with.• The principles for tackling e-trays are the same as those for in-trays

1. Read through all the information swiftly and start to prioritise

2. Decide on the most appropriate action for each piece of correspondence

3. Record and justify your decisions

Types of selection tests

Ability Tests

– taken under standardized conditions and with strict time limits

– paper and pencil or online, multiple choice questions, marked by trained

person or machine scanned, scored against norms

Personality Questionnaires

– provide information on a person’s preferences

– no right or wrong answer, usually get feedback

Ability tests

• Used as a predictor of future performance in a job• Aim to measure intellectual capabilities – also referred to as cognitive tests and

psychometric tests• Types of psychometric tests include:

Logical reasoning tests – assess critical thinking

Numerical reasoning tests – assess accuracy

and problem solving Verbal reasoning tests – assess accuracy

and comprehensionDiagrammatic reasoning

Personality questionnaires

• Used as an assessment for a particular type of job or sometimes further training or course and focuses on individual differences

• Aim to measure typical performance – unlike psychometric tests no right or wrong answers

• Personality questionnaires can also becalled personality inventories

• Emotional intelligence tests

Giving a presentation

You need to know – subject, length, facilities and visual

aids available and who the audience is.

Basics for preparing good presentations:

• Structure

• Content

• Engage with the audience

• Master the visual aids

• Practise is essential

Group exercises:Design a t shirt, build a bridge, write a jingle….

Used to assess communication and problem-solving skills in action, and to

ensure that you can work effectively in a team.

Aim to show yourself as a good team player – flexible, full of ideas but willing

to listen to and help expand the ideas of others.

Tips on skills to demonstrate in the group exercise• You need to contribute, but not to dominate. • Speak clearly and confidently. Listen and don't interrupt. • Be diplomatic, ensure everybody gets a chance to share their thoughts. • Keep an eye on the time and stay focused on the overall objective. • Try to summarise the group's progress as you go along.

Dealing with case studies –for example

• The scenario:

A publisher of scientific journals and books is looking to make a significant

acquisition. It has identified a target company and approached a number of

investment banks for their views on the merits of a potential deal and a target

price. Based on these presentations, the publisher will decide whether to

proceed with a bid and, if so, select one bank to act as their adviser.• The task:

Your team is one of the investment banks bidding to win the mandate. You need

to analyse the figures provided; to review the marketplace, your potential client

(the publisher) and the target company; and to prepare a five-minute

presentation giving your recommendations, eg whether to go ahead, go ahead

under specific conditions, etc.

Resources

• TARGETjobs - assessment centres

• Wikijob - assessment centre

• Graduate Prospects - assessment centres

• University of Kent - in-tray exercises

• In Tray Exercise - Free example with solutions

• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/applyingforjobs/assessmentcentres

How can you get more help?

• Briefings – Selection tests, Interviews, CVs and Applications• Careers Advisers are available daily. • Call in or phone 01273 678429 for CVs, personal statements, cover

letters and application form feedback, interview preparation• Come along to the events – listed on news & events page• Vacancies – jobs, internships, pt work, work experience • Follow us on twitter & face book