Top Tips For Before, During and After an Assessment Centre

Before the Assessment Centre

• The assessment centre is designed around the requirements of the job. Analyze the job description to learn what assessors will be looking for.
• Find out as much as you can about the format of the assessment centre in advance, to focus your preparation
• Research the company in the same way that you would do for any other interview
• Find out the competencies and skills that the company is seeking from the job description. Identify examples of situations where you have demonstrated them and be prepared to talk about your actions
• Rehearse presentations and interviews preferably with an interview coach to get some real feedback
• Arrive within plenty of time on the day. There's nothing worse than walking in late when the day has already begun. Assessment days run strictly to time
• Practice for verbal and numerical tests and personality questionnaires at shldirect.com
• If you can't remember how to do some basic numerical calculations such as percentages, graphs and charts, refresh your memory!
• Be enthusiastic. Make sure you have a good night's sleep the night before so your energy levels are high

During the Assessment Centre

• Prepare a 60 second blurb about yourself and your background. You will always be asked to introduce yourself and tell the audience something interesting
• An assessment centre is a great opportunity for you to get to know the company and hiring managers in greater depth. Ask lots of questions and build rapport
• Accept that some parts of the day will go better than others and one bad exercise doesn't mean you haven't got the job
• You are not in direct competition with the other candidates. It's possible that everyone will meet the criteria the assessors are looking for. Speak to other candidates. This will help when it comes to group exercises
• Use all coffee and lunch breaks to speak to assessors and create an impact. Ask intelligent questions and show an interest in them and the company
• Be yourself. You won't help yourself by pretending to be someone you think the company want
• Try not to focus on the assessors. You can get put off by trying to gauge their reaction or by trying to read their notes
• Don't be tempted to launch straight in to exercises. Make sure you understand the instructions, facts and requirements of the exercise
• Make sure that you take the lead on at least one of the exercises. Remember that team playing is also a great attribute so include the whole group, to demonstrate good leadership skills

After the Assessment Centre

• Feedback is important even if you aren't successful. It will help you think about skills you could develop and improve. If you are successful the feedback will help you prepare for starting the job and the skills you can improve when you join
• If you are unsuccessful, take time to reflect on your performance while details are still fresh in your mind. Identify some specific actions that you can take to ensure that you are better equipped next time

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