How to Succeed at Assessment Centres Imperial College London Careers Advisory Service

How to Succeed at
Assessment Centres
Imperial College London
Careers Advisory Service
Aims
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What are assessment centres?
Why are they used?
A typical one-day assessment centre
Individual and group tasks
Practical exercises
Tips for success
Further help
Assessment centres are about
Meeting people:
selectors, current
graduates, senior staff,
other candidates
Gathering
information:
about the organisation,
the job, and the
working culture
Demonstrating
your potential:
tests and exercises
about your
competencies
Assessment centres …
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… are used for selection by larger
employers to assess competencies
… can last from 1/2 a day to two days
… are considered a fair way of
assessing candidate’s skills and
abilities
… use a range of selection methods
for individuals and for groups
A typical 1-day assessment centre
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Introduction of participants and candidates
Company presentation
Individual presentations
Coffee break, socialising informally
Psychometric testing
In-tray exercise
Buffet lunch, socialising informally
Group exercise, solving a work-related problem
Interviews, ½ hour, skills-based
Individual tasks
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Socialising
- chance for networking, food and drink, still observed!
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Employer presentation, tour of premises
- description of company mission, structure, job functions
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Your presentation
- short presentation about a topic of your choice, often
prepared in advance, testing your presentation skills
- can be short verbal presentation about yourself by way of
introducing yourself in the group (similar to 30” CV)
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In-tray (e-tray) exercises
- about prioritising administrative tasks, timed exercise,
putting items in order (reports, phone messages, emails,
letters – providing notes with your responses)
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Interviews
- usually the “second” interview, small panel,
competencies, technical abilities
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Role play
- one of the assessors to take on a part which relates to
the role you’ve applied for (e.g. complaining customer)
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Case study
- scenario related to the role applied for, about analytical
problem-solving; asked for recommendations
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Psychometric tests
- verbal and numeric reasoning tests / personality tests
Group tasks
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Group roles with leader assigned
- members assigned a specific role and aim; may involve
arguing your case, negotiating, persuading others
- not about winning or losing but communicating
effectively in a group to achieve your goal
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Group discussion without a leader
- topic given, often timed and required to make a group
recommendation (often a group case study)
- get involved and contribute in whatever way you can
(e.g. leading, facilitating, generating ideas, encouraging,
monitoring progress, questioning, analysing)
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Practical team exercises
- Timed exercise, groups may be competing against one
another; task could be anything from building a
structure with simple materials to solving an imaginary
problem such as conveying ping pong balls from a to b
- Purpose to assess drive, leadership, creativity,
motivation, team working.
Exercise 1:
Over to you!
In-tray exercise:
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It’s Friday afternoon and you’re clearing
your desk, as you’re about to start your
holiday on Saturday. You still need to pack.
There are some items in your in-tray for you
to clear before you go. Decide:
A: What needs your immediate attention?
B: What can be postponed until you return?
C: What can you delegate to someone else?
Your in-tray
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Minutes of a recent management team meeting circulated for
your information.
A mail shot from a regular supplier, asking you to act within 5
days to qualify for a huge discount.
Phone message from the MD’s secretary. He needs to deliver a
speech at an important function tonight and wants to clarify
some figures.
Message from the marketing department – have you had a
chance to look at her proposals for your product. Arrange
meeting to discuss strategy?
The report of the latest customer survey you’ve been waiting
for with anticipation.
Exercise 2:
“Movies R Us”
A case study
Movies R Us – 1/3
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Your client is a small independent cinema.
Profits have been in decline for some time.
Your tasks is to suggest possible ways to
increase their revenue.
Background Information: 4 screens, opening
hours 2pm – 11pm, snacks and soft drinks
are on sale, average age group of visitors
18 - 40
Movies R Us – 2/3
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How would you tackle this exercise?
What factors do we think may have
led to a decline in profits?
What recommendations would you
make?
Discuss with your neighbour – 5 min.
Movies R Us - debrief
What recommendations would you make?
Key point: no right or wrong answers!
Answers might include:
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Show children’s movies to attract whole families
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Include special midweek deals (2 for 1)
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Extend opening hours to have morning screenings
for school children at weekends
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“Golden Oldies” nights to attract older people
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Investigate snacks – what sells well? What not?
What else might people want?
Tips for success
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Relax, be yourself and enjoy the event
Be pleasant and positive to everyone
including other candidates
Prepare a short introduction about
yourself that you could use in a group
introduction or during the interview
(why you have applied and what you have to offer)
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Prepare as you would for an interview
(research employer, read press releases, practise
questions and answers)
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Remain interested and involved
throughout, show enthusiasm for tasks
Make eye contact, speak up, speak
clearly, don’t interrupt
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When working in groups:
– join in
– try not to dominate, include others
– pay attention to time and check details
– articulate your thoughts and ideas;
be concise
– respect other views, acknowledge better
ideas even if this means changing your
mind
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You are NOT in competition with other
candidates!
It’s about how you behave and work
with them - some, all or none may be
selected!
Further help
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Watch AGCAS video/DVD about
assessment centres (approx. 25 min.)
Handouts about assessment centres,
group exercises, presentations
Reference books
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Good luck!