ASSESSMENT CENTRES Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service You can download a copy of this presentation at

What is an assessment centre? A series of exercises, carried out individually or in a small group over one or two days, designed to measure the competencies needed in graduate recruits The final stage in the selection process Good news! Normally only 5% of the original applicants will get this far

Who uses assessment centres? Most large graduate recruiters including: The Civil Service Local government; the NHS Manufacturing companies Banks, chartered accountants Advertising agencies Consultancies The armed forces, police etc.

Why do employers use assessment centres? They are one of the most reliable indicators of successful future job performance They are a fair and objective selection method They assess candidates across a number of dimensions

What happens at an assessment centre? Group exercises: Discussions Practical tasks Role play Individual exercises: Written tasks In-tray exercises Psychometric tests Presentations Interviews A number of different exercises, which are likely to include: Plus socialising with assessors, fellow-candidates and recent graduates

The most frequently-used exercises at assessment centres Interview97% Psychometric test91% Group discussion89% Personality test79% Case study71% Presentation61% In-tray exercise48%

How will you be assessed? By people with clipboards! On a range of competencies that are important in the job you are applying for: For marketing it might be negotiating and persuading skills For computing it might be more problem solving and analytical skills By more than one person On your own merits

What are assessors looking for? Evidence of the competencies needed to perform well in the job. You have already been assessed on these on paper and at first interview… The assessment centre will look particularly at your ability to work with others, influence and persuade – and how others respond to you.

Group exercises Discussions Practical tasks Role play

Group Discussions Discussion of a general topic, e.g. Should tolls be introduced on all motorways? What can be done to improve the NHS? How can the problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption be tackled? Discussion of a scenario: Assessment of bids for lottery funding Shipwreck/desert survival

Group Exercises Practical tasks, e.g. Constructing a Lego tower or paper chain Creating an advertising campaign for a specific product Crossing a “shark-infested river”

Role Play Discussion of a given topic or problem Each member of the group allocated a role, e.g. Marketing Manager/Finance Director You will have information that other members of the group do not Need to reach an agreement or produce a recommendation

What are assessors looking for in group activities? Interpersonal skills Persuasiveness Co-operation and teamwork Analysis, judgement and decision-making Initiative and creativity Time management

Case Studies May be one of the group exercises and discussions, often involving role-play.. … or an individual task Will need to study the information you are presented with, pick out the key points and reach decisions … … which you may need to write up in a report or to present verbally

Presentations You may be given a topic in advance or allocated one on the day Keep visual aids simple and relevant You will be allowed to use notes – small cards are best

In-Tray/E-tray Exercises Simulates the work you will be doing if selected You will be given a number of messages – plus attached documents – that you might find in your inbox one morning Need to sort, prioritise and take or recommend action Time-limited: new s (and even phone calls) may keep coming in!

Interviews Likely to be more challenging and probing than previous interviews … … but will be with a different interviewer so be prepared for some of the same points to be covered … … especially anything that has emerged as a weak point at previous interviews

The Social Side May include coffee breaks/lunch with the assessors and/or meetings with recent graduates Not part of the formal assessment … … but anything you sayor do could be remembered

What happens after the assessment centre? or

How you can prepare You can practise for some exercises in advance ….. and keep up to date with current issues Think back over your previous interviews with this organisation Use the information sources coming up on the next slide!

Further help and information Assessment Centre Videos Web pages

Careers Employability Award on Moodle  Assessed by a range of quizzes and assignments  Will greatly improve your career planning and jobhunting skills, giving you strategies to make career choices and will increase your chances of getting a graduate level job.  Takes about 12 hours to complete  On completion you will get a University of Kent Careers Employability Award to add to your CV  Get 60 Kent Employability points for successful completion of the module.Kent Employability points  DX_CEA 

THE END …. of this presentation Careers and Employability Service At the end of Keynes driveway, Opening hours 9.00 am pm, Monday to Friday Duty adviser each weekday – and 2 to 5

ASSESSMENT CENTRES Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service You can download a copy of this presentation at