What to expect at an assessment centre

Assessment centres

Many organisations use assessment centres in their recruitment processes for student and graduate recruitment�

What is an assessment centre?

Candidates are invited to assessment centres to undertake a combination of individual and group exercises� They are used by organisations to compare candidates on the same day and reduce the number of shortlisted candidates moving to the next round� The length of time you’ll be expected to present at an assessment centre varies widely, from as little as a few hours to as much as three days�

How to prepare

One of the main objectives of assessment centre recruiters is to see how you perform under pressure� As such, you should anticipate some degree of stress� People perform better when they know to expect stress and have done everything they can to manage it� You should also know what the schedule for the day is, read any preparatory material and double-check the dress code (typically formal)� It can be daunting, but remember: this is a chance to show off your skills and also assess whether the organisation is right for you�

Things you can do in advance include:

Know what is happening in the world� A general understanding of world politics and business will give you a broader understanding of most topics that can arise during formal and informal conversations�

Know what is happening in the sector� Be sure to know the most relevant updates� Research whether or not the organisation in question has been in the news lately� You should also familiarise yourself with any broader industry trends and news stories, and be sure to have an opinion� This may not be obviously relevant, but it’s the kind of thing a recruiter or fellow candidate might bring up in conversation� Know the competitors� This will help you answer any questions about where you think the future of the organisation will be� Will they follow a competitor who is doing well or are they doing things differently? Practise� Assessment centres often subject candidates to psychometric tests, verbal reasoning tests and numerical tests� You would do well to practise each of these – there are many online resources you can draw upon� Alternatively, you may contact a careers advisor for advice on how to prepare� Present� Some recruiters will ask you to prepare a presentation for delivery at the assessment centre� This will allow them to test your communication skills� Their attention will focus on the structure of the presentation, as well as its content and delivery�

On the day

Don’t be surprised if, on the day, you find yourself joined by a large group of people all applying for the same role� There will also be an organiser and various representatives of the organisation� It’s natural to feel some anxiety, but bear in mind that your nervousness is usually related to how others will react to your performance� The performance itself is a separate issue – something relatively within your control – and, if you’ve prepared well, then you have nothing to worry about�

Protiviti’s assessment centre will let them get to know you and how you conduct yourself around your future colleagues.