2. Information about……
• Assessment centres - what to expect
• How to prepare beforehand
• How to deal with tasks on the day
• Resources and further information
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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 comprehension
Diagrammatic reasoning
9. 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 be
called personality inventories
• Emotional intelligence tests
10. 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
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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/assessmentcentr
es
14. 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
Editor's Notes
welcome and introductions
.
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. Social/informal events - A good chance for you to find out more about the employer, you should behave in a way that reflects well on you.Selection Tests and exercises including ‘in’ or ‘e tray’ - Working individually or in groups you will have to answer questions, solve problems, make decisions and find information from different sources.Giving a presentation – Try to speak to your audience, don’t just read your notes, keep to the time limit, speak clearly and confidently.Group tasks, role play and case studies - Usually with six to eight people. Lead or chair a group, make sure you get everyone involved.An Interview - Which may be in depth so prepare well.
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time is the issue and lack of familiarity
.be yourself - your best self
Ask for this information if not given – could be part of the assessment
.
How to approach the case study exercise on the dayYou need to be clear about what you’re being asked to do. Understand what the problem is, what your role is and what your objectives are. Start by reading through the information pack and assessing which parts of the information are relevant.Manage your time. Allow time to prepare for the final presentation at the end of the session, and be realistic about how much you can fit in to it.If you’re working in a small group you could divide up the tasks between you. You could nominate someone to assess any new information passed to the group during the course of the exercise. You could also nominate a note-keeper.Don’t dominate, but do contribute to discussions. Articulate what you’re thinking. Ask for more information..Don’t lose sight of your objectives. The final presentation should be relevant, clear and concise, and should include a summary of your conclusions and recommendations