The document provides information and advice about preparing for and performing well at assessment centers for jobs or internships. It discusses what to expect at assessment centers, including selection tests, presentations, group tasks, and interviews. It offers tips for completing tests, delivering presentations, participating in group exercises, and interviewing. Sample exercises and schedules are provided. Resources for practicing and getting additional help from the careers center are also listed.

1. Careers and Employability Centre
Surviving
Assessment Centres

2. Information about……
• Assessment centres – what to expect
• How to deal with selection tests and tasks
• How to prepare beforehand
• Resources and getting support

3. Assessment centres – what to expect

4. 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
Example Assessment Centre Schedule
Assessment centres vary

5. The employer will be checking that you match their core competencies, strengths or job
criteria through different activities.
For example:
What employers are looking for
Competency Group
exercise
Analysis Role play Presentation Interview
Working with others Y Y
Problem solving and decision
making
Y Y Y
Communication Y Y Y
Plan to deliver Y Y Y
Customer focus Y

6. 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
Types of selection tests

7. Ability tests
Tests include:
 Logical reasoning tests – critical thinking
 Numerical reasoning tests – accuracy and problem solving
 Verbal reasoning tests – accuracy and comprehension
 Diagrammatic reasoning – logical thinking
• Used as a predictor of future performance in a job
• Aim to measure intellectual capabilities
• Also referred to as cognitive tests and psychometric tests

8. Read the information below and then indicate whether the statement that follow are ‘True’ or ‘False’ on the
basis of the information. If you think there is not enough information to make a decision indicate ‘Can’t tell’
The destruction of the world’s forests has proceeded at an alarming rate over the past two decades, mainly as
a result of economic pressures in the developing world. Forests of growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, but
this is released in to the atmosphere when they are cut down and allowed to rot, or are burn. The tropical rain
forests, home to half the world’s plant and animal species are of special concern.
STATEMENT 1: Growing trees contain carbon dioxide.
True False Can’t tell
STATEMENT 2: Countries in the developing world get much of their wood from tropical rain forests.
True False Can’t tell
Verbal Skills example

9. Read the information below and then indicate whether the statement that follow are ‘True’ or ‘False’ on the
basis of the information. If you think there is not enough information to make a decision indicate ‘Can’t tell’
The destruction of the world’s forests has proceeded at an alarming rate over the past two decades, mainly as
a result of economic pressures in the developing world. Forests of growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, but
this is released in to the atmosphere when they are cut down and allowed to rot, or are burn. The tropical rain
forests, home to half the world’s plant and animal species are of special concern.
STATEMENT 1: Growing trees contain carbon dioxide.
True False Can’t tell
STATEMENT 2: Countries in the developing world get much of their wood from tropical rain forests.
True False Can’t tell
Verbal Skills example

10. Personality questionnaires
• Used to assess your suitability for a particular
type of work
• Aim to measure typical performance –no right
or wrong answers
• Sometimes called personality inventories
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/selectiontests

11. Beforehand:
• Brush up on your maths
• Practise tests under timed conditions
• Contact the employer beforehand if you require
any special provisions or adjustments
On the day:
• Read instructions carefully
• Work accurately and fast, throughout the test
• Avoid spending too long on questions you find
difficult
• If unsure of an answer, enter your best choice
• If you have time, go back to any blank answers
• Don’t worry if you don’t complete the test – many
of them are designed not be completed
Tips for tests and questionnaires

12. e tray/in tray exercise
Example scenario:
• 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 are a selection of requests, memos, phone messages
and information for you to deal with.
• Prioritise your ‘tray contents’ and respond to the situation within a time limit.
The principles for tackling e-trays are the same as those for in-trays:
1. Read through all the information swiftly, pay attention to dates and start to
prioritise
2. Decide on the most appropriate action for each piece of correspondence
3. Record and justify your decisions
You can practise in-tray and e-tray exercises using our online resources
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/assessmentcentres

13. Giving a presentation
What do you need to know?
• subject, length, facilities available, who the audience is
Basic ingredients for preparing good presentations:
• Structure
• Content
• Audience engagement
• Confidence with visual aids
• Adequate preparation

14. Dealing with case studies
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.

15. Group exercises
Design a t-shirt, build a bridge, write a jingle….
To assess communication, team work and problem-solving skills
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 don’t dominate.
Speak clearly and confidently. Listen!
Be diplomatic, ensure everybody gets a chance to talk
Keep an eye on the time and focus on the overall objective
Summarise the group's progress as you go along.

16. You’re going on a 1-week camping trip in the UK with shelter provided.
The campsite has no direct car access and is:
• 25 minutes walk from the road
• 40 minutes walk from a small village shop
On the next screen are some objects you can take with you.
You have 10 minutes to discuss this in groups, choose and agree on
which 5 objects you think are the most important to take with you.
A speaker from each group must then report back and explain concisely,
which 5 objects they chose and why.
Have a go!

17. What will you take?

18. Could be:
• one-to-one interview
• a panel interview
• a technical interview
Questions might be:
• based on your CV
• about your motivations for the role
• based on the competencies required to do the job
Prepare beforehand:
• revisit the job description and original recruitment material
• review your CV and original application
• practise answering questions to help you structure your answers and think
about the examples you could use
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/interviews
Interviews

19. Using STAR to structure answers

20. • Usually a lunch or a drinks reception with recent
graduate trainees or senior staff members.
• Not formally assessed BUT staff taking part will be
asked for feedback on how you came across and
how engaged you were.
• Think of questions you could ask during the event.
• It's a good opportunity to find out information about
the company that isn’t obvious in recruitment
material.
• Don’t drink too much!
Social and informal events

21. 1. Call the recruitment team if anything is unclear or to
make any special arrangements.
2. Research the organisation and role
3. Research competitors, news and trends in the
business area
4. Reflect on your first interview – were there any areas
that caused you difficulty?
5. Practise tests and exercises
6. Practise answers to typical interview questions – check
the organisation’s competencies and job description for
clues
7. Plan your journey and read their instructions carefully
Preparation

22. 1. Remember you are being observed from the moment you attend
the centre until you leave; be professional and engaged
throughout.
2. Show enthusiasm and interest for the role and organisation.
3. Try to ignore observers and keep in mind that they're assessing
you against criteria and not against other candidates.
4. Speak clearly in interviews, presentations and group activities and
maintain eye contact.
5. Try not to dominate discussions and think before you speak.
6. Dress as if you're attending a formal interview. Smart is key!
Top Tips – on the day

23. Getting help - online resources
• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/assessmentcentres
• TARGETjobs - assessment centres
• Wikijob - assessment centre
• Graduate Prospects - assessment centres
• University of Kent - in-tray exercises
• In Tray Exercise - Free example with solutions
• https://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/engineering/284839-what-types-
of-exercises-are-used-at-assessment-centres-for-engineering-
graduate-jobs - engineering assessment tests

24. • Events – Selection tests, Interviews, CVs and
Applications
• Employer events and Careers Fair
• Book appointments and events via CareerHub, on
careers home page
• Vacancies! – jobs, internships, part time work,
work experience
• Careers Consultants available for one to one
meetings
• Follow us on Twitter & Facebook
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers
Getting help – support from Careers team