Top Tips For Assessment Centre Interviews
Job interviews can be nerve wracking for even the most
seasoned job hunter, but assessment centres are a whole different ball game.
They’re not as common as traditional, face-to-face job
interviews, and sometimes spread over several days. Usually, however, they’re a
day long evaluation – an assessment of your abilities to perform under several
different conditions. According to Kent University, they’re one of the most
accurate and reliable ways of assessing job candidates.
A unique aspect of testing job candidates in this way is the
presence of other candidates. Not
only are you expected to interview well and complete individual tasks
efficiently, you’re also expected to demonstrate your ability to work well with
others in a group environment. In this scenario, the trick is finding a balance
between asserting your influence and allowing others to contribute as part of
the team – all the while making progress against the task.
It may be that you’re also observed during your ‘down time’.
Lunch breaks can be a great way of understanding how a candidate will interact
socially, so don’t be surprised if your assessors are still lurking when you
crack out the sandwiches. Be sociable, ask your peers where they’ve travelled
from or what interested them about the job.
As with any interview situation, it’s important to prepare
thoroughly. Make sure you know where you need to be and at what time, and be
sure to pack everything you need the night before. It’s worth bringing
a folder to hold your notepad and pens as well as any documents and agendas
you’re required to bring.
So, since assessment centres are growing in popularity, we
thought we’d put together an overview of what to expect, how to prepare, and
how to aim for the best result possible. Check out our guide below:
Have you experienced an assessment centre? Do
you have any insight to share about your time? Or maybe you’ve been on the
other side of the clipboard? We’d love to hear from you over on Twitter @viking_chat.
