In this article we’ll be explaining what assessment centres are, why companies use them, top tips as well as exactly what you can expect from an assessment centre interview.
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What is an assessment centre?
An assessment centre is one way in which companies recruit new staff.
Generally speaking, assessment centres tend to be either half a day or a full day and are often held at the company premises. Over the course of the assessment centre, you will complete a range of activities, some of these maybe done individually, and some in a group setting.
Some of the common activities of an assessment centre are an interview, psychometric tests and a task that simulates what you might be doing in the job. We’ll go into more detail on each of these parts in this video.
What is the purpose of assessment centres?
Assessment centres are often used by companies when they are hiring people straight from education, or people who have limited experience in the type of job they’re interviewing for.
So instead of just going off answers in an interview, the assessment centre gives you a chance to demonstrate skills relevant to the job. It’s not really about testing your knowledge, it’s more about your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and your ways of working.
What should I expect in an assessment centre?
All companies operate slightly differently but I’ll give you an example of what an assessment centre could look like. You may be asked to bring some documents with you on the day to be checked such as certificates of your qualifications and some form of ID.
Once everyone has arrived you’ll be given a brief about how the day will run. If you’re wondering what some of the most common tasks conducted in an assessment centre are, some typical components include:
Psychometric tests
These tests are a way to measure cognitive ability, or to find out more about your personality. Numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning tests are common examples. Numerical reasoning tests require you to interpret data, find patterns and trends and make predictions. Non-verbal reasoning looks at how you analyse visual information to solve problems. There are free examples of these you can find online.
Interview
You may be interviewed by one or more people from the company. During the interview they may ask you questions about previous situations e.g. “tell us about a time you worked under pressure, how did you prioritise your workload”. The job description and person specification will give you details about the skills and experience they are looking for, so make sure you’re prepared for questions on those points. Keep your answers specific and relevant to the question that has been asked.
Work sample task
This may be an individual task such as coming up with a new idea for the company, or coming up with ways for them to improve something which already exists and then presenting your ideas back. If you do need to present, make sure as well as being clear about your points, you’re aware of your body language and be mindful of any time restrictions.
In groups you might be asked to focus on tasks or problems set by the company which may reflect the work you would be doing in the job, often with added time constraints to see how well you work under pressure. You’ll be observed by members of staff who will be taking notes.
It’s looking at how well you perform against the criteria they have, don’t think of it like a competition, it’s not about who talks the most - it’s about how well you demonstrate the skills and qualities they are looking for.
There are lots of myths about the group tasks like “make sure you are the person to write on the whiteboard” or “make sure you present back to the group but what really matters is that you make sure you put forward quality points, collaborate effectively, and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute.
Top assessment centre tips
Make sure you bring / prepare anything you’ve been asked to and if you have any questions about the day, contact the company for clarification.
Make sure you’ve done your research, not just about the business itself but look at the wider market, who their competitors are etc.
Make sure you are familiar with the job description and person specification so you know what they are looking for
Remember, the interview is a 2-way discussion, prepare questions you’d like to ask them as well
In a group task, include everyone and listen to their points of view.
And ultimately, be yourself, they’re looking for certain qualities and competencies, if you’ve got them they will come through naturally and if not then it wasn’t the right fit and you can look for your next opportunity.
BCS members can access exclusive content (via our Springboard e-learning platform) to help you prepare for an assessment centre such as:
