What is an Assessment Centre?

What is an assessment centre?

Some job application processes can involve an assessment centre, for the recruitment team to use to identify suitable candidates for the position. They can be used to test candidates’ knowledge, utilising individual and group activities to test skills associated with the given role. It is a thorough process and can be used for hiring teams to attain more information on candidates to gain more confidence in their hiring decision. An assessment centre typically lasts between half a day to two full days.

Activities of an assessment centre:

There is no set way an assessment centre is run and will vary between organisations that use them. However, these are some common features of assessment centres:

·      Interviews: It is very likely a candidate will have to complete an interview during the assessment centre. Our website includes some useful information about common interview questions and how to prepare well for them.

·      Presentations: You may be tasked to complete an activity or research a certain topic and present this in front of a panel and/or other candidates. You may receive key information beforehand to help prepare for this presentation.

·      Psychometric tests: These involve testing certain skills candidates possess. Numerical tests are common, along with logical reasoning tests to measure aptitude.

·      Case studies: This involves simulating real-life scenarios and requires candidates to answers questions and analyse situations to test their skills responding to potential scenarios they would face in the role. This activity could be completed individually or as a group.

·      Role-plays: This activity involves the candidate having to put themselves in the shoes of a certain role relevant to the job and act out certain situations and how they would respond. This is regularly completed with one or more of the recruitment team.

·      In-tray exercises: This activity is used for employers to test candidate’s capability to handle the workload in the given role. It is used to test time management skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, management skills and prioritisation of workload. It could involve managing emails, tasks or key documents relevant to the role. This activity can also be completed online which are called E-tray exercises.

·      General group tasks: These can be implemented in the activities above or separate group tasks to examine how candidates work in a team and the role they take in this.

If you have an assessment centre coming up it is important to be aware of potential activities and prepare accordingly to ensure you are confident when attending. Some tips to prepare well would be to research the organisation, understanding their values and the specific role you have applied for. You can also practice certain activities mentioned above to gain more familiarity with potential tasks. At the assessment centre it is important to stay professional and actively participate in all activities, ensuring your voice is heard. Strong communication skills will be necessary in all activities and the ability to listen to others will be valuable. 

We hope you found this useful and if you are considering a job in the financial services check out our jobs page or contact us for more information.