Getting Through Assessment Centres – Top Tips from Graduates on How to Succeed

Assessment centres are a key part of the graduate recruitment and selection process, but many students and graduates find them a daunting prospect.

If you’re not sure what assessment centres are about and how best to prepare, then the recent experience of two successful graduates who applied for the Graduate Marketing Executive role with Victoria Plumb, the UK’s no 1 online bathroom retailer, will definitely be a helpful guide.

The candidates were given both individual and group tasks to complete on the day, although the process can vary from company to company as some may use only one type of activity.

Candidates were asked to bring in an email they had recently received that made them both open it and then visit the website/mobile site. They were then asked to prepare a short presentation about what was engaging and what they liked about it. This task was designed to assess the candidate’s presentation and communication skills.

Following this, they were then asked to have a go at writing Meta descriptions as part of a search engine optimisation task. This assessed their ability to work under pressure, and their written communication skills.

Candidates were also split up into groups of five and asked to design a new product, rebrand the company and finally prepare a group presentation to present their ideas. This task assessed candidate’s communications and presentation skills and their teamwork abilities.

Both graduates talked about their journey, right from the initial stages of applying to the end when they finished the assessment day, with some great practical tips to help you with your job search.

Make sure your CV is focused - you should always tailor your CV for the job you’re applying for. Find out what skills employers are searching for, and relate them to your experiences.

Getting online profiles right - if you’re unsure about what’s on your public profile, it’s always best to be safe and make it private. Try to have a separate email for work/interview correspondence and name it something appropriate.

Preparing before an assessment centre - always do your research on the company before you attend an interview. Know the job role and the kind of questions you’re going to be asked so that you can confidently answer them.

Image counts - you don’t always have to wear a suit, but you need to make sure that you dress as smart as you can. You need to make a great first impression so make sure you’re presentable.

Creating a good impression - be confident and try to relax as much as possible. Remember that everybody gets nervous, so just try your best to be friendly and you’ll eventually ease into it.

How to stand out in a group scenario - you don’t have to be a leader to stand out in a group scenario. Make sure that you contribute great ideas and try to get people to work together as a team.

The final interview - prepare for commonly used questions as you will get asked them. Try to relax as much as possible, be confident and get your personality across.

Exiting an interview/assessment centre day - final impressions are just as important as first impressions. Make sure that you remain professional and leave on a positive note.

Communication with company – emails need to be professional and tight, and certainly don’t make any spelling mistakes. Get someone to proof read and double check.

Final thoughts

Assessment days are nerve wracking, they can be very long duration (6-12 hours) so just try to enjoy the day, it’s important to come across naturally. Half the test can be over lunch when candidates are not being formally assessed. This is when people are getting to know you, and making mental notes. You need to remain as interested as possible and get your enthusiasm across.