Assessment Centre - Advice please

[jmb88]

Hi all,
I finished uni for the second time back in September 2010 (have BSc (Hons) Environmental Science, and MSc Environmental Consultancy), and I've now finally managed to get myself almost into a job. I have an assessment centre for a job in the nuclear industry, relevant to my qualifications, on the 25th and 26th of this month, and to put it bluntly, I'm bricking it. Never had an assessment centre before, only interviews lasting up to 45 minutes, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect; I know there's presentations and group work involved, which should be ok, but also technical interviews and competency tests, so presumably I just need to swot up on anything I've ever studied that's even slightly relevant to this?
There will be up to 12 people total on the centre, and 5 or 6 jobs going, which I guess makes for reasonably good odds on getting a position...
So, how do I make myself stand out, generally kick ass, and get the job?

[rog007]

You'll need to demonstrate the competencies and behaviours that they are assessing you against. I haven't seen theirs, but I have seen (and indeed run) others. Re competencies, this is the easy bit; you either know it or you don't. If you do, try and demonstrate a greater understanding and wider awareness of the issue/s rather just on the task in front of you. Re behaviours; this is the hard bit. You're either a nice bloke who can not only lead from the front if neccesary, but are also a valued team member that gives others a chance to speak, be truly listened too and, if relevant, ensure their ideas are incorporated. Dress well too! PM me if more detailed support is required. Good luck!

[Lardydah]

Remember with assessment centres you are most probably being assessed from the second you walk in the door until the second you leave.

When you turn up at reception be courteous and polite to the receptionist, if you arrive early and there are other candidates already there don't be afraid to strike up a conversation (will help you relax also).

If it is a full day (or even if it is a half day) there will likely be informal opportunities to speak to the assessors (ie lunch or coffee breaks). Make sure you use these opportunities to show you have a personality and are able to get on with people.

Might sound stupid, but at some of the assessment centres I attended after Uni there were guys wearing scruffy shirts with a loose tie as if they were still at school. Make an effort in your appearance (shined shoes, suit, plain tie tied up properly) and it will show the assessors you are serious.

Most of all, remember most of the other guys are probably in the same situation and just try to relax and be yourself.

[jmb88]

Thanks guys. It starts at 6.30pm on the wednesday, finishes at around 5.30pm the next day, so I'm hoping that over that length of time I can show I have the necessary skills and qualities that are required; it's for a graduate scheme, so lack of relevant experience isn't an issue, just need to show that I'm capable of doing the job.

It's all at a hotel, as I'll have the whole of the wednesday off to allow for travel, I'll most likely arrive a few hours early and hit the gym so I'm a bit more relaxed in the evening, hopefully it'll stop me fidgeting. One thing I'm bothered about is wearing a suit, I so rarely have to wear one at the moment I find it hard to be comfortable when I do wear one. Guess that'll be the least of my worries once I'm there though.

Edited by jmb88 on Monday 16th April 15:03

Edited by jmb88 on Monday 16th April 15:03

[rog007]

jmb88 said:

One thing I'm bothered about is wearing a suit, I so rarely have to wear one at the moment I find it hard to be comfortable when I do wear one. Guess that'll be the least of my worries once I'm there though.

Edited by jmb88 on Monday 16th April 15:03

Edited by jmb88 on Monday 16th April 15:03

I'm afraid we still live in a world where first impressions do count and we all do have our prejudices about dress codes, whether we like it or not.

My only advice is go to a gents outfitters and get the best fitting plain dark suit and accoutrements that your budget allows for; a correctly sized shirt should reduce any discomfort. If money is no object, get yourself a bespoke made suit for even greater levels of comfort (£1400 is a typical price). Remember to get two pairs of trousers as these wear out faster than the jacket. Good luck!

[lazystudent]

jmb88 said:

Thanks guys. It starts at 6.30pm on the wednesday, finishes at around 5.30pm the next day,

Sounds like they will throw you straight into some sort of networking event on the Weds, maybe dinner and drinks and the opportunity to chat to some of their senior managers etc. Then, the more formal interviews and exercises will take place on the Thurs.

Make the most of thi- if it is as I say, then this is your chance to come across as likeable, willing to learn and someone they can have a laugh with- 50% of getting the job! All the standard stuff applies- don't get drunk, or tell any particularly edgy jokes unless you're absolutely sure they will get taken the correct way! On the other hand, don't be shy- try and get on well with the other candidates- there's nothing worse than the guy at the AC sat in the corner refusing to talk to the other candidates at 8.30 in the morming before the tests and interviews start- like another poster said above, chances are you're being watched from the second you open the door to the second you leave!

Also, as above, make sure you have a suit that fits you comfortably- that way you hopefully won't be worrying about whether you look good or not and can focus on the task at hand. No need to go and drop a grand plus on a bespoke suit (unless you have some serious money to burn), just make sure its clean and if necessary altered by a decent tailor. Shoes shined, teeth well brushed, nice haircut and shave, and you'll be fine!

ETA: been to a coupel of AC's so I know what they're like, albeit in a different career field!

Edited by lazystudent on Monday 16th April 17:13

[jmb88]

update for people - Got the job!

thanks for the pointers, was just myself, and for once came out of an interview without thinking "oh st, wish I'd said (blahblah)", that turned out to be a good sign.

hello proper career at last.

[rog007]

Top stuff; well done!

If you have the time, what might be helpful to others now still looking for work or who are about to attend an assessment process themselves is if you could give an insight in to the process you faced and what you think it was that made you stand out from the competition. Well done again!

[V88Dicky]

Well done that man!

Hope my assessment goes as well as yours did, next Friday. Interview -> Psychometric test -> Site visit (power station).

Wish me luck!

[jmb88]

rog007 said:

Top stuff; well done!

If you have the time, what might be helpful to others now still looking for work or who are about to attend an assessment process themselves is if you could give an insight in to the process you faced and what you think it was that made you stand out from the competition. Well done again!

Process faced was:

first evening - meet other candidates and assessors for an "informal" evening gathering, with a presentation on what to expect, followed by dinner and drinks (for which the interviewing company kindly ran a bar tab). I was relaxed, asked relevant questions, joked on a little, and tried to just generally be myself; put 3 pints of a weak ale on the bar tab, and bought myself a single malt whisky at the end of the night, while still sat chatting to the assessors.

assessment day:
-group exercises, where you got 15 minutes personal preparation time, before being stuck in a group with half the other applicants, to have what was essentially a business meeting - the 2 scenarios were a financial meeting, and a health and safety incident meeting, both of which had set outcomes that needed to be fulfilled (press release, preliminary report for HSE, how you would sort out company's financial issues). 4 assessors were present in each exercise. Again, I was just myself - not too dominant in the discussions, but prepared to stand my ground on what I thought was the right way to process in each scenario.

-personal presentation - 10 minute presentation on yourself, followed by 20 minutes Q&A on the presentation, done to 1 assessor, which wasn't too bad at all - there was time earlier in the day to prepare this.

-essay on why you wanted the job, which exact position interested you, and why.

-intray exercise, similar to the group financial discussion, but just brief written answers on questions based on a pile of intray documents, along with a simple mathematical question at the end.

-competency and technical interviews - definitely the worst parts of the process, with the dreaded "give me an example of when..." questions in them. fortunately, I'd prepared some examples for these, from my time at Uni, just in terms of familiarising myself with my old projects so I didn't have to struggle to think of examples.

I think the overall thing I'd say is, just relax when on one of these assessment centres, interact with the other candidates, show you're human, and just be yourself - if you're being fake, the assessors will easily see it, so no point in being something you're not.

[lazystudent]

Am I, or am I not, a prophet?

Well done OP

[jmb88]

lazystudent said:

Am I, or am I not, a prophet?

Well done OP

indeed.

downside to having got the job is, I'm off to speak to the bank manager tomorrow about a loan, to buy a 375bhp car... oops. still, you only live once, and I'll be (dare I say it) cycling or using public transport to work when I start...