Assessment

Centre Skills
Cambridge University

Katie Johnson
Objectives of this session

• To give an insight into recruitment process

&
• To provide practical advice on attending assessment
centres
The Graduate Recruitment Process

Attracting

Application Form

Selecting 1

Selecting 2

Offer
How many get through?

Applications 33%

First Interviews 33%

Assessment Centres 50%

 Offers
What is an Assessment Centre?

Employer
“An alternative selection tool which allows the employer
to test candidates in a variety of different situations”

Attendee
“The most terrifying experience of my life during which,
rather unfortunately, I acted as if I was a somewhat
disturbed individual having a particularly bad day”
 The popularity of different assessment methods
100% Interview
100%
96% References Personality
93% Application forms questionnaires
90%

References
80%
Astrology
70% 70% Ability tests
64% Personality questionnaires Application
60%
59% Assessment Centre forms
50% Ability tests
40% Interview
30% Bio-data
20% 19% Biodata Graphology

10% Assessment
3% Graphology centres
0% 0% Astrology
 Accuracy of some methods of selection
1.0 Perfect Prediction

0.9 Structured Interview

0.8 References
0.7 Astrology
0.6
0.6 Assessment centres Personality questionnaires
0.57 Ability tests

0.5 Unstructured Interviews

0.43 Structured Interview
0.4 0.39 Bio-data Ability tests
0.37 Personality questionnaires
Assessment centres
0.3 0.28 Unstructured Interviews
Bio-data
0.2 0.2 References
Graphology
0.1
0.03 Astrology
0.02 Graphology
0 Chance Prediction
Content of an Assessment Centre

• Interviews

• Psychometric Testing

• Exercises
Interviews

• Not the same as your first interview

• Still need to prepare!

• Go on an interview skills training course

Interview preparation

• Know yourself and your achievements

• Know what employers want in their graduates

And then…..

Do your best to bring the two together

Know yourself and your achievements

• Similar to application form

• 3 year plan

• List and consider all your achievements

• Think about your strengths and weaknesses

• Know why you want to do the job

Qualities that employers look for

• Academic achievement

• Drive and leadership potential

• Intellectual skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Career motivation
Drive and leadership potential

• People who have done something different

– People who can differentiate themselves

• Ability to get the job done

• Pro-activity
Career Motivation

• Desire for, and understanding of, the job

• Genuine interest in (the) business

• Research!!

• Reasons for career choices

– Job
– Company
Preparation for Interviews
(Bringing the two together)

• Prepare for questions

• Think about your examples

– How can you fit them in?
– How are they relevant to what employers want?

• Research!!!

• Practise interviews – Careers Service, friends,

parents….
In the interview

• Body language from start to finish

• Dealing with hard questions

• Get to specific examples

• Concentrate on what you did

• Don’t over-answer or get too technical

 Psychometric Testing

• Aptitude Testing
• Numerical Ability
• Verbal Ability
• Abstract Reasoning
• Mechanical Reasoning
• Personality Testing

The results of psychometric tests usually used as a tool to

supplement the information already gathered on the candidate
What to expect

Tests may include:

• Shapes or Patterns
• Number or Time Sequences
• Words or Phrases

You may be asked to:

• Find the odd one out
• Identify the next sequences or what is missing
• Find opposites or identify similar meanings
Exercises

Typical Exercises may include:

Job Specific Individual Group

Exercises Exercises Exercises

Group discussions
Team building
Individual presentations
Group presentations
In-tray exercise
Analysis Report writing
Written exercises
In-tray Exercises

• Tests various skills including:

• Ability to understand and interpret information
• Planning & organisation
• Ability to provide well-reasoned conclusions
• Decision-making
• Written communication
• Financial/problem solving skills
Case study exercise

• Analysis of business information

• Extracting relevant information & making
recommendations
• Limited time frame

Need to learn how to process information quickly

and accurately!
Case Study Exercise - EXAMPLE

A business in trouble

• Issues facing business

•Analysis and recommendations

A business in trouble

PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT

Sales 1,000,000

Cost of materials (400,000)

Cost of wages (300,000)

Cost of rent (300,000)

Cost of advertising (200,000)

LOSS (200,000)
A business in trouble

What could they do?

• Lay off staff?

• New product line/target market?

• Cost cutting measures?

• Takeover/merger?

• Something else?

Advise your client on the pros and cons of each!

Group discussion & Team building exercises

Skills being assessed:

• Communication & persuasion
• Understanding of material
• Listening
• Compromise and flexibility
• Utilising all team members
• Team dynamic
• Not only looking for “Leaders”
Group discussion & Team building exercises

•Know what you want to say

• Put your points of view forward clearly

• Listen to, and build on, other’s points

• Help the group reach goals

• Be prepared to change mind

• Body language

• BE PART OF THE TEAM

What can go wrong?

• Individuals pursuing personal objectives

• Lack of flexibility

• Aggressive or submissive communication

• Lack of trust

• Lack of enthusiasm
Indicators in group discussions

• Confident v Cocky

• Listening v Speaking

• Body language

• Derogatory comments
 Teamwork

‘No matter how much work you can do, no matter how engaging
your personality may be, you will not advance far in business if
you cannot work through others’

John Craig
Individual/Group Presentations

You may need to present by yourself or with others

• Identify main points to convey

• Structure presentation

• Good eye contact and body language

• Do not over-rely on visual aids

• Try to be CONFIDENT!!!

Go on a presentation skills course if possible

Final advice to candidates

• Play an active role in any group exercises

• Be part of the team
• In written exercises, make use of headings and PLAN
• Try to incorporate your own business awareness
• Be confident, speak clearly and precisely
• Keep to the time frames given
• Meet all of the objectives set out in all exercises
Ernst & Young requirements

• Grade A or B for GCSE Maths and English language

• 300 (24) UCAS points
• 2.1 Degree in any discipline
• Some roles require higher academic qualifications and
specific degree backgrounds
Thank you!

Any questions?