Foundation
Assessment Centres
How to Prepare, Attend (and survive…)
Introduction…
• Vanessa Gough
• Professional Development Manager in Foundation
• Currently managing 32 recently-joined professionals and
37 Industrial Trainees
• Experienced graduate recruiter
• Experienced CV and application form “sifter”
• HOW many application forms???
• HOW many graduates interviewed???
Aims of the Presentation
To understand –
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What’s the advantage to the recruiting company of running
assessment centres?
What do they look for?
How do they find evidence?
How to prepare
How to survive…
And afterwards?
Some statistics…
• 4000 graduate applications received for this company per
year
• Approximately 3 assessment centres run a week
• 240 Industrial Trainees
• 305 current graduate hires
Why Assessment Centres?
Why Assessment Centres?
“To satisfy the vitality requirements of the organisation
through programmes aimed at recruiting, developing
and retaining high calibre individuals”
What do they look for?
What do they look for?
Professional/Commercial experience? - not necessarily
Academic Qualifications? - yes
Intellectual Capability? - yes
Transferable Skills? - most definitely (… and these might be ???)
Motivation and Drive? - yes!
Transferable Skills
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Adaptability
Client Focus
Technical Orientation/Passion for the Business
Team Work
Communication Skills
Analytical Reasoning/Problem Solving
Drive to Achieve/Leadership
How do they find evidence?
Logical Reasoning Exercise
Psychometric Test
Written/Verbal Communications Exercise
Group Exercise(s)
Interviews
How to prepare
Find out what the recruiting company DOES – what they
SELL – what they MANUFACTURE – find out what they
DO!!! and expect to be asked!
The application form is the first interview
Some hints –
• Spell check
• Sense check
• Grammar check…
…but grammar and punctuation don’t
matter, surely?
Dear John
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People
who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other
men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever
happy – will you let me be yours?
Gloria
Dear John
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people
who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other
men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever
happy. Will you let me be?
Yours
Gloria
Extracts from application forms…
I have a solid global awareness of business and technology, with strong analytical problemsolving skills, I occupy a drive to solving problems from conception through to completion,
with the verve and energy required to be a success with this company.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TOWARD NEW TECHNOLOGY.AS A RECOGNISED
COMPANY ITVIS ONE OF THEMOST POPULAR COMPANIES THAT HAS ALWAYS
PERFORMED A HIGH STANDARD PRODUCTS.
3.
Please tell us about any other achievements or positions of responsibility that support
your application
I have lived in several foreign countries, including <country name> for eighteen months
and <another country name> several times.
Extracts from application forms…
I have an aptitude for leaning
To succeed in sales it is imperitive you can communicate effectively.
During my time at <name of company>, I was suprised how much I enjoyed calculating
fugures and developing buisness acumen.
This gave me a competitive edge in versatility of all positions and was able to cover up
for any staff in any of these positions
On the day
Turn up
Turn up on the right day, at the right place, and on time
What’s the dress code?
Make an impression (the right way!)
Remove labels/stickers from clothes and shoes
Show some interest
Be yourself
Some questions to ask
How is performance evaluated?
What training will you provide?
How mobile do you expect me to be?
Will you tell me about the company’s culture?
When it’s over… it’s not over
Review the day…
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What went well?
What could have gone better?
Update your CV
Ask for feedback
View as good experience
Prepare for the next…
Do NOT think you are a “bad person” if you don’t get through!