The
Careers
Service.
Careers Day
Assessment
Centres
• What to expect
• Why employers use them
• Chance to practise
• Top tips
1
The
Careers
Service.
What to expect
• 1 or 2 full days
Exercises / tests:
• Training centre or
company HQ
• Aptitude tests
• Information sessions:
• Social / informal
events:
• Staff /senior managers
• Recent graduates
• Practical task
• E-tray
• Group task & role
play
• Presentation
• Interview
The
Careers
Service.
Why?
• Chance to see you in variety of situations
• Assess skills and abilities – potential
•
•
•
•
WRITE about them on application form
TALK about them at interview
TESTED through psychometric tests
DEMONSTRATE them at assessment centre
• Fair & accurate selection
• measured against criteria - not each other
The
Careers
Service.
What might employers look for?
• Communication skills - oral, written
• Interpersonal skills - teamwork, leadership
• Self management skills - time management, selfconfidence, working under pressure, pro-active
approach
• Problem solving – analytical thinking, creativity
The
Careers
Service.
Assessment Centre Task
Chance to practise:
Group discussion - Lost in Peril!
10 minutes
13/04/2015
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2dhD9zR6hk
The
Careers
Service.
Group discussion – Lost!
How would you rate your contribution?
• What did you do that helped (or
hindered) the group complete its task?
• Did other group members impress you
by their contribution? What did they do?
• What would you do next time to improve
your performance?
The
Careers
Service.
Group Task – top tips!
Alumni / group feedback:
• Follow the instructions
• Contribute
• Not about ‘who speaks most’
• Be aware of group dynamics
• Listen, clarify, ask questions, involve others
• Concentrate on the process – not just the task
• Challenge ideas politely; if challenged don’t be
defensive
The
Careers
Service.
Success at Assessment Centres
• Alumni tips?
• Create a good first impression
• Be professional – appearance, behaviour & language
• Be nice to everyone...
• But not too sociable if it involves a late night/alcohol!
• Don’t forget your alarm clock if staying over
• Exhibit skills & attributes they seek at all times
• Each task is a new opportunity - move on!
• Pace yourself – need stamina
• Be yourself, try to stay calm & focussed!
The
Careers
Service.
Preparation
• Find out the format for the day
• Be clear about what skills or competencies they
seek
• Consider how you can demonstrate these on the
day
• Brush up on company and sector knowledge
• Reflect on 1st interview - how can you show you’ll
‘fit-in’?
• Practice tests, exercises & interview technique - use
resources available via the Careers Service
• What do you want to ask them?
The
Careers
Service.
What next? Investigate:
• Careers Service website:
• www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob/assessment.html
• Handouts/downloads/videos
• Booklets, ‘Assessment Centres’ DVDs and online talks at
www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob/assessment.html
• Practice psychometric tests
• http://www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob
• Prospects website
• www.prospects.ac.uk/interview_tests.htm
The
Careers
Service.
What’s on - Careers Service
• Talks- ‘Interviews’; ‘Psychometric tests used in selection’
• Assessment centre workshop
• Skills for Success activities
• Also: employer presentations, fairs and one-to-ones
• See website for details of what’s on:
www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/events
The
Careers
Service.
Your
questions
The
Careers
Service.
Finding opportunities
• MyVacancies – Careers Service website
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• www.targetjobs.co.uk
• www.gradcracker.com
• www.ratemyplacement.co.uk
• www.studentladder.co.uk
• www.step.org.uk/ (with SMEs)
• www.iaeste.org/ (international summer opps)
The
Careers
Service.
Finding/creating opportunities
...Overseas
The
Careers
Service.
Finding opportunities
• Proactive job search
• Find names of companies
• Identify name of key contact
• Write with tailored CV and cover letter
• Follow up with a call - Ask for ADVICE
• See Creative Job Search pages of
Careers Service website
The
Careers
Service.
Finding opportunities
• www.applegate.co.uk
• www.ipem.ac.uk
• www.jobs.nhs.uk
• www.abpi.org.uk - pharmaceutical industries
• Med Tech Innovation – supplier showcase
• Remap for voluntary work opportunities
• Medical Engineering Resource Unit volunteering and
vacation internship opportunities
• Limb Loss Information Centre (for a list of prosthetics
manufacturers)
The
Careers
Service.
Finding opportunities
Aerospace/defence directories
• www.applegate.co.uk
• www.careersinaerospace.com
• www.adsgroup.co.uk
• www.raes.org.uk
The
Careers
Service.
Tips on managing your time
• Automate your job search – set up alerts
• Apply early – less competition!
• Prepare now – before the pressure really mounts!
• Keep a folder/record of each company’s requirements
• Keep a ‘Word’ document of your answers to typical
questions (can adapt then copy and paste into the
application?)
• Economies of scale. Apply to several – offset the
preparation time
• Keep this ready for interview preparation
13/04/2015
The
Careers
Service.
Top Tips for International students
• See the International Students careers guide
• See the advice on Students Union web pages
• Be aware of the Tier 2 sponsors companies
• Apply early
• Apply in the appropriate way according to country
• see Going Global pages of Careers Service website
• Know what special qualities you bring to the company/role and
present these persuasively
• Eg language skills or cultural understanding
• Language skills
• Make the most of the English Language Teaching Centre
The
Careers
Service.
Summary
Inspired to apply?
Applications
Interviews
Assessment centres
Answered your questions
Introduced you to how the Careers Service
can help you
Lots of support and advice available
The
Careers
Service.
To get further help...
• Careers Service
• 388 Glossop Road (Mon to Fri)
• Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues)
• Faculty based (IPO office)
• Thursday –Mappin Building book for Careers
Appointment
• Placements Drop in
• Tuesdays – Careers Service 12.00pm-2.00pm
• Thursdays Mappin IPO Orange Room 12.30 – 1.30
The
Careers
Service.
Thanks to:
Alumni / graduates
Katharine
Mikil
Ketul
 To you
 Evaluation forms
13/04/2015 © The University of Sheffield Careers Service