How to succeed at Assessment Centres Blackburn College CEIAG Team

1. How to succeed at Assessment Centres Blackburn College CEIAG Team

2. Session Aims • To help you prepare for assessment centres. • To give you an idea of what employers are looking for. • To give you a better understanding of the different types of activities that may be involved.

3. Does anyone know what to expect at an assessment centre?

4. What are Assessment Centres? • Often the last stage in a company’s recruitment process, if you have reached this stage, well done! • Companies only invite candidates to Assessment Centres if they have serious interest in them so use this knowledge to feel positive • They can be anything from half a day to two full days including an overnight stay • Will usually consist of between 6-25 candidates who are involved in a variety of exercises. Unlike other selection methods, you are not necessarily in competition with the other candidates at your assessment centre. The organisation may hire all, some or none of the candidates.

5. What are assessors looking for? Analytical Thinking Adaptability Commercial Awareness Communication Creativity Decision Making Negotiation Organisation Leadership Teamwork Planning Persuasion

6. Example assessment day • Assessment centres vary dramatically in length, style and content, but an example assessment day might be: • 09.00 - Arrival and introduction • 09.15 - Employer presentation and group ice-breaker exercise • 10.00 - Psychometric tests • 11.30 - Individual task: In-tray exercise • 12.45 - Lunch • 13.45 - Group exercise: Case study • 14.45 - Assessment interviews • 16.15 - Individual presentations • 17.15 - Evaluation • 17.30 - Finish

7. Activities Role Play Group Exercises Psychometric Tests Presentation Written test Personality questionnaire Interview In-tray exercise / Case study Social events

8. Practice tests – Test 1 Numerical: 1. What is the missing number? 1, 4, 9, ?, 25 A.15 B.16 C.17. D.18 E.19 45/9 = 12 - ? A.5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8 E. 9 Source: www.assessmentday.co.uk/assessmentcentre/real-examples

9. Practice Tests – Test 2 Verbal What is the meaning of irksome? Friendly B. Handsome C. Disagreeable 2. What is the meaning of colossal A. Gigantic B. Pedantic C. Frantic Source: www.assessmentday.co.uk/assessmentcentre/real-examples

10. Practice Tests – Test 3 Lateral Thinking A graduate applying for pilot training with a major airline was asked what he would do if, after a long-haul flight to Sydney, he met the captain wearing a dress in the hotel bar. What would you do? Offer to buy her a drink! The captain was of course a woman. Many airlines are now hot on equal opportunities and a candidate who had difficulty envisaging that an airline captain might be female would not go very far! Source: www.assessmentday.co.uk/assessmentcentre/real-examples

11. Role Play • Role play exercises make use of actors to simulate scenarios such as: • 1. An angry customer • 2. A dissatisfied shareholder • 3. A disgruntled colleague • 4. A failing supplier • You will be given a brief before you meet the role player, with instructions to try to achieve a particular outcome. • Some examples of what you might have to do are: • Placate a customer who is angry about a failed product, but you have been instructed not to issue a refund because they didn’t follow the operating instructions. • Encourage a colleague to pull their weight in a shared project. • Negotiate a pricing position. • Placate an angry supplier who can’t understand why his company has been dropped for another. • Source: www.assessmentday.co.uk/assessmentcentre/real-examples

12. Group Task • Tips on skills to demonstrate in the group exercise • You need to contribute, but not to dominate. Be assertive, but not aggressive. If you are aware that you are usually a shy person who does not speak up, do your best to participate. If you know that you can sometimes be overbearing in groups, hold that tendency in check. • Speak clearly and confidently. Listen and don't interrupt. Be aware of what others in the group are contributing. You could try to draw out quieter members and seek their views. • Be diplomatic. If one person is behaving in a dominant way, don't shout them down, but try to make sure that everybody gets a chance to share their thoughts. Be prepared to compromise. • Keep an eye on the time and stay focused on the overall objective. From time to time, try to summarise the group's progress.

13. GROUP TASK - ACTIVITY 1 • The Paper Tower • Rules: • You must only use the equipment you have been given • The tower must be free-standing (not taped to the floor/table) • The highest tower will be the winner • You must complete your tower in the time you have been given • My decision is FINAL!!! • You have 20 minutes • 1 of you will take on the role of the assessor.

14. S and B Banking – Business Scenario Due to local economic difficulties facing north east England, this year’s projections predict a significant drop in profits from S&B’s flagship retail banking service. The economy of the north east for many years has relied on heavy industry, particularly ship building, petrochemical refining and chemical production. Current economic pressures on these industries could lead to factory closures, causing a significant exodus of employees in the region. Due to S&B’s presence in the region, a migration of customers away from the north east will inevitably lead to loss of revenue, however at a board meeting a potential remedy was identified. Introducing a new online services division may allow S&B to continue providing banking services to customers regardless of their geographical position. This solution was met with mixed results by the board, with traditionalists favouring the conventional bricks and mortar style and modernists wanting to catch up with big high street banks. Senior management has asked for the input of junior management regarding the implementation of this service and its potential implications. As a group, identify the pros and cons of implementing an online banking service at S&B and decide on a way forward. Source: www.assessmentday.co.uk

15. Grading – what are assessors looking for in group tasks Source: Venture team building

16. Employers – real examples

17. How to prepare • Give yourself time to complete and practice any material that you've been asked to prepare. • Identify which skills, interests and experiences the employer is looking for by revisiting the job description and any other material that the company has sent you. • Practice potential exercises with a friend or family member. • Read the organisation's website, social media profiles and key literature (e.g. business plan, financial reports and corporate social responsibility strategy), ensuring that you're prepared to share your views and ideas. • Research the news, trends, competitors, history and opportunities of the organisation and its job sector. • Review your CV and application form. • Book an appointment to see a careers adviser in The Hub for further guidance and 1:1 interview coaching.

18. Resources The following websites have lots of information to help you prepare.

19. 1:1 Appointments available each day Book via Main Reception – 01254 292929 Drop-in Advice without an appointment available: Monday – Friday 11-1pm (Careers & Student Finance) Thursday – 4-6pm (Careers & Student Finance) For e-advice contact us on careers@blackburn.ac.ukstudentfinance@blackburn.ac.uk thehub@blackburn.ac.uk