An 'Assessment Center' does not refer to a location, but to a
process which is being increasingly used by organizations to
assess staff, either as part of the recruitment process or for
internal promotion. The Assessment Center involves a set of varied
exercises which are designed to simulate different aspects of the
work environment.
It can be usefully defined as ‘A method for assessing aptitude and
performance; applied to a group of participants by trained
assessors using various aptitude diagnostic processes in order to
obtain information about applicants' abilities or development
potential.’
Assessment Centers are usually used after the initial stages of
the selection process, because of the large amount of time and
expense in conducting them, and usually follow the initial job
interview. Other measurements such as psychometric tests may
complement the selection process. They are commonly held either on
employers’ premises or in a hotel and are considered by many
organizations to be the fairest and most accurate method of
selecting staff. This is because a number of different selectors
get to see you over a longer period of time and have the chance to
see what you can do, rather than what you say you can do.
Assessment Centers are seen as one of the most effective ways of
identifying top candidates who'll get on well with others and fit
in with the organizations culture. According to the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development's ‘Recruitment, Retention
and Turnover 2009 Survey’, 34 per cent of employers now use
assessment Centers when recruiting managers, professionals and
graduates. This figure will inevitably grow as organizations seek
to make more accurate selection and promotion decisions.
The most common type of Assessment Center exercises include:
During each exercise, a group of observers will rate you on a
range of set indicators, using a prescribed performance scale.
Results are then cross compared against the same indicators, which
are measured in other tests. Following test completion, observers
meet to discuss the test results and reach a group consensus about
your ratings.
Assessment Centers may be conducted by HR personnel within the
employer company or by outside consultants. They are highly
structured in their design, application, and assessment procedure
and are specifically adapted to assess factors such as your level
of skills, aptitude and compatibility with the organization's
culture. Each test measures a range of indicators within these
factors.
In Tray Exercises
If you are asked to do an in-tray exercise, you may be asked to
assume a particular role as an employee of a fictitious company
and work through a pile of correspondence in your in-tray. These
tests commonly measure job skills such as: ability to organize and
prioritize work; analytical skills; communication with team
members and customers; written communication skills; and
delegation.
You will be judged on how well you can: handle complex
information, determine priorities, make decisions within time
limits, display sensitivity to potential problems and communicate
clearly. Try to imagine that you are at work doing the described
duties, rather than just completing a test, but make sure that the
reasons for your actions are clear and documented - even if this
is just a note in the margin.
Presentation Exercise
These presentations need to be kept fairly short as the same
assessors will usually observe all of the candidates in order to
make sure that the assessment is fair.
You will usually be given a topic or possibly a choice of
topics in advance and will also be told the duration of the
presentation, usually around ten minutes with five minutes at the
end for questions. You can also expect to receive a list of the
presentation equipment that is available, usually an OHP.
Group Discussion Exercise
Group exercises involve candidates working together as a team,
to resolve a presented issue.
These exercises commonly measure interpersonal skills such as
group leadership, teamwork, negotiation, and group problem solving
skills. Group exercises may range from 'leaderless group
discussion' formats to problem solving scenarios.
Competency Based Interview
This may be either a panel or with one interviewer, or sometimes a
series of interviews with different assessors. Interviews at this
stage are likely to be more in-depth than those you experienced
during the first stages of selection and could be with someone
from the department to which you are applying or even with a
potential future colleague. Questions may refer back to your first
interview, to assessment center activities or to aptitude or
personality test results.
Role Play Exercise
You will usually be asked to assume a fictitious role and handle a
particular work situation. Role Plays usually use professional
actors who are clearly briefed about their role and how to respond
when you take a particular approach. A role play exercise allows
the assessors to see if you can play the role that is necessary to
address the situation they have created.
You may need to make a conscious effort to overcome your
natural responses in these exercises. For example, the assessors
are looking to see whether you can exhibit sensitivity or
toughness in those situations that require it, not whether you are
a naturally sensitive or tough person.
The Assessment Center Experience
While the Assessment Center process is intensive and commonly
viewed as stressful, it does provides additional opportunities for
those who feel that they are not able to demonstrate their
abilities fully during an interview. Assessment centers also
enable you to obtain a first-hand idea of what the employer
expects, and will provide opportunities for you to interact with
other participants during group exercises.
Many candidates underachieve on the day as they are unsure of what
to expect. At the very least you need to have good background
knowledge of the sector, the organization and its products and
services. Creating the right impression when everyone else is
attempting to do the same can be difficult. Just remember that the
observers are usually looking for candidates who show evidence of
being team players and fully commit to the tasks they are set. Be
adaptable in your thinking and recognize other candidates' good
ideas but remember that talking people round to your point of view
will demonstrate good communication skills provided that it is
done in a positive and inclusive way. Above all, remain positive,
team oriented and focused on the task.
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