Large graduate employers usually use assessment centres to help choose their applicants.  This is where the organisation will watch potential candidates (usually a group between 6-20 people) undertake a range of activities, and in most situations they will see how they interact with other applicants.  Most sessions at an assessment centre last for one day but in some circumstances this could be for longer.  Recruiters use assessment centres to find out how candidates perform in various situations, which are often modelled on real life work-based scenarios.

 

Below is a list of activities that might be undertaken at an assessment centre:

• Interview

• Psychometric test

• Presentation

• In-tray exercise

• Written exercise

• Group tasks

• Role Play

• Case studies

• Lunch with employees

 

The Careers Service at the University of Bolton can help you prepare for your visit to an assessment centre.  You can make an appointment with a Careers Adviser |or call in to one of our drop-in sessions.

 

For further information on assessment centres please see the following:

• Visit the Prospects website for further advcie and support on assessment centres.

• Visit the Wikijob site for assessment centres and assessment days information.

• The Online Test Centre is a free service that offers numerical, verbal, diagrammatic and logical reasoning tests for students. Aptitude tests for students and job seekers.

  http://www.theonlinetestcentre.com/