Career Center – Assessment Centre

At an assessment centre, candidates are presented with various challenges and problems arising from everyday work situations, whilst being observed by selected company representatives and/or HR specialists or psychologists. An assessment centre can last from one to several days. The aim is to observe and assess the candidates’ competencies. These include, amongst other things, the ability to work in a team, leadership behaviour, communication skills, performance capacity, resilience and potential for development. The assessment centre also gives candidates an insight into the company’s requirements and allows them to review their own self-perception regarding their strengths and weaknesses.

The following exercises and tests can be carried out:

• Self-presentation
• Presentation/Lecture
• Role-play
• Group discussion
• Inbox exercise
• Stress interview
• Case study
• Tests on personality, general knowledge, specialist knowledge, performance and concentration.

The following tips can help you prepare well for an assessment centre:

• Research into the company and the working environment
• Practising a self-presentation or a talk, taking a time limit into account
• Practising discussion, role-play and group work (e.g. with friends)
• Practising different tests
• Pay attention to body posture and body language
• Developing possible solutions to work-related problems
• Developing the ability to concentrate

Please arrive on time and, if possible, try to familiarise yourself with the venue, the observers and the other participants beforehand. During the group exercises, please adhere to the communication rules and be friendly, open and solution- (rather than problem-) oriented. If you do offer criticism, please do so in a factual and constructive manner. Further tips for the day:

• Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not – stay true to yourself
• Show initiative and get involved
• The candidates are also observed during the breaks and whilst eating together
• Make sure you’ve had a good night’s sleep before turning up at the assessment centre
• Suitable and comfortable clothing

Ask the company for feedback; you have the right to know the outcome. Draw up a checklist for yourself to reflect on how the assessment centre went, what you did well and what you would do differently next time. Use your skills profile, values and interests to assess how well the role suits you.

Further information is available, for example, at absolventa.de