Selection tests and Assessment centres

Welcome to theCareers andEmployability Centre

Information about……

• Assessment centres - what to expect• How to prepare beforehand• How to deal with selection tests and tasks• Resources and further information

Assessment centres- what to expect

Assessment centres- what to expect

Assessment centres vary widely but typically include:

• Selection Tests and exercises including ‘in’ or ‘e tray’ - individually or in groups you will answer questions, solve problems, make  decisions

• Giving a presentation – address the audience, clearly and confidently

• Group tasks, role play and case studies - get everyone involved.

• An Interview - which may be in depth so prepare well.

• Social/informal events – also part of the selection process

Types of selection tests

Ability Tests • taken under standardized conditions and with strict time limits • paper and pencil or online, multiple choice questions, marked by trained

person or machine scanned, scored against norms

Personality Questionnaires• provide information on a person’s preferences• no right or wrong answer, usually get feedback

Ability tests

• Tests include:Logical reasoning tests – critical thinking

Numerical reasoning tests – accuracy and problem solving

Verbal reasoning tests – accuracy and comprehension

Diagrammatic reasoning – logical thinking

Used as a predictor of future performance in a job Aim to measure intellectual capabilities – also referred to as cognitive tests and psychometric tests

Personality questionnaires

• Used to assess your suitability for a particular type of work

• Aim to measure typical performance – unlike psychometric tests no right or wrong answers

• Sometimes called personality inventories

e tray/in tray exercise

Scenario:It's a typical Monday morning the work has piled up and you have to

prioritise your tasks before a big meeting at 9.30 am………• In your ‘tray’ there will be a selection of requests, memos, phone messages and

information for you to deal with.• The principles for tackling e-trays are the same as those for in-trays

1. Read through all the information swiftly and start to prioritise2. Decide on the most appropriate action for each piece of correspondence3. Record and justify your decisions

Giving a presentation

What do you need to know?• subject, length, facilities available, who the audience is

Basic ingredients for preparing good presentations:• Structure

• Content

• Audience engagement

• Confidence with visual aids

• Adequate preparation

Group exercises:Design a t shirt, build a bridge, write a jingle….

To assess communication, team work and problem-solving skills

Aim to show yourself as a good team player – flexible, full of ideas but willing to listen to and help expand the ideas of others.

Tips on skills to demonstrate in the group exerciseYou need to contribute, but don’t dominate. Speak clearly and confidently. Listen !Be diplomatic, ensure everybody gets a chance to talkKeep an eye on the time and focus on the overall objectiveSummarise the group's progress as you go along.

Dealing with case studies –for example

• The scenario:A publisher of scientific journals and books is looking to make a significant acquisition. It has identified a target company and approached a number of investment banks for their views on the merits of a potential deal and a target price. Based on these presentations, the publisher will decide whether to proceed with a bid and, if so, select one bank to act as their adviser.

• The task: Your team is one of the investment banks bidding to win the mandate. You need to analyse the figures provided; to review the marketplace, your potential client (the publisher) and the target company; and to prepare a five-minute presentation giving your recommendations, eg whether to go ahead, go ahead under specific conditions, etc.

How to approach the case study exercise on the day – 7 steps

1. You need to be clear about what you’re being asked to do. 2. Read through the information pack and assess what is relevant.3. Manage your time, allow time to prepare for the final presentation4. If you’re working in a small group you could divide up the tasks5. Don’t dominate, but do contribute to discussions. 6. Don’t lose sight of your objectives.7. The final presentation should be relevant, clear and concise, and

should include a summary of your conclusions and recommendations

Resources

• TARGETjobs - assessment centres• Wikijob - assessment centre• Graduate Prospects - assessment centres• University of Kent - in-tray exercises• In Tray Exercise - Free example with solutions• https://

targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/engineering/284839-what-types-of-exercises-are-used-at-assessment-centres-for-engineering-graduate-jobs - engineering assessment tests

• www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/applyingforjobs/assessmentcentres

How can you get more help?

• Careers Advisers are available daily. • Briefings – Selection tests, Interviews, CVs and Applications• Book appointments and events via Career hub, on CEC home page• Come along to the events – listed on news & events page• Vacancies! – jobs, internships, pt work, work experience • Follow us on Twitter & Facebook

www.sussex.ac.uk/careerscareerhub.sussex.ac.uk