Published: 30 July 2020
The Careers and Employability team at the University of Sunderland in London take you through what happens after you get invited to an assessment day. Get top tips to help you secure the job of your dreams.
“If your application to a graduate-level role gets past the first stage - shortlisting - you could be invited to an assessment day.
This involves a number of activities, often with other candidates, aimed at working out if you’re the candidate they want to hire.
They can include:
- Inbox exercises
- Group work activities
- Presentation skills
- Ability tests
- Personality tests
- Discussions
- Role-play exercises
Read more about assessment centres
How can you prepare for an assessment day?
Test yourself
Some companies examine your speaking skills or ability with numbers so it’s a good idea to do some practice before the day.
There are loads of books and online tests you can try, including:
- University of Sunderland Aptitude Tests
- Practice Aptitude Tests
Your performance
Remember that you’re being assessed at every stage of the event so be polite and friendly at all times.
Be aware of how much you’re listening, talking, offering ideas, responding to others and including the other people in the conversation.
Focus on understanding the instructions for the activity, and try to stand out.
You should also make an effort to chat with your fellow candidates at break times.
Self-awareness
Knowing yourself, your skills, strengths and weaknesses can really help your performance. To learn more about assessing your own abilities visit the Sunderland Futures website.
Research the company
Make sure you really understand the company:
- What do they do?
- Who are their customers?
- What is their position in the market?
Look at their finance reports, company beliefs, social media accounts etc.
Understand the industry
You should also have a good knowledge of the sector – current issues which might be having an effect on it, changes in technology, competition, policy etc.
The role
Read the job description and person specification again before the event. Make sure you’re clear on the job role and the kind of person they’re looking for.”
To get more information on assessment centres visit:
- Sunderland Futures
- Prospects
- Target Jobs Graduate Guide to Assessment Centres