Assessment Centres – A daunting test or a walk in the park? - Dudley Child Executive Recruitment

There is an old cliché where failure to prepare is to prepare for failure.  Facing your first assessment centre can be a daunting challenge and like many other candidates, you will be unsure what to expect.  Preparation is one key that could lead to success.

Candidates who are invited to attend an assessment centre have already shown certain key competencies that would enable them to be successful within the role.  The aim of the assessment centre is to assess other competencies that ultimately cannot be tested within a standard interview technique.

The key in order to be successful within assessment centres is to fully prepare.  A good company will provide a full brief of what to expect throughout the day, this is the key to what they will be looking for.  There are numerous elements that make up an assessment centre and it is important to be prepared.  You should expect:

• At least one interview
• A presentation
• A series of Group Exercises
• Individual tests – usually in the form of psychometric testing
• Networking event

Carry out full background research on the company prior to the assessment centre.  It is important to have a generic overall perspective including the company performance, position in the marketplace, recent news article, main competitors and general market conditions. 

It is important to try and enjoy the day; assessment centres are a two way stream, one to find out whether the position is right for you and secondly for the company to see if you’re right for them.  If you are unsuccessful as a candidate at the assessment centre then always ask for feedback and use the experience as a learning tool in order to develop your skills for the future.

Dudley Child has recently expanded its portfolio of recruitment services to include assessment centres.  To discuss the suite of services that Dudley Child offer, please contact one of our dedicated consultants on 0113 246 8923 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it