An Assessment Centre is not a place. It is a method used by employers to select the best candidates for positions within the Organisation. It is often used in Graduate Selection as it provides a systematic and reliable approach, which is both legally defensible and valid.
Psychologists have consistently demonstrated that the best predictor of future behaviour is past and present behaviour – thus using a competency based assessment approach, organisations have more of an opportunity to search for evidence to support any competencies that are required for a particular role.
The best way to assess whether an individual is likely to perform well in a role is to put them in the job itself. However, in reality this is not always feasible as the consequences of errors can be extremely high. Thus organisations develop assessment centres that use exercises which simulate the tasks required in the real job. These exercises require the use of the same competencies as would be required to do the actual job.
Several candidates are observed at each Centre. A number of Assessors observe candidates’ behaviour in various exercises and simulations. Psychometric tests generally form part of an Assessment Centre. They are also often used at the first stage of the selection process, in order to screen candidates prior to attending the Centre.
Typical Assessment Centre Exercises
- Psychometric Tests – Ability Tests and Personality Questionnaires which are often also administered online prior to the centre.
- Group Exercises - Each candidate in the group plays a designated role in a simulated work event, such as a meeting. The group is observed together by several assessors.
- Presentation Exercises – Each candidate individually presents on a specified topic to an assessor.
- In-Tray Exercises - A paper exercise in which candidates deal with items in an In-tray, which simulates the potential work environment of the position for which they are applying.
- Interviews – Competency-based interviews designed to ask candidates probing questions about past experiences where they have demonstrated a number of specified competencies that relate to the current job.
Each of the above exercises is designed to measure candidates’ performance against specified criteria. These criteria, or competencies, are clearly defined by the Organisation prior to the Assessment Centre – they have often been shown to be predictive of high performance in the job (known as validity). They represent essential skill requirements of the particular position for which candidates are being selected.
All Assessment Centre exercises are timed. It is therefore advantageous to practise beforehand, as this reduces precious time taken for candidates to familiarise themselves with the task once at the Assessment Centre.
The information provided in this section will help you understand each of the exercises that you are likely to undertake in more detail.
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