We all get nervous. From starting your first day at university, to preparing for a job interview, nerves can creep up on us all. Assessment centres can be daunting; however, exposure and experience to the process can help you become a pro in the job application process.
Channelling your nerves into motivation is a sure way to success when it comes to assessment centres. Below are some useful top tips to help you settle your assessment centre nerves.
So, what is an assessment centre?
The fear of the unknown is real. So, to help you feel less nervous about your assessment centre, we will explain what it is all about.
Assessment centres are about assessing your skills, knowledge and behaviour through a series of activities. The process will give you an advantage when applying for graduate jobs and placements. Assessment centres can take place both digitally and in-person, and can last from half a day up to a full day.
Employers use assessment centres to fairly evaluate how you perform in different tasks and scenarios. At an assessment centre, employers can observe how you apply your skills and knowledge to pressured or team-centred environments. The types of exercises used include:
Role-play exercise: This simulates a one-to-one stakeholder meeting between the candidate and a role player based on a specific brief. Candidates will have to prepare to meet the role player and will need to resolve the situation in a way that is mutually beneficial for both parties.
Analysis exercise/case study: This involves candidates being presented with information from various sources and formats relating to a relevant problem. The candidate must then provide a reasoned recommendation for their conclusions. The output may sometimes be to complete a written report or could involve presenting their recommendations followed by a question-and-answer session.
In-Tray exercise: The candidate will be presented with a list of tasks relevant to a specific scenario, including emails, complaints, reports etc., which will need to be prioritised and addressed.
Interview: Candidates may be asked to complete an interview in various formats; this could include a competency-based interview, strengths-based interview, technical interview or perhaps a combination of them all.
Presentation: Candidates may be asked to complete a presentation either on the day of the assessment centre or may be provided with a brief to prepare before the day. Presentations can take the form of a comprehensive brief or they may be asked to research a particular topic area.
Group exercise: This involves candidates being provided with a scenario or topic of conversation to debate in a group setting. The group will be required to discuss ideas and options and come to sound recommendations.
Assessment centre simulations are an opportunity to practise in a safe environment, helping you identify your strengths and areas to develop before attending an employer’s assessment centre.
Tips & tricks for managing your nerves
Preparation is key
Ensure you read all of the information sent to you from the employer. Make sure to check your junk folders, so you don’t miss anything important!
Employers will provide you with lots of resources and information as they want you to succeed. Going that extra mile by completing your own further research is a great way to make yourself feel more confident about the assessment centre.
Understanding all of the exercise information sent to you prior to the assessment centre, means you can prepare yourself to avoid feeling unsure or nervous.
Questions?
As the successful Malcolm Forbes once said, ‘The smart ones ask when they don’t know. And, sometimes, when they do.’
Asking questions is the only way to grow and gain knowledge. So, if you have any queries leading up to, on the day of, or after the assessment centre, always contact the employer to address any questions you may have. Getting answers to your questions will help to alleviate any nerves you may have.
Practice, practice, practice
If you are undertaking the role-play exercise, make certain you read the brief. It contains important background information, a description of the situation and notes about the person you will meet. An understanding of this brief will mean you will feel less nervous about the exercise.
The analysis exercise/case study requires you to provide reasoned recommendations, therefore to feel more confident about this exercise, you should ensure you can support all the points you make by conducting your own research and providing evidence.
When practising for the In-tray exercise, research again is key in looking at used practices and techniques for making decisions. This can help you in your decision making for this exercise and can give you knowledge of good choices to make.
Leading up to the day of your assessment centre, make sure you practice for your interview by reviewing your CV. This will help you prepare and feel confident to answer questions you may be asked about your experiences and skills.
If you have been asked to prepare a presentation for an assessment centre, make sure you fully understand the brief that has been provided. Use resources from us, the employer and any further external sources on how to create an effective presentation. Timing your presentation is also super important before the real thing; you will panic less on the day if you have a clear, timed structure.
For a group exercise, do your research into successful teamwork practices and read advice on working well with others.
Utilise your friends and family by practising with them for these exercises, this will ensure you feel more prepared for your assessment centre and help dissolve some of your nerves.
Breathe.
Sounds obvious, right?
Yet, so many of us overlook the clear physical and mental benefits of practising breathing exercises to calm our nerves. Online health websites such as Healthline provide helpful exercises that you could try to prevent anxiety on the day of your assessment centre.
For example, breathing in deeply through your nose for seven seconds and exhaling out your mouth for eleven seconds can help to rid your body of those pesky nerves. Repeat this cycle for as long as you need.
Health is wealth
Eating right, drinking lots of water, getting a good night’s sleep and doing regular exercises are all things that we know are important for a healthy mind.
A lack of any of these things can affect us negatively. Therefore, trying to adopt these healthy practices will help you become more positive both physically and mentally. Do this not just on the day of your assessment centre but also leading up to it. It is scientifically proven that these things all help to alleviate anxiousness.
Dress smart
If you look good, you feel good.
Make sure you are up and dressed appropriately on the day of an assessment centre is also vital in settling your nerves. What you wear can affect your mood and confidence, therefore take pride in your appearance and wear something that makes you feel confident and self-assured. Don’t dull your personality and self-expression, but ensure you dress suitably, as if you were in the workplace. We suggest attendees dress in smart casual, professional clothing that they feel comfortable in.
If you are unsure of what to wear or what is considered smart casual, do some research, or ask! The internet is your best friend in helping you learn, and people around you want to help too. Turning up to the assessment centre in tracksuit bottoms will negatively affect your confidence and attitude towards the rest of the day, as you will likely be in lounge mode. If you are dressed accordingly, we guarantee you will feel a lot calmer and more professional, which will directly relate to how you approach your tasks on the day.
We asked recruiters what top tips they had for attending an assessment centre
Links to more useful resources to help settle assessment day nerves
Check out our resources page by clicking the button below. This page includes handy, free materials to help you with your future job search. The page includes our Assessment Centre Survival Kit, e-books, employability webinars, goal setting and job searching planners, worksheets, CV checklist and templates, and a LinkedIn guide.
Click on the button below to watch one of our employability webinars for further information on assessment centres.
For some quick top tips on assessment centre success, click on the button below to watch our video designed to help you do well in your future assessment centres.