Assessment centre formats

 The way assessment centres are run has evolved over the years. Below, we will summarise the different formats you may come across.

Traditional assessment centre

A typical assessment centre is normally hosted by the company at their premises, the duration of which can range from a couple of hours to an all day event. See below an example of an all-day assessment centre schedule.

• 9:00 - Arrival and introduction
• 9:15 - Employer presentation and group ice-breaker exercise
• 10:00 - Psychometric tests
• 11:30 - Individual task: In-tray exercise
• 12:45 - Lunch
• 13:45 - Group exercise: Case study
• 14:45 - Assessment interviews
• 16:15 - Individual presentations
• 17:15 - Evaluation
• 17:30 - Finish

Factoring in time to travel, it could feel like quite an intensive day. However, lunch and breaks are typically provided. Many employers opt for a half-day event instead, as it can be quite a resource intensive event.

Immersive assessment centre

In this type of assessment centre, you are immersed in a typical working day of a graduate recruit. For this, you will normally be provided with a room and a laptop, and trusted to prioritise your own tasks and breaks throughout the day. Typically, you will be provided with a calendar, task list and/or an email account, and it is up to you to manage your time and attend relevant “meetings” during the day. These meetings are often with other candidates where you will be asked to take part in a group activity or presentation exercise.

Many of the tasks used in an immersive assessment centre are the same as the traditional assessment centre, but the way these tasks are structured is designed to replicate a “typical” day at work. The employer should be able to brief you fully on what to expect and how to prepare for the day.

Virtual assessment centre

Many employers have moved their assessment centres online. The way that these are hosted by the employer can vary depending on the tasks they would like you to use, and the technologies that they have access to. For example, some employers may only have access to Skype, whereas others may have sophisticated, purpose-built software.

Virtual assessment centres tend to be shorter than traditional assessment centres. You may also be asked to complete individual activities in advance (e.g. in-tray exercises, online tests) in order to make the most of the day itself.

An example of a virtual assessment centre schedule:

• A few days before - Receive online tests (you have a few days to complete)
• 9:00 - Arrival and introduction
• 9:10 - Employer presentation
• 10:00 - Group exercise: Case study
• 12:00 - Assessment interviews
• 13:00 - Finish

Remember to follow the employers instructions carefully, and to make sure you are comfortable with using their technology.

Key Tasks

1. Get prepared through thorough research, mock assessment centre practice, and, if applicable, getting comfortable with presenting yourself online. See our advice on how to prepare for an assessment centre to find out more.

2. Please be aware that each employer will have their own approach to running their assessment centres. They will normally brief you in advance on how it will work, therefore, please do use their guidance as much as possible to help you prepare. If you have questions or technical problems after this, get in touch with the employer directly.