What happens at an assessment centre
An assessment centre usually involves completing tasks and taking part in activities. The employer looks at how you work with others, deal with problems, communicate and contribute.
Australia's public service guide says agencies hiring for many jobs at once may use one.
One example: the UK Civil Service Fast Stream
The Fast Stream Assessment Centre is a half-day online event. It has three exercises:
- Written Exercise: you review project information and complete written tasks.
- Oral Briefing Exercise: you analyse data and brief a director, played by an assessor.
- Personal Development Conversation: a talk about your strengths, motivations and interest in the Fast Stream.
Each exercise is marked on its own, by different assessors. So treat each one as a fresh start.
Aptitude and personality tests
Psychometric tests may include aptitude or personality tests. They may assess numerical reasoning, abstract thinking, problem solving, how you work with people, or time management.
Read each instruction twice, and watch the clock. If the employer offers practice tests, take them to learn the format.
Work sample and take-home tasks
A work sample test means doing tasks like the ones in the job, such as a writing exercise.
For a take-home task, check the deadline, the format and how long they expect you to spend. Do what's asked, and do it well, rather than doing more.
New Zealand's employment agency tells employers that assessment tasks should not take too long. It also says applicants should be told about them in advance.
A rule worth knowing about unpaid trials
Some employers ask for a trial shift. Australia's Fair Work Ombudsman puts the line like this:
“If the person works longer than reasonably required to demonstrate their skills, they must be paid the appropriate minimum pay rate.”
In Australia, a short, supervised demonstration of your skills can be unpaid. If it runs longer than needed, you must be paid at least the minimum rate.
Rules differ by country. In New Zealand, the employment agency says a whole shift, or even a few hours, would likely count as employment.
Questions
Can I prepare for an assessment centre?
Yes. Read everything the employer sends, take any practice tests, and get used to explaining your thinking out loud.
Is unpaid trial work allowed?
It depends on where you are. In Australia, a trial longer than needed to show your skills must be paid. In New Zealand, a whole shift would likely count as employment.
How long should a take-home task take?
Ask if the employer doesn't say. New Zealand's guidance tells employers that tasks should not take too long.
Sources
Written by Seal the Offer from these pages, last checked on . Rules change, so check the employer's own page and the job ad before you apply.
- Interview tips · National Careers Service (England)
- 7. The interview and other assessment: cracking the code · Australian Public Service Commission
- Fast Stream Assessment Centre guide · Civil Service Careers
- FSAC: the assessments · Civil Service Careers
- Pre-employment trials · Employment New Zealand
- Unpaid work · Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia)