Eron Ibrahimi
So, you’ve finally landed that coveted assessment centre invite for a graduate scheme – congrats! But now what? These things can be seriously daunting, a day crammed with tasks designed to push you to your limits. I remember my first one – which ended up going surprisingly well. But after a few under my belt with a couple offers and rejections along the way, I started to see the patterns. Before I layout my findings and experiences I’m going to give a brief introduction about who I am, what I do and my experiences that have led me to come to where I am today.
I am currently in the last 3 months of my Graduate programme at National Grid Ventures as a Contract Analysist – Contract Management. My previous professional roles in this scheme were as a Development Engineer – Interconnectors, and as a Project Manager on London’s Power Tunnel 2 Project. I’m a 25-year-old Kosovan living in London. I have an educational background in Civil Engineering to an MSc level where I had studied away from home. I had quite a lot of pressure as the oldest child of 1st generation immigrant parents (I’m sure a few can relate) and I was quite determined to do something with myself to at the very least make myself and my family proud of what we’ve achieved. After University, applying for graduate roles initially was quite a lengthy and overwhelming process. Then came the psychometric assessments and interviews.
In latter stages of these applications, you can be faced with the final and important hurdle – the Assessment Centre... Before many people reach this stage, you become somewhat demoralised with the endless sea of emails beginning with “Unfortunately”s, “on this occasion”s, and “regrettably”s, that when you get the first assessment centre stage email you become surprised and either subconscious or consciously begin to doubt yourself as you’ve been told many times you are not good enough by recruiters of various companies. However, you’ve now done the hard part and you’re 1 small step away from the beginning of what I hope you will have a long and prosperous career! Assessment centres will vary from company to company, but they generally consist of a group exercise, individual exercise/and or an individual interview. Here’s my informal take on the key skills they’re really looking for, based on my own experiences:
1. Curiosity and Confidence: Through my own experiences in holding recent assessment centres, I've come to realize that these two are equally important. Curiosity is key in group exercises. Don't be afraid to ask questions, delve deeper into the information provided, and challenge assumptions. It shows intellectual engagement and a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to develop oneself. Confidence, in my eyes, is the most crucial skill in interviews and presentations. Believe in your abilities as that is the culmination of the hours upon hours of studying and dedication you have put forward to get to where you are now. Confidence is not about arrogance; it’s projecting self-belief. A confident candidate speaks clearly, maintains eye contact, and answers questions with conviction. This reassures the interviewer that you can handle the job's demands. Even if you don't have all the answers, a confident demeanour shows you're willing to learn and tackle challenges head-on. Ultimately, confidence convinces the interviewer that you're not just qualified on paper, but ready to contribute and thrive in the role.
2. Communication (Speak Clearly and Listen Actively): This goes hand-in-hand with teamwork. You can have the best ideas in the world, but if you can't communicate them effectively, they're useless. This means speaking clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing (if there are written exercises). But it's not just about talking; it's about listening. Active listening is key – paying attention to what others are saying, asking clarifying questions, and demonstrating that you’ve understood their points. It shows engagement and respect, both of which are highly valued. As a general guideline, if you are part of a group of 4 candidates, don’t talk for more than 30% of the time. Allowing others to contribute and listening to them shows your ability to listen and not hog the spotlight. Another good tip is to try learning peoples name so that when you are in the group exercise, learning their names (even if you butcher the pronunciation) showcases your networking and willingness to effectively work with your peers.
3. Problem-Solving (Think on Your Feet): Assessment centres often throw curveballs in the form of case studies, business simulations, or even abstract reasoning tests. These are designed to test your ability to think critically, analyse information, and come up with solutions under pressure. Don’t panic if you don’t know the “right” answer immediately. Focus on your approach. Show them how you break down the problem, consider different options, and justify your final decision. They want to see your thought process, not necessarily a perfect outcome. It’s okay to pause and take time to think through a solution – this will show that you’re not someone who rushes a solution and instead takes their time to carefully resolve a sudden and/or unfamiliar problem topic.
4. Commercial Awareness (Know Your Stuff): This is particularly important for business-related schemes. They want to know that you understand the business world, current market trends, and the company you're applying to. Do your research beforehand! Read industry news, follow relevant publications, and thoroughly investigate the company's values, mission, and recent activities. Being able to link your skills and experiences to the company's goals will make you stand out.
5. Resilience (Bounce Back Quickly): Assessment centres can be intense and tiring. You might face challenging tasks, difficult group dynamics, or even receive negative feedback. The key is to stay positive, learn from any setbacks, and keep going. Showing resilience and the ability to handle pressure is a crucial quality. Even if you feel you messed up a particular exercise, don’t let it affect your performance in the next one. Dust yourself off and keep going! I personally tend to go in with the mentality that I’ve got the role secured so it helps boost my own confidence and relax myself. (I came into my current graduate scheme for a Development Engineering role which is quite different to my Civil Engineering degree and the fellow candidates all had much more relevant degrees, so it had me thinking that even if I do not have a very suitable background, I can show them in other ways that I’m the one to be chosen). Some people do the opposite and assume they’ve already failed so they go in and YOLO, nothing to lose if you’ve already failed right? Another good tip I have, is based on when I saw a successful candidate do was when their nerves were getting the better of them, they cracked a small joke for themselves and laughed – it ended easing them up and allowed them to be their true selves and showcase why they should be the one to pick! So, if you’re feeling nervous, crack a joke or something small and silly to yourself and ease up!
6. Teamwork (Don't Be a Lone Wolf): This is HUGE. Most assessment centres involve group exercises, from building a tower out of spaghetti to debating hypothetical business scenarios. They're not necessarily looking for the person who shouts the loudest or takes complete control. What they are looking for is someone who can listen to others, contribute constructively, and work collaboratively towards a shared goal. So, share your ideas, but also actively listen to your teammates, build on their suggestions, and be respectful of different viewpoints. Trust me, being a team player is way more impressive than trying to be the star of the show.
A few BONUS tips:
A YouTube channel that has immensely helped me with interviews, assessment centres and everything in-between was CareerVidz http://www.youtube.com/@CareerVidz
Get plenty of sleep and have a good and BIG breakfast, as some people get very nervous and lose their appetite during the assessment centres and you tend to struggle on a hungry stomach and nerves.
Stay hydrated and drink water throughout the day!
So, there you have it – my key takeaways for navigating the assessment centre maze. Remember to be yourself, be prepared, and most importantly, try to enjoy the experience (as much as you can!).
Good luck!
If you have any questions or queries, feel free to shout out any questions to me on LinkedIn!
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