UEL Get That Job

Group exercises almost always form the first part of an assessment centre and set the scene for the rest of the day. Employers use group activities to simulate the work the applicants will be expected to do.

The exercise is often based around a case study and you may be required to represent a particular party or you may have to choose which argument you support. Often candidates are separated for 30-45 minutes prior to the start during which time they are given lots of information to read and consider.

It is really important to ‘read between the lines’ as the employer will purposely bombard you with a lot of information to see if you can extract what is important in a short period of time. During the exercise, the assessors sit around the side of the room with scoring sheets and the applicants sit at a table in the middle of the room.

The Rules

• Make sure you speak! If you stay silent you will not have demonstrated the competencies that the assessor needs to score you against.
• Don’t interrupt or talk over the other candidates.
• Don’t argue with anyone. It is fine to disagree but be careful about how you articulate this.
• Speak clearly and make sure you can be heard. Assessors can’t interrupt or ask you to speak up.
• Encourage the quieter people to speak.
• Follow the instructions on when to open any envelopes of extra information.
• Make sure you read all the information carefully. There will often be vital clues right in front of you.
• The exercise is more about the way you interact with others than the actual task. You don’t always have to be the one with the big ideas to score well.