Assessment centres: Before, during and after

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By Tim Daglish, law student

I recently undertook an assessment centre at a leading multi-national company in London. It was my first experience of an in-person assessment day, and I wanted to share my reflections on how candidates could best prepare before, perform during, and reflect afterwards.

Before the day

If you get an invite to an assessment centre - well done!

This is usually the final stage of the application process and can be incredibly competitive. At my recent assessment centre, less than 2% of applicants made it to the day. While this can add extra pressure, remember you’ve been invited because they already see potential in you.

Start by making sure you know exactly what the day will consist of. Assessment centres can include interviews, case studies, group tasks, presentations or something entirely different, depending on the company. This information is usually shared in advance and will help you tailor your preparation. For example, my day included a case study group task, a short presentation and individual interviews.

As I had never taken part in an assessed group task before, I booked a mock group exercise with the Careers and Employability Service. This was incredibly valuable as it gave me a chance to practise interacting in a group dynamic in a supportive, non-assessed environment.

One thing we discussed was how reframing your mindset can make a huge difference. Instead of seeing the day as a competition, focusing on collaboration can reduce stress, uncertainty and fear. You’re not trying to outshine others - you’re trying to show how you work with them.

Don’t forget the practicalities either: know the dress code, the office location, arrival instructions and any materials you need to bring. Be confident in your experiences, understand your motivations for joining the company and complete any pre-work they’ve set.

During the day

First and foremost: don’t let nerves take over. Being nervous is natural and shows you care, but the important thing is to redirect that energy positively.

Remember that you’re being observed even outside the formal assessments. Treat everyone, from reception staff to your fellow candidates, with respect and kindness. I learnt that your behaviour throughout the day reflects your character just as much as your performance in the tasks.

• In the group exercise, aim to be confident and collaborative. Allow others to contribute while still making sure you’re an active team member. Bringing quieter people into the discussion, keeping conversations on track, and managing time well are simple but powerful ways to demonstrate the qualities assessors are looking for.

• In the interviews, remember the STAR method. Keeping your answers structured around the situation, task, action and result helps your examples stay clear and relevant. Choose experiences that show how you align with the company’s values and make sure you’re answering the question directly. For motivational questions, they genuinely want to see the real you - don’t be afraid to be authentic.

Assessment centres are as much about you deciding whether the company is right for you as the other way around.

Be curious throughout the day. If you meet current or past graduates during breaks or lunch, take the opportunity to ask questions about their experiences and the scheme. Preparing a few thoughtful questions beforehand really helped me during these parts of the day.

After the event

Firstly, be proud of yourself. Assessment centres are intense, and making it through the day is an achievement in itself.

I’d recommend making some brief notes about the questions you were asked and the tasks you completed while they’re still fresh in your mind - they’ll be useful for future applications. Then try your best not to overthink every detail. Employers can take a while to get back to candidates, and replaying the day minute by minute won’t make the wait any easier.

Whatever the outcome, always seek feedback. If you’re rejected, it gives you something constructive to work on. If you’re successful, it still helps you understand what you did well and how you can continue to develop in the future.

If you have been invited by an employer to attend an assessment centre and need help preparing, visit the assessment centres webpages to find out more, check our events programme for assessment centre workshops, and book an appointment with a careers adviser to boost your confidence.