Graduate jobhunters: know the score
ALL THE time you are preparing for final exams — and right up to graduation — lurking in the background are the same questions: what is my career going to be and how do I get started? Resource, together with UJS and ORT UK, will answer these questions, in their workshop for university students and new graduates, now an annual event (see below for booking details). This year, the focus will be on preparing for and successfully navigating “assessment centres”.
Assessment centres are an important feature of graduate recruitment, especially for larger companies. They involve gathering a group of candidates to take part in exercises, role playing, psychometric tests, competency interviews and more. The object is to assess strengths, weaknesses and skills in close-to-real-work situations.
Assessors score aspects of the candidates’ performance, to gauge their aptitude for specific jobs within the company. They might be looking for strategic thinking, leadership qualities, an ability to achieve results, interaction with colleagues as part of a team, communication skills, motivation, resilience and decision-making.
The assessors’ scores help the employer determine not only whether to take you on but also in what role.
The Resource and UJS workshop will include the chance to participate in a simulated assessment centre. Students will practise demonstrating skills such as thinking on their feet, delivering results under pressure and teamwork. Assessors will give individual feedback.
In addition, candidates will study how to put together an effective CV, prepare for interviews, make the most of networking and more. The emphasis will be on having fun while learning and practising.
The Resource and UJS workshop will be held at ORT House, Camden on December 18, 6pm to 9pm. Registration costs £4 and it is essential to book, at resource-centre.org/studentevent. The workshops are popular, so early booking is strongly recommended.
Victoria Sterman is chief executive of Resource, a charitable organisation helping around 700 members of the community into employment each year, resource-centre.org
Practise skills such as thinking on your feet’