It's about finding out your personality, analyzing the behavior in the team, being able to assess someone and decide: Yes, he or she belongs in our team! That's right, it's about the assessment center.
Now many people will groan, because just writing applications means a lot of work. Does a selection process have to be like that? Always remember, the best jobs don't come for free and HR managers also find it difficult to select the perfect candidate for a position from the flood of applications. So don't see it as additional torture, but as an opportunity to prove yourself and convince your new boss of your qualities.
We will tell you here and now how this should work, because of course there are a few stumbling blocks that can trip up unprepared candidates. But let's start from the beginning:
Why an assessment center?
For many companies it is no longer enough to just read an application; they would like to personally get to know the people with whom they will work in the future. Not only do they want to see whether the chemistry between you and the team is right, but they also want to find out whether you are just singing empty praises about yourself in your application, or whether you are actually as good as you look on paper.
The Assessment Assessment Center, or AC, is a group selection process in which you have to solve various tasks and present yourself together with other applicants. The main thing is to determine how you behave in different situations, how you deal with problems and disagreements in the group and how you function in a team. So it's more about interpersonal behavior than a knowledge check. You will be observed and assessed by a commission.
Only those candidates who have already impressed with their written application will be invited to the AC. So you can be proud of yourself if you get the chance to win an AC. Then you just have to show that the qualifications in your CV are not just a pipe dream, but that you can offer exactly that and much more live.
What do I have to pay attention to in the AC?
Every company and every institution decides for itself how exactly the assessment center is structured. So there is no patent recipe here, but basically the focus is on three criteria: your personality , your motivation and your competence - i.e. on the so-called soft Skills.
So, in preparation for an AC, think about how you would describe yourself, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and what might be inappropriate behavior . Imagine what your ideal candidate would look like if you were to hire someone.
The AC also tests how you would behave in various situations with customers, colleagues, superiors or business partners . It is important to strike the right tone here. While it may seem strange if you are too rigid when dealing with colleagues, you should maintain a little more distance and politeness with business partners and superiors. When dealing with customers, the old saying applies: the customer is king. But don't forget that you are acting in the interests of your company and there are clear rules and boundaries that must be adhered to.
Finally, you have to present yourself in the AC and, for example , give a lecture or lead a group discussion . This not only tests whether you are able to illustrate content, but also examines your skills . There are, among other things, targeted intelligence, logic and concentration tests, which are usually carried out using multiple choice tests. You can prepare for this online via test websites, or the company itself usually offers a test for preparation.
Basic tips summarized
With this preparation you are already well prepared for the AC. However, we don't want to withhold from you a few basic tips that always apply, no matter how exactly the AC is constructed:
- Be realistic in your self-assessment and only write in an application what you could show live at the assessment center. Nevertheless, it is important that you are aware of your strengths and can explain to your potential employer why you are the right person for the position.
- Don't pretend during interviews and test situations. The trained eye of the HR manager will quickly recognize if you are just playing a role. They want to get to know you and that is only possible if you are as authentic as possible.
- Don't take the tests and exams too personally. It's about challenging and testing yourself, so stay calm and respond with a smile rather than with a hatchet. This looks more professional and gives you enough time to find a suitable answer.
The Barmer GEK can give you even more valuable tips about the assessment center with free AC training . There you will find out exactly how the different AC types are structured and how they work. Barmer also gives you detailed information about what is important in the individual selection processes. Good luck with your first AC!
Here you can get tips on the topic of self-presentation in the AC. We will also tell you how you can take part in free AC training.
