I took part in a mock assessment centre activity, held by the DMU Employability mentoring scheme and run by one of the mentors on the scheme.

The assessment centre was run from 1-4 pm and consisted of: an hour long introduction, an hour long activity, a 30 minute long individual feedback sessions, and, to end the day, a 30 minute long group feedback session.

We were going to be assessed by one of the ten members of staff in the room, but we were not told who was assessing us until we got our individual feedback, where they revealed themselves to us.

The activity was to make crates to drop off aid to various countries. We had to follow the instructions of the brief and make sure that the activity was completed within the specified time frame and following the specific parameters we were set (e.g. using the most efficient route for drop offs, having only one aid package per country, fitting the crates into the cargo hold, etc).

We were split into two groups of five, read the instructions, and the time began.

The assessment

We naturally moved into two subgroups (one group of two and another group of three). We knew that we had several tasks that needed to be done, so we knew that division of labour would be necessary.

We worked well as a team and communicated well, but unfortunately we were not able to successfully finish the task on time.

While it is easy to become disheartened, we were shortly made aware in the 20-30 years of the activity being run only two groups have ever been able to successfully complete the task to the highest degree that was possible.

Individual feedback

We were told to go to a different room from the one that the activity was held in so the assessors could finish their reflections. We, as candidates, discussed the activity, how it went, and what we felt we could have done to improve our performance.

The four members of my group and I were then separated into a different room from the other group so we could get our individual feedback in a more quiet environment.

My assessor then sat down beside me and we went through each of the points of assessment; effective teamwork, communication, and judgement.

The main points of improvement I received were

• Increase organisation of the team
• Including one of the group members more as she was more quiet than the rest
• Making sure my wording could not be construed negatively – could show want for collaboration but could be seen as a lack of confidence
• Making sure to acknowledge team members strengths and weaknesses before starting to work.

Group feedback

When we went back to the room that the assessment centre activity took place, all 10 participants were invited to stand up at the front of the room, in front of all the assessors, and say what we received as feedback and one action pint that we would take forward from the activity.

My action point was that I would make sure to take a step back at the beginning of the task and make sure every person in the group was doing tasks that played to their strengths.

What I gained from it?

I gained a lot from the activity. I learned that, to outside observers, I naturally gravitated towards leadership but it was not overbearing;it seemed very natural.

I also learned how I would respond to an activity such as this if I were to encounter it again.

Would I do it again?

Even though I was nervous, I would definitely do the exercise again. Opportunities like these are invaluable as you are able to get insight into how are perceived by people who are assessing you, before it actually counts.

After doing this mock assessment centre, I feel less apprehensive about doing one for a job.

The feedback is also invaluable because, you get to see how your actions and perceived thought processes are seen by assessors. I believe that I now know how my mannerisms and way of speaking would be picked upon, and I know whether they would be seen as positive or negative, based upon the assessment criteria we were assessed against.