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Job seeking as a mature graduate - live discussion 1-3pm today http://t.co/7XKPfE06 via @guardian

Posted on: 16/05/2012 11:05.
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Do I really need to prepare?

“To fail to prepare…. is to prepare to fail……”

Preparation is vital and a key factor to performing successfully at the Assessment Centre.  You should leave nothing to chance.   If you are going to convince the selector(s) that you are the right person for the job, you first need to convince yourself.  In an Assessment Centre, you are “SELLING” yourself – your knowledge, skills, experiences, abilities and personal qualities – to an employer.  In order to do this effectively, you must find out as much as you can about the organisation and their needs and how you match their criteria.

But do remember, this selection method is also a two-way process which should help you decide whether you feel you are well suited for, and would want to work for, the particular organisation.

  • What does the job entail?  Some organisations provide a detailed job description / person specification (e.g. public sector organisations) whilst other organisations (e.g. private sector) tend to provide a list of the required competencies.
  • Research the organisation or company by looking at their website, looking at local and national newspapers and business directories and reading their annual report, if available.  You could also do a web search to find out what is said about them by other organisations.
  • At The Assessment Centre” – AGCAS new Web video - available for viewing on our website.  You will need to use your Bradford e-mail login as this resource is for our students only. It is highly recommended that you watch this prior to attending.
  • Read one or more of our reference books about Assessment Centres and think about how you are likely to react if you have to participate.  A list of resources is given at the end of this leaflet and on our website.
  • Ensure you read all the details sent to you about the Assessment Centre to get a feel for the event.
  • Always confirm your attendance in advance, make travel plans (giving yourself contingency time in case of delays) and get a good night's sleep the night before.

What if I have a disability?

If you have a disability, you can make the employer aware of any needs you have so that appropriate adjustments can be made.  These could include extra time given to candidates with dyslexia to complete activities, adjustments to the physical environment, specialist equipment, materials in alternative formats (e.g. for the visually or hearing impaired, etc).

Contact the recruiter as soon as possible to discuss your individual requirements.



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