The following sides have been taken from a presentation on Assessment Centres by the Suncorp Graduate Recruitment Team 1 Leadership, Culture & Talent HR.

1

HR

The following sides have been taken from a presentation on

Assessment Centresby the Suncorp Graduate Recruitment Team

Leadership, Culture & Talent

2

HR

What types of Assessment would you expect at an Assessment Centre?

Types of Assessment Centre

Leadership, Culture & Talent

• Numerical Reasoning • Verbal Reasoning• Comprehension • Diagrammatic or abstract reasoning • Analytical thinking• Personality tests or profiles

Psychometric Assessment

• Case Studies • In-tray Exercises • Group Discussions• Group Exercises• Presentations• Role Plays• Proposal• Problem Solving Projects• Social Events

Work-based Activities and Simulation Exercises

• One on one• Panel• Behavioural or Competency based

Interviews

3

HR

What employers are looking for

Qualities and Competencies

Leadership, Culture & Talent

In general companies are looking for the following qualities:

Cognitive /Intellectual Strategic thinking, analysis and judgement, planning and organising

Interpersonal Managing others, assertiveness, oral and verbal communication

Adaptability Versatility, resilience, creativity, dealing with ambiguity

Results OrientationEnergy and initiative, achievement motivation

Social Persuasive, confidence, multicultural sensitivity, values and integrity

HR

4

Benefits of Assessment Centres

Employer

• Provide a comprehensive overview of an individual’s strengths and weaknesses;

• Are standardised, every candidate has the same opportunity to demonstrate their skills;

• Are more objective then interviews alone, which may be biased by the interviewers’ interpretations;

• Allows applicants to demonstrate many abilities in a variety of different situations;

• Can be tailored to suit the position and the type of skills required;

• Provide information to place successful candidate in the appropriate section of the organisation.

Graduate

• An opportunity to share your working style and strengths;

• Success does not hinge on two interviews;• If you are successful in securing the

position the candidate can be more confident that it will suit you and that the employer feels you have potential to advance;

• A fair and more equitable hiring practice; • Attendance at an assessment centre gives

you an opportunity to assess the organisation and whether you’d like to work for it;

• You have gained valuable experience for next time

Leadership, Culture & Talent

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HR

What you need to do

Prepare for an Assessment Centre

Leadership, Culture & Talent

Before:• Dress Professionally• Organise your travel so you arrive on time• Research the organisation and job before attending• Find out how long you will be at the assessment centre

Group Exercise: • Listen and read all instructions carefully and ask questions when you need to.• When working in teams be a courteous and professional team player.• Don’t dominate the group leadership or be a wallflower.• Remember your communication skills are being assessed , so be articulate, don’t use any slang and speak up when

you need to.• Once the exercise begins define the task.• If possible organise a mini project plan that will help keep the group focussed.• Be aware that you are being assessed on your contribution against the selection criteria.• The solution may be less important than the group process and your participation in it in order to derive the answer.

Presentations:• Consider your audience and the content of your presentation. • Keep to the point and be convincing. • Remember you are being assessed on both your verbal communication skills. i.e. voice, pauses and non-verbal

communication skills i.e. body language, eye contact.

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HR

Behaviours

Leadership, Culture & Talent

Option 1

Behaviour Unskilled Behavioural Indicator Skilled Behavioural Indicator

Communication & Interpersonal

Uses Jargon Turned up late Language was unclear and/or not articulate

Did not use jargon or happy to explain it Arrived on time Used clear, articulate communication style

Team Work

Does not provide input into team-based and/or larger group discussion

Does not volunteer own ideas, plans or knowledge

Interrupts or ignores others contributions Demonstrates behaviour contrary to the

Suncorp Groups Values Does not proactively encourage or lend

support to others’ suggestions

Provides contributions to both team-based and larger group discussions to achieve the task at hand

Shares own ideas, plans and knowledge with others

Listens effectively to others Demonstrates alignment and personal

commitment to Suncorp’s Groups Values Supports and encourages others to participate in

team-based and larger group discussions

Innovation

Does the candidate take responsibility for resolving the issue at hand

Overlooks related issues Does not ask questions or does not listen

to others to build own understanding Makes decisions which are not in the long

term benefit of the business Focuses on most obvious or available

answers

Identifies or recommends ideas that progress the task at hand

Links related issues together Asks questions to build a better

understanding Considered the impact of different actions or

decisions on the business Supports creative and innovative solutions

which maximise quality outcomes

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HR

Thank you

Q&A

Leadership, Culture & Talent