Assessment centres are used by employers to observe candidates’ performance in a range of activities to assess skills, competencies and characteristics you would use in the workplace. The same core assessment criteria are applied to all activities.

This is seen as more reliable and fair than an interview alone as it gives you the chance to demonstrate your potential in a variety of settings, and you should also be able to find out more about the organisation's culture and job roles.

An invitation to an assessment centre shows you have been successful in the early stages of the recruitment process. Read on to find out more about the situations you are likely to face, how you can prepare for them and where you can find opportunities to practise.

If you need reasonable adjustments for any of the assessment centre activities, make sure you contact the employer to request this in advance. See our page for Disabled Students for more about requesting reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process.

Virtual careers session: Preparing for assessment centres