Don't be afraid of the assessment center!
The path to your dream job leads through an assessment center? Just don't panic: With the right preparation, you can transform your exam anxiety into fun.
Assessment centers (AC) are considered the toughest application process on the job market. Accordingly, many applicants have stage fright. However, excessive respect is not required. If you don't take the matter too lightly and prepare well, assessment centers offer you the ideal setting to prove your talent. After all, that's exactly what they're there for.
What's next for me?
Take the challenge seriously, but don't have any false inhibitions. Many people associate assessment centers with vague horror ideas without really knowing what to expect. You can get a good impression on numerous sites online, for example on Süddeutsche.de, where you can find a whole collection of articles on the subject of assessment centers that are worth reading . With this background knowledge, it is much easier to understand what is really important in such procedures. Only in the second step should you look at the numerous advice texts that will help you cut a good figure in the application process. Most of them say the same thing anyway - to save you reading time, we have summarized the most important advice in three golden rules for the assessment center.
Assessment center: three golden rules
Good preparation : You should know everything about the company you are applying to: You should be familiar with the most important data from the company history, product names and industry data. You should also familiarize yourself with the different types of tasks that are expected in the assessment process (here is an overview). It is advisable to discuss the tasks with friends and acquaintances and, above all, to actively play through them. Good preparation also includes ensuring that you compete in the best possible shape for the day. Start your preparations well in advance so that you don't get stressed the day before. The procedure is strenuous enough, you should be able to start it well-rested and motivated.
Listen carefully : On site, the most important thing is to open your eyes and ears! For most tasks, the most important thing is to listen well and understand the task correctly. But it is also important to be attentive to the assessors and competitors. If you switch to autopilot and only concentrate on yourself and the tasks, the risk of getting lost is much greater - your team play is also in full demand here. It is important to listen carefully, especially in role plays, group discussions and interviews .
Stay calm : Everything else basically falls into place when you realize that your greatest asset is yourself. A fake behavior costs you a lot of energy and is difficult to maintain: It's best to act completely natural from the start and try to stay as relaxed as possible. Of course, good behavior is still important. This is especially true outside of tasks during breaks and when dealing with competitors. Many assessors include this behavior in the assessment in order to get as holistic a picture as possible. The best way to demonstrate self-confidence is to be neither too dominant nor too reserved and not to allow yourself to be disturbed by small, targeted provocations from the assessors. Then nothing can actually go wrong.
And if you want to try out what a real assessment center feels like and get tips from experts, you can register for the free AC training here .
When it comes to AC, we want to equip you well. Today we have summarized the three golden rules for you.
