Please Pick Me!

So you have undoubtedly by this stage read an email letting you know what is involved in the assessment day. At this point you are excited and looking to ensure your success! Well, let’s hope so anyway. But how can you do that? And what exactly is it we are looking for?

First of all, please don’t come along to the day expecting to be able to rest on your university degree alone. Whether it’s a Bachelor, Honours or Masters in Genius Studies, you will not be the only person there with such a qualification so it’s time to step beyond the degree and show yourself to be more than a degree and snappy suit.

As we look to differentiate graduates from the crowd, we assess on a competency based framework that has been shown to highlight the top performing traits in successful graduates entering the corporate world. Chances are if you show these traits in spades or at least convince us you do, you’ll be a success!

 So here are the big 5 things we are looking for:

• Confidence
• Communication Skills
• Drive & Dynamism
• The Ability to Influence & Persuade
• Structure & Logic

 Naturally the activities and assessment tasks will give you the opportunities to show off these traits but if you are aware that people are watching for them you may be able to better focus your energy on ensuring you rock out your personality – not just your resume.

The psychometric test requires no preparation; it’s really only a brief personality profile. The group dynamic exercises will be fully explained to you and everything necessary provided. As with the business case study- no prior knowledge is required so bring you’re A-Game and that’s all you’ll need!

 In the past candidates have done practice activities or examples online however in all honesty we have never seen an advantage. If you want to use your preparation time effectively, focus on the speech!

So on the day we want to meet YOU. It may sound obvious, but if you have been invited along, you obviously qualify the first round of requirements, so show us that you are someone with personality, professionalism and enthusiasm for work. All the things that your resume doesn’t show off, you now get the chance to bring to table and use to your advantage to impress potential employers.

The assessment day framework, offers you not only the chance to work in a group but also speak on your own so utilizing your humor (when it’s tasteful and only if it feels natural) your rapport with people and your ability to listen but also think for yourself and you will stand a much better chance than just being someone who has a “good” resume.

Overall this really means that the only things you will need to prepare for the day are:

a)      Your outfit. Please iron that shirt!

b)      Your speech. It’s only 3 minutes so use it well.

c)       Yourself mentally. Come psyched up ready to impress!