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What is an assessment centre and how does it work?

In an assessment centre, participants complete several exercises that resemble tasks in the role. Trained observers use a common scale to assess specific actions.

What participants do

An aspiring manager might prioritise incoming requests, discuss a missed deadline with a colleague, and work through competing priorities in a group. Each exercise gives the participant a chance to demonstrate selected competencies.

What observers record

Observers record specific actions. A participant may ask what caused the delay, explain its consequences, and agree a review date. Observers then compare what they saw with the indicators and combine findings using the centre’s agreed process.

How to use the result

Agree on the purpose, role requirements, and feedback process in advance. Afterwards, share examples with the participant and identify which findings apply to the exercises and which to check in the workplace.

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