Contact UsWhen attending an Assessment Centre you are likely to take part in a Group Exercise. This is so that the recruiting company can see how individuals work in a team. The emphasis is on working together and producing something as a group.
The most frequently asked question when we run our Mock Assessment Centres, which includes a group exercise, is, ‘I wanted to suggest something – but I didn’t want to appear bossy – so I said nothing. What else could I have done?’
Many candidates feel that the worse thing they can do is appear to be dominant within a group. Others feel that this is exactly what is required as they feel that being dominant represents leadership. The key to this situation is in the competencies against which the candidates are being assessed.
At our Mock Assessment Centre the key competencies for the Group Exercise are Drive to Achieve, Communication and Team Player. The emphasis is on working together – not telling others what do. So this is a tip from our ‘Succeeding at an Assessment Centre’ cards from the Clubs suit which is called Making an Impact – the tip is called:
I would like to Suggest
No one wants to feel that they have been bossy within a group. So it can be useful to soften your suggestions and this is one way to do it. Start with your suggestion with the phrase, “I would like to suggest that we decide a structure for our group exercise”.
I would like to suggest that you practise this phrase now.
You can buy our Succeeding at an Assessment Centre cards on our website www.1st-step.co.uk.