In this guide
Interviews and salary conversations
What happens at an assessment centre and how to prepare
The exercises an assessment day usually includes, from group tasks to in-tray and role-play, what assessors look for in each and how to prepare.
Who uses assessment centres
Assessment days are common for graduate schemes, apprenticeships, management trainee programmes, the public sector and roles where an employer hires many people at once. They give several assessors a chance to see candidates in different situations, which is fairer than relying on one interview.
The invitation usually lists the exercises. If it does not, ask: knowing the format is part of fair preparation, and employers expect the question.
The usual exercises
| Exercise | What happens | Assessors look for |
|---|---|---|
| Group exercise | A team solves a problem or makes a decision under time pressure | Contribution, listening, building on others' ideas, keeping to time |
| In-tray or e-tray | Prioritise and respond to a set of emails or documents | Prioritisation, judgement, clear written responses |
| Role-play | Handle a conversation with an actor playing a customer or colleague | Listening, staying calm, reaching a sensible outcome |
| Written exercise | Write a short report or recommendation from information provided | Structure, clarity, sound conclusions |
| Presentation | Present on a set topic, sometimes prepared on the day | Structure, clarity, handling questions |
| Interview | Competency, strengths or motivation questions | Evidence and fit with the role |
The in-tray exercise
In-tray exercises reward reading everything before acting. Skim all the items first, note which are urgent, which are important and which can wait or be delegated, and look for items that connect: a complaint and an email from a supplier may be about the same delay.
Illustrative example
Prioritising four items in an in-tray
- A customer complaint due a response today: urgent and important, handle first.
- A request from your manager for figures by Friday: important, schedule it.
- A meeting invitation that clashes with a client call: reply to propose another time.
- A newsletter request for content: low priority, acknowledge and set a later date.
Briefly explaining why you ordered things this way often earns marks in its own right.
Role-plays without the awkwardness
Treat the actor as the real person they are playing. Introduce yourself, ask questions before offering solutions, acknowledge how they feel, and agree a clear next step. Assessors are usually looking at the process of the conversation, so you can score well even if the scenario is designed to have no perfect outcome.
On the day
Assessment day essentials
- Read each brief twice and note the time you have.
- Use other candidates' names in group work and invite quieter people in.
- Keep track of time for the group if no one else does.
- Be courteous to everyone, including reception and other candidates.
- If one exercise goes badly, reset: each is scored separately.
- Ask in advance for any adjustments you need, such as extra time for written tasks.
Common questions
Am I competing against the other candidates in the room?
Usually you are assessed against fixed criteria, not ranked against the people in your group. Employers may hire several people from the same day, so helping others is rarely a disadvantage.
How long does an assessment centre last?
Most run from a half day to a full day, and some are held online over a few hours. The invitation should say.
Put it into practice
Prepare with interview practiceDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.