Assessment days
If you have been invited in for an assessment day, congratulations - you are probably in the top 5-10% of candidates already. This means you’re now up against the best of all the applicants. As such, careful preparation is required. Below is advice gleaned from countless interviews with current degree apprentices. The video below is great too:
Pressure
This is likely to be an intense day. (But, without pressure, we wouldn't have diamonds.) Even the most energetic candidates find these days exhausting. Try to have an early night the night before.
The basics
A few days beforehand, check your route (and for possible transport strikes or delays) and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get there on time. The night before, get everything ready - your clothes, equipment (e.g. printed copies of your CV/application form, a calculator, pens, notepad etc.).
The morning of the day
Spruce yourself up, look in the mirror and say, “I’ve got this”! As you make your way to the assessment centre, take in the world around you. This is your day! Aim to arrive at the venue 45 minutes before the start time. If you have time to kill, grab a coffee. Check in for the day about 10 minutes before it’s scheduled to begin.
When you arrive
When you arrive at reception, introduce yourself politely. Then turn off your phone (and keep it off for the day, unless you need it for a specific task). Most likely you’ll be given an ID card and ushered into a room with other candidates. Introduce yourself to them.
If you need to go to the toilet, don’t be shy! Trust me, they will be much better than your school toilets.
Break times
Aside from the formal assessments, there will be some downtime during the day, such as coffee or lunch breaks. Use these to reset, but remember you’re still being scrutinised. Always be mindful of your manners and try to make conversation with those around you. Stay off your phone!
How you will be assessed
The assessment day is highly likely to include a number of stages, which will include some from the list below:
Interviews: Face-to-face one-to-one, panel, final
Other methods of assessment: skills, technical, portfolio review
The end of the day
It might be tempting to rush off after a long day - don’t! Instead, you should:
Thank everyone involved in the day, from the assessors to the receptionist.
Connect with your fellow candidates (ideally on LinkedIn). At this point, you are no longer in competition. Your paths could cross in the future. (Do not try to connect with any of the assessors, as this could be viewed as a conflict of interest.)
Send follow-up emails to any employee who has emailed you directly. Click here for an example of the type of email you could send.