How To Pass Group Exercises at Assessment Centres - How2Become

How To Pass Group Exercises at Assessment Centres - How2Become What are Group Exercises at Assessment Centres?Group Exercises usually form part of an assessment centre which normally  precede  the application form stage of a job selection process. In this article I will provide you with some crucial tips for passing the Group Exercise with high grades.Group exercises are commonly used to assess the following areas:Your ability to relate to others;Your ability to work as part of a team;Your communication skills;Your motivation and commitment;Your values.Many people become unnecessarily worried about Group Exercises and ?nd  the whole experience daunting as a result. However, by preparing effectively and  focusing on a number of key areas, you can increase your chances of success  dramatically.The number of people who take part in the exercise will vary, but as a general  rule of thumb there are normally eight candidates and up to four assessors in the room. The exercise usually takes place around a seated table, with the assessors  seated in stra tegically placed positions around the room so they can assess their  allocated candidates.SAMPLE GROUP EXERCISEThe exercise is around 45 minutes in duration with a 5 minute initial brie?ng by one of the assessors.  On the table in front of you, you will ?nd a number of sheets of paper that detail the exercise and the objectives you are to achieve. Where you sit around the  table is irrelevant.  The exercise normally consists of a ?ctitious scenario and you are required, as a  group, to come up with solutions to a problem or number of problems.Before we enter into the type of scenario that you might encounter during the  exercise, let’s take a look at a few important pieces of advice:IT’S NOT A COMPETITION!Some people make the mistake of thinking they are in competition with the other  candidates when, in fact, they are not.One of the assessment areas for the Group Exercise is the ability to work as part  of a team. This will include a number of key factors, but those people who argue,  are forceful, rude or aggressive will not score well.  Remember you are working together to come up with a solution. Do not worry  about what other people are doing but concentrate both on your performance and  on the task in hand.MAKE SURE YOU TAKE PARTThose people who do not contribute during the Group Exercise will fail. You must,  at the very least, take part and contribute. Most people will have something to say  during the Group Exercise and it is important that you do too.DON’T BE TOO REFLECTIVEWhilst re?ection is a positive attribute, there is not much time to sit back and  re?ect during the Group Exercise. The 45 minute period will go quickly and it is  important that the group progresses well with the task in hand and comes up with  solutions.DON’T INTERRUPT PEOPLE OR BE DISMISSIVEHave you ever been in a conversation with a rude, aggressive or dismissive  person?  Isn’t  it annoying? Remember that you are being assessed on your ability  to relate to others an d your communication skills.If someone is being rude, interrupts people or speaks over you, then ask them  politely if they  wouldn’t  mind stopping. You won’t be marked down for politely  asking. However, you will be marked down if you become confrontational  yourself, so be careful and concentrate on the task in hand.INVOLVE OTHERSIf you see a member of the group struggling or ?nding it hard to get involved, then  try to help them and involve them. You can ask them probing questions such as  â€˜What do you think?’ or ‘Do you have any suggestions?’. This kind of approach  demonstrates good communication skills and shows that you have the ability to  relate to, and involve, others.BE MOTIVATED AND POSITIVEDuring the Group Exercise, try to demonstrate a level of motivation and  commitment to achieving the task. This can be achieved in a number of different  ways but sitting back/slouching in your chair and not looking interested is not a  good way forward.Come across as if you genuinely want to be involved and provide positive  feedback to comments/suggestions that are worthy of praise. For example, if a  member of the team comes up with a good solution, why not say to them ‘That’s  an excellent idea, does everyone else agree?’.  Alternatively, you may wish to ask the group if anyone has any suggestions or  good ideas. Demonstrating good communication skills is not just about talking  yourself. It’s also about listening, providing feedback and helping others too.SAMPLE Group Exercise SCENARIONow, let’s take a look at a sample scenario.  The type of scenario that you will encounter during the Group Exercise stage will  vary from year to year and from consortium to consortium. However, it is not the  scenario that is important, but rather how you perform during it that really matters.  We recommend that you have about 40% of your attention on the task in hand  and the remaining 60% concentrating on your performance.You can use the following sa mple scenario to prepare for the real exercise.  Please note that this is not the exact scenario that you will be presented with on  your assessment day. However, it is a good practice aid to assist you during your  preparation.  Read the scenario in full before taking a look at the task you are required to  achieve.  Remember that you will be carrying out the exercise in a group situation during  the actual assessment day.SAMPLE GROUP EXERCISE SCENARIOYou are a group of elected members that represent a foreign country holiday  resort called Ficticia. The holiday resort relies heavily on the tourist industry as its  main income and many of the inhabitants are employed through this. The country  has very little ?nancial capital.  Unfortunately, there has been a large earthquake that has destroyed the majority  of the resort, leaving many people injured or missing. The majority of people who  are injured are the young and old.The resort has a large international airport with two runwa ys. Following the  earthquake, only one of the runways is available due to the damage that has  been caused. The majority of roads, rail networks and transport routes have also  been damaged and aid has been slow in getting to the people who need it most.TASKThere are six options to choose from.  Your task is to choose three options only, placing them in order of priority. Use the  form provided to indicate which three you have chosen, stating the reasons why.  You must also use the form to state the reasons why you have rejected the  remaining three.  You have 45 minutes in which to complete the exercise.THE SIX OPTIONSOPTION NUMBER 1Accept aid from neighbouring countries that must be paid back at 20% APR.OPTION NUMBER 2Take 15% of all inhabitants’ savings to help pay for aid and to get the country  back on its feet again.OPTION NUMBER 3Force all men and boys above the age of 14 to work and repair the resort’s roads  and transport networks for no pay.OPTION NUMBER 4Wait for hel p to arrive.OPTION NUMBER 5Ask for volunteers to work for no pay to repair the second international airport  runway.OPTION NUMBER 6Immediately get what aid there is available to the injured.TIPS AND ADVICE FOR PASSING THE GROUP EXERCISEDuring your preparation for the Group Exercise, concentrate on the key  assessment areas that are listed on the ?rst page of this section. Remember that  one of those key assessment areas is your values. You will need to demonstrate  you have the required values when contributing during the Group Exercise. Think  about fairness issues when making your contributions.Whilst communicating during the Group Exercise, think about the Person  Speci?cation in relation to this area. You should demonstrate an ability to listen  to others, share, give and receive support and be able to resolve differences and  ?nd ways forward when the need arises. In addition to this, it is important that you  are able to share information and suggest new ideas.PRODUCTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED INSee here to learn more about how to pass assessment centre group exercises.  Remember that it is not a competition and you are there to work together as a  team! This entry was posted in Assessment Centres. Bookmark the permalink. Richard How To Pass In Tray ExercisesUnderstanding The Star Interview Technique