4 Group exercises at assessment centres

You have considered how to communicate your experience of working in teams in the application and interview and also how the STAR strategy might help you structure the evidence you want to provide. However, another way that employers check for teamwork skills during the interview process is by holding group assessment activities.

Figure 6 Observing an assessment activity

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A smartly dressed woman in the foreground making notes on a clipboard. In the background are three smartly dressed men sitting down with a smartly dressed woman standing by a whiteboard.

Figure 6 Observing an assessment activity

These types of activities can be more popular in public sector organisations, as well as banks and retailers. They are less likely to be used by smaller organisations who may not have the resources to run them (as they can be costly in terms of needing experienced staff to cover the activities).

While structured interviews are considered to be a highly effective tool, combining the results with a relevant group exercise at an assessment centre or as part of the interview can increase an employer’s chances of finding the right candidate.

There are many different examples of group activities, and in the next sections, you’ll explore some of these in more detail.