How to Prepare for the 'Group Activity' of the Assessment Centre

Welcome to another edition of The Job Seeker Hub newsletter! Last week, we discussed assessment centres, what they are and how you can prepare for them. This week, we're focusing on Group Activities in Assessment Centers. The aim of the activity is to assess your ability to work in a team and collaborate with others to achieve a common goal. The interviewers are not testing you on whether or not you get the answer right but rather on your contribution to the group activity. Without any further due, let’s dive into how you can ace this part of you ace this section of the assessment centre.

What is the group activity about?

Group activities in Assessment Centers are designed to evaluate how candidates work collaboratively, communicate, and solve problems as part of a team. These activities typically simulate real workplace scenarios to assess interpersonal skills, leadership potential, and the ability to contribute effectively to a team dynamic. Common examples of group activities include group discussions, where participants are given a topic to debate and reach a consensus; case studies, where the team analyzes a business problem and presents a solution; and role-playing exercises, where each member assumes a specific role within a simulated business scenario to achieve a common goal. Another example is the group presentation, where participants work together to prepare and deliver a presentation on a given topic. The most common group activity is the one where your team is stranded on a deserted island with five essential items (water, torch, etc), and you have to discuss as a team to decide which one item you will take with you.

1. Take Initiative and Assume a Role
2. Be a Team Player:
3. Be Respectful and Inclusive: Value all contributions and respect different viewpoints. This shows strong interpersonal skills and maturity. Express your disagreement with others’ ideas politely and politically and offer counterarguments respectfully. You can disagree using the following ‘Thank you for sharing such insightful points, X. However, we haven't yet considered that route/ given the task at hand, we should probably…’ Try not to interrupt others as they are talking, and thank everyone for sharing their ideas. Always call others by their and don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat it or ask how to pronounce it. Make sure to use the correct pronouns if and when relevant.
4. Communicate Clearly: Articulate your points clearly and concisely. Good communication is key in collaborative tasks. Before starting to work on the activity, feel free to break down all technical and complex words and ensure that the team has the same understanding of the problem at hand. Share your ideas as often as possible, but do not come across as a ‘know it all’ or as aggressive or dominant. If the AC is taking place online, recommend everyone to mute themselves when not talking and to use the raise hand function when they want to share something.

Remember:

This section of the AC does NOT test your ability to do the job nor your knowledge of the company and industry. These will be tested during other sections of the AC. The group activity tests your ability to work in a team and communicate clearly. Remember to smile and show your enthusiasm to be there with facial expressions. Be a team player, speak clearly and concisely, encourage others to contribute and be respectful of everyone present during not only the group activity but also the AC.

The next edition of the newsletter will focus on preparing for the assessment centre's case study. Come back next week to learn more about how you can ace this section.

Have an interview coming up and need more practice? TJSH is working hard behind the scenes to create a booklet with the most common interview questions. Make sure to follow The Job Seeker Hub LinkedIn page to be the first to know when it drops!

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Until next time,

TJSH Team :)