Assessment centres

Research consistently shows that the most effective and objective means of measuring and predicting people's performance and behaviours in a job situation is through the use of a well designed assessment centre. 

Our approach to assessment centre design is totally driven by your requirements.  We'll work with you to understand the roles you're recruiting for and, based on our experience, will be happy to recommend a best practice approach to suit your requirements.

Developing the criteria and approach 

According to Patterson and Norfolk (University of Sheffield), the key to effective assessment centres are:

• Clearly defined objectives and a good job analysis - we'll work closely with you to ensure that the objectives of the assessment centre are clearly defined, help to conduct job analysis and draw up a list of competencies against which to assess your candidates. 
• Tailored, work-related exercises - we can advise on the best way to assess the competencies identifed, draw up exercises, and decide on rating methodology.
• Well balanced assessment matrix - we'll draw up a clear matrix ensuring that each competency is sufficiently assessed without trying to track too many competencies within any one activity. 
• Appropriate and thorough training of assessors - we'll also help to identify and train assessors and will be available on the day to assist in facilitating rating discussions to ensure consistency and objectivity.

On the day

We'll be available to ensure the day runs smoothly.  We've got a large team of programme managers to look after the logistics of managing and delivering multi-stream assessment centres and programmes, and our expert tutors will lead the delivery of the exercises to ensure that candidates have a clear overview of the tasks involved.

Post event reporting

We'll compile reports on all candidates, ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times.  We can also feedback to each candidates and manage the notification of next steps to successful candidates, if required.

In-role follow up

We can offer coaching to your candidates once they're in their new role.  Successfully completing an assessment centre doesn't ensure an easy transition into the workplace, and to ensure that your candidates get off to a flying start we can help to coach them to adjust to your firm's working style and culture.

Our experience

We've got a track record designing and running assessment centres.  Last year we ran successful assessment centres as part of large graduate recruitment and development programmes for a number of global investment banks.  One of the factors contributing to the success of our assessment centres is our use of scenarios and simulations to ensure our training is relevant to the real world.  We are able to design exercises that truly reflect both the tasks for the role and the culture of the organisation.  Examples of scenarios used to assess competencies include lifecycle of a trade, online equity trading exchange and our portfolio management simulations. 

The individuals within the team come from a variety of backgrounds covering the broad spectrum of skills required to develop competency-based exercises:

	Carolyn Jarvis
	I am an Occupational Psychologist and hold both Level A and Level B BPS certification

	Charlie Walters
	I used to lead recruitment at a global investment bank and have a lot of experience carrying out job analysis and competency-mapping.

	Hector Payne
	I'm responsible for the Learning Solutions team and have worked with some very prestigious clients to create competency-based training programmes and map requirements against regulatory frameworks.

	Rachel Anderson
	I used to work in the Human Capital Management Division of a global investment bank focussing on attracting and recruiting graduates into analyst and associate programmes, and I've worked closely on projects with global banks to design learning around behavioural competency models.

	Sanjay Bhandari
	I've got a background in investment banking and am SHL assessor certified, which allows me to build accurate, real-life scenarios that test competencies required for the financial services industry.