Assessment Centre Practice and Interview Skills

This assignment discusses the importance of assessment centre practices and interview skills in a professional setting. It highlights key points such as confidence, spontaneity, and polite communication during assessment tests and interviews. The document also references various studies on talent management, comparative human resource management, work engagement, and career development. It provides a summary of the seminar on assessment centre practice and interview skills for students.

Managing People and
Careers

Table of Contents
COVER LETTER (Graduate Research Executive)....................................................................................3
CV (Graduate Research Executive).......................................................................................................5
APPLICATION FORM..............................................................................................................................7
INTERVIEW PRACTICE...........................................................................................................................9
ASSESSMENT CENTRE PRACTICE.........................................................................................................10
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................11

COVER LETTER (Graduate Research Executive)
XYZ
ABC Road, EFG CITY, London – 51234
333-33-333
name@domaincom
December 8, 2018
Jack Smith
Director, Human Resources
Ipsos MORI
EFG Road
Business City, London – 54321
Dear Sir,
I am writing to apply for the job position of Graduate Research Executive for Ipsos MORI as
mentioned in the advertisement posted on company's website dated 8 December, 2018. I am
confident enough that I can handle the duties to fulfil the job position in Ipsos MORI. In the world
of research, to become successful, a person should possess observatory and analytical skills along
with attention to minute details and profit-driven approach. Being an individual possessing all
the required skills and an excellent history of peer and superior relationship in college, I
believe that I will be able to deliver successfully towards the duties required to be
performed by me. I have keen interest in analysing and interpreting numerical data and
converting it into statistical tools and figures like bars, graphs, pie charts etc.
Throughout my tenure at BCD College, I possessed a passionate approach towards Marketing and
Public Relations department. Also, during my graduation, I have undertaken many opportunities so
as to enhance my skills in relation to marketing and research. For instance, in my college winter
vacations, I did a 3 weeks internship at National Skills Society in London where in my job was to
carry out a widespread research and to develop creative and stylish web pages and presentations
publicizing the success gained by sculpturists of London. Here, I was able to make use of my
technological and research skills and deliver the presentation well for which I was well praised for
my attention towards the smallest of details. I am highly interested in research position at Ipsos
MORI and believe that my educational and internship experience make me an ideal candidate for
the position.
Being the deputy assistant of Director of career service department of my college, I had the
responsibility of updating regular data about career advisors, companies or alumni. This involved
making calls to clients and sending them email to collect information. By doing so, I inculcated
strong interpersonal skills so as to able to communicate well with people. Having adequate
internship experience being a fresher, I firmly believe that I stand in a position to bestow the

objectives required by Ipsos MORI as Graduate Research Executive.
In all the responsibilities that I have been assigned in past, I have always performed well by
pursuing strong relationship with clients, peers and my superiors. When I noticed the vacancy for
Research Executive at Ipsos MORI, I understood that it is an excellent opportunity to offer the
company with my initiative and teamwork skills along with strong relationship with my batch
mates. I have attached my Curriculum Vitae (CV) so that you can gain a proper understanding of my
educational qualification.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to call me at 333-33-333 or email me at
[e-mail]. I look forward to hear from you.
Thanks and Regards
XYZ

CV (Graduate Research Executive)
XYZ
ABC Road, EFG CITY, London – 51234
333-33-333
name@domaincom
A determined and hard working professional looking for role in Research field with a forward
looking company to explore my area of interest and deliver to my full potential
Academic Qualification:
Degree Institution University Year of Passing GPA / Grade
BBA (2:1) BCD College,
London
University of
London
2018 3.92*
A Levels (English) JKL College University of
London
2017 A
*GPA out of 5
Areas of Expertise:
 Data analysis
 Market research
 Report writing
 Survey Interpretation
 Web Technology
Key Skills:
 Have exceptional attention to detail and a meticulous approach to analyse data
 Have strong interpersonal skills, especially the ability to communicate clearly and
persuasively
 Have a ‘right at first time’ approach
 Work creatively and think commercially
 Client focused
Personal attributes:
 Motivated, self driven and focused

 Resilient
 Competitive attitude
 Can work under pressure.
 Well organised and eager to learn
 Excellent communication and presentation skills
 Tech Savvy
Languages:
 English
 German
Proficiency in:
 Word, Excel, PowerPoint

APPLICATION FORM
1. Why do you want to work for us?
Ipsos MORI has an excellent corporate image and position in market. It is reputed to be one
of the biggest survey research associations across the globe and has offices in more than 80
countries. Your company puts high emphasis upon welfare of employees and provides a healthy
environment giving them a larger scope to grow and develop. This reflects that employees who are a
part of this organisation tend to be satisfied and work happily within the organisational context.
Also, company works with the principle of delivering information and analysing data in a way that
transforms the complexity of world into easier solutions. This would help me in making use of my
observation and analytical skills so as to deliver as per the requirements of job position. The main
belief of Ipsos MORI is the superiority of their world which coincides with my values and beliefs and
thus, I think that this position is suitable for me. I am comfortable working in a team environment
and the company also promotes collaborative working atmosphere. Also, the job position requires
sheer dedication and precision with observation to minutest details. My peers and superiors in past
college have always praised me for my analytical skills. Thus, I think that the requirements of
company matches with my ideas and beliefs and I can gladly work in your company in a way that
enterprise can reach heights and success in a short period of time.
2. Tell us about a time you worked in a group to achieve an objective (what did you do
and what was the outcome?)
During my tenure at BCD College, I participated in a skill challenge competition
wherein I was made to work in a team of 10 students who I did not even know by face. The
task assigned to us was to create a 10 minute Power Point Presentation based upon a Non
profit organisation of our choice and present it on World Youth Skills Day in front of the whole
college in Auditorium. In our first meeting, the allotment of tasks for each person was done and it
was agreed upon that the presentation will be made post 5 meetings wherein all the necessary
details and discussions will be done. My role amongst all was to make arrangements for meetings. It
was one of the most difficult tasks as each one of us had different study timings, sports
commitments, family time and other necessary work. After having prior conversation with all of
them, I was able to plan all the meetings so that we could discuss our ideas. One of the candidates
amongst us was shy and not able to share her opinions in front of everyone and thus, I interacted
personally with her to gather her views upon the subject matter. Thus, post meetings, we created a
PPT and group decided that I should present it in front of college. The overall presentation went well
and we got the first prize and praise for presenting the ideas in the most creative and innovative
manner.
3. Tell us about a time when you identified a new approach to solve a problem. (what did
you do and what was the outcome?)
When I was an intern in the National Skills Society for 3 weeks, I was once asked to collate
the results in relation to a survey conducted of 2500 persons and report it to a group of non
technical people. I was just given 5 days to do this task. I knew that if I use technical language to
communicate the data, working group will not be able to perceive it. Thus, I decided to divide the
task into sub parts and then, create a time table for converting the technical data into raw material
that can be easily understood. For this, I made a spreadsheet which assisted me in splitting the

information so as to be able to produce multiple variants of result. I thought that to communicate
my information easily to people from non technical background, I should make a Power Point
Presentation along with a written report. For this, I made use of bars, graphs and pie charts so as to
make the data easy and perceivable. On the day of demonstration of my presentation, working and
superior group was pleased with my work as I had put in a lot of efforts to convert the technical
language into a comprehensible one.
4. Tell us about a time when you had to manage a number of different priorities and
complete a number of tasks in a short amount of time. (what did you do and what was the
outcome?)
If it is talked about my past, in crucial times I used to complete the task which was much
more difficult and time taking on priority. I utilised this approach because I was aware of the fact
that, I can finish my tasks that are easy in a shorter span. Conclusion that I draw, most of them were
in my favour because, I had developed my mind about working with complex situation at initial level.
Main reason behind this is that, just when you start working, mind stays fresh and different
alternatives can come in front which may aid in reaching to outcomes in specific time frame.
5. Tell us about a project you worked on that required you to persuade others to your
point of view. (what did you do and what was the outcome?)
In my journey at college, I was once asked to work upon a project assignment wherein I had
to work in a team of 5 people and demonstrate the analysis of profitability of any large scale
company in the most presentable and creative manner. While my other team mates wanted to carry
out the project in terms of a written and descriptive report, I possessed a contrasting point of view. I
wanted to make a Power Point Presentation wherein the demonstration could be done in the form
of bars, graphs, pie charts and other creative pictorial manner. The students who were a part of my
team were reluctant upon using the format of written report as, in past also, a team had done a
similar assignment in a descriptive way and gained praise from the faculty. To make my team mates
agree with my way of demonstration, I planned to make a 1 minute summarised presentation where
I reflected the way I wanted to present the topic. After seeing the summarised version of my
opinion, they were impressed and finally, I was able to influence them to present the information
visually.

INTERVIEW PRACTICE
During my tenure at college, students were made to attend a seminar wherein there were a
number of lectures and discussions about interview practices. These lectures and discussions were
presented by representative from various famous universities across the globe. The spokespersons
from such well renowned colleges and universities gave their views and opinions in relation to how
and interview is conducted and what are the aspects that have to be kept in consideration while
going through this process. The key findings from the seminar are summarised below:-
 Gestures and postures needed to be maintained by me in front of interviewers so that they
do not get knowledge about my nervousness and tension
 Formal dress code to be kept in my mind while going to give an interview
 The words I speak in front of the interviewers are in a formal and presentable manner and
do not include any point or opinion which can be considered to be offensive
 I should reach the venue of interview location half an hour before the prescribed time so as
to reflect my punctuality, seriousness and sincerity towards the vacancy.
 It is required that I carry all the required documentation duly attested by officials and me
along with me to the interview location so that necessary verification can be done by
interviewer.

ASSESSMENT CENTRE PRACTICE
While I was in college, consequent to the day when seminar about interview practice was
arranged, another seminar was organised wherein students were given information about
assessment centre. These basically refer to the range of exercises used by companies and other top
recruitment agencies to ascertain the spontaneity and courageous skills of candidate. I learn that
this exercise is generally conducted for a day but may even last for 6-7 days at times. Here, normally,
candidates are indulged in role plays and dramas to assess whether the prospects have the potential
to adapt to challenging situations of their domain. Some of the key points that were conveyed in the
seminar are:-
 While going through an assessment test it is required by me to remain confident all the time
so that I can handle all situations effectively.
 Along with this, it is important for me to become spontaneous in order to give quick
responses to the assigned task.
 In addition to this, it is important for me to use polite form of communication to convey my
exact message to everyone present over there in an effective manner.

REFERENCES
Al Ariss, A. and et. al., 2014. Talent management: Current theories and future research
directions. Journal of World Business. 49(2). pp.173-179.
Brewster, C., Mayrhofer, W. and Farndale, E. eds., 2012. Handbook of research on comparative
human resource management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Lee, Y. and et. al., 2016. Work engagement and career: proposing research agendas through a
review of literature. Human Resource Development Review. 15(1). pp.29-54.
Parker, J. and Crona, B., 2012. On being all things to all people: Boundary organizations and the
contemporary research university. Social Studies of Science. 42(2). pp.262-289.
Pennington, R., Delano, M. and Scott, R., 2014. Improving cover letter writing skills of individuals‐
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Savickas, M. L. and Porfeli, E. J., 2012. Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Construction, reliability, and
measurement equivalence across 13 countries. Journal of vocational behaviour. 80(3).
pp.661-673.
Thompson, C. and Gregory, J. B., 2012. Managing millennials: A framework for improving attraction,
motivation, and retention. The Psychologist-Manager Journal. 15(4). pp.237-246.
Youtie, J. and et. al., 2013. Career-based influences on scientific recognition in the United States and
Europe: Longitudinal evidence from curriculum vitae data. Research Policy. 42(8). pp.1341-
1355.